Vancouver, British Columbia – January 24, 2012 – Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM, OTC: SRBCF, Frankfurt: ZSB) (the “Company”), a biotechnology company specializing in carbohydrate chemistry technology, announced today the appointment of Sean Cunliffe to the position of Chief Business Officer and to its Board of Directors. Mr. Cunliffe will be responsible for strategic planning and direction, overseeing operations, program evaluation and selection, expansion, and business development and licensing of Sirona Biochem’s programs.
“Sean Cunliffe brings a wealth of biotechnology and pharmaceutical executive experience and has been a key player in negotiating major pharmaceutical partnerships,” said Dr. Howard Verrico, President & CEO of Sirona Biochem. “We are thrilled to welcome Sean to Sirona Biochem and know his talent comes at the right time for our company as our programs mature to a partner-ready stage,” Dr. Verrico added.
Sirona Boiochem Corp. has granted a total of 2,000,000 stock options pursuant to the company’s stock option plan. These options expire in five years, have an exercise price of $0.12 cents per share and are subject to vesting. These options are granted to Sean Cunliffe in connection with his appointment as Chief Business Officer and appointment to the board of directors. These options and the board of director appointment are subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.
About Sean Cunliffe
Mr. Sean Cunliffe has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical marketing and sales experience in a wide variety of therapeutic areas. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Angiotech, Mr. Cunliffe served as Chief Commercial Officer of Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, now Zalicus Inc. At Neuromed, Mr. Cunliffe negotiated, from ALZA Corporation, the in-licensing of a once-daily hydromorphone, now marketed as Exalgo®. He also negotiated a partnership and research collaboration with Merck, in what was noted at the time as the largest pharmaceutical deal in Canadian history. Mr. Cunliffe has held several leadership roles at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Collegeville, PA, including Vice President of New Product Marketing where he co-chaired, along with Discovery, both the Neuroscience and Cardiovascular leadership teams, Vice President Marketing and Global Business Manager of Neuroscience and Vice President of Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal Marketing. Prior to Wyeth, he was the Group Director U.S. Marketing, Gastrointestinal and Anti-Viral Products at Glaxo Wellcome in Research Triangle Park, NC. Mr. Cunliffe also served for Glaxo and Astra Pharmaceuticals in a variety of sales and marketing roles in Canada before moving to the US to work in both global and US domestic commercial functions. Mr. Cunliffe received an MBA in Finance from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and an Honours B.Sc. in Biology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
About Sirona Biochem Corp.
Sirona Biochem is a biotechnology company developing diabetes therapeutics, cancer vaccine antigens, depigmenting and anti-aging agents for cosmetic use and biological ingredients. The company utilizes a proprietary chemistry technique to improve pharmaceutical properties of carbohydrate-based molecules. For more information visit www.sironabiochem.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information regarding this press release, contact:
Julie Jang
Director, Communications
Sirona Biochem Corp.
Phone: 604.282.6065
Email: jjang@sironabiochem.com
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Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Sirona Biochem’s forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Sirona Biochem’s business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.