Brett Premack, Ph.D. Joins Celtaxsys as Chief Technology Officer

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celtaxsys, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs to treat inflammatory disorders through innate immunity, today announced the appointment of life sciences technology expert, Brett A. Premack, Ph.D., as Chief Technology Officer.

"Dr. Brett Premack has a wealth of drug development expertise and high level strategic leadership in bringing successful new anti-inflammatory products to the clinic, which is an ideal fit for Celtaxsys as we advance our portfolio of modulators of the innate immune system," commented Dr. Michael R. Hanley, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Celtaxsys. "I am very pleased to welcome Brett to the team and look forward to his contributions as we advance CTX-4430 into clinical trials."

"I see great opportunities in a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics rooted in a deep understanding of innate immunity," commented Dr. Premack. "CTX-4430, Celtaxsys' lead development program will enter clinical evaluation later this year for cystic fibrosis.  I believe that this novel candidate, which inhibits the key pro-inflammatory enzyme, LTA4H, represents Celtaxsys' approach to treat chromic inflammatory diseases through innate immunity modulation."

Dr. Premack has held a number of key leadership positions in biotechnology and has more than 20 years experience providing strategic and technical analysis to drug development programs in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.  Most recently, he was Vice President, Technology and Strategic Development with Qu Biologics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing immune modulators to treat cancer. Previously, Dr. Premack was with ChemoCentryx as the Company's first Director of Technologies after serving for four years on the company's Scientific Advisory Board.  Dr. Premack was instrumental in bringing several new anti-inflammatory programs to the clinic to treat serious and underserved diseases. He has also held previous faculty, consulting and Scientific Advisory roles at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, DNAX, Syntex Research, Roche Bioscience, Sirona Biochem, SuperGen Pharmaceuticals and Neurex Inc.  Dr. Premack has published extensively and is inventor on a number of technology and active pharmaceutical ingredient patents.

About CTX-4430

CTX-4430 is a small molecule inhibitor of Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase (LTA4H), the pivotal enzyme for synthesis of the potent pro-inflammatory molecule Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) that is entering clinical development for cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis. CTX-4430 has both high oral uptake and potent inhibition of LTA4H across several rodent and non-rodent species. In models of Multiple Sclerosis and Atopic Dermatitis, orally administered CTX-4430 has been shown to reduce LTB4 production and to ameliorate clinical signs and symptoms of the inflammatory disease state.

About Celtaxsys

Celtaxsys is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of underserved inflammatory diseases. Celtaxsys has offices in San Francisco, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.  For more information and corporate background, please visit www.celtaxsys.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward looking statements. The inclusion of forward looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Celtaxsys that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Celtaxsys' business including, without limitation, statements about difficulties or delays in developing, obtaining regulatory approval, manufacturing and commercializing its products, unexpected performance or side effects of its products, the scope and validity of its products' patent protection, competition from other companies and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. All forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this statement and Celtaxsys undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.

SOURCE Celtaxsys, Inc.

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