Onyx Pharmaceuticals Names John E. Osborn Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:  ONXX) today announced that it has appointed John E. Osborn as Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs.  In his role, Mr. Osborn will report to N. Anthony Coles, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, and will be responsible for the public and government affairs activities of the company, as well as key stakeholder relationships.

"As a lawyer, policy advocate and former diplomat, John brings a diverse and extensive background to Onyx, with broad experience across the life sciences industry and the U.S. government," said Dr. Coles.  "John is a proven leader and his unique expertise aligns well with our plan for global growth as a multi-product company reaching patients around the world."

Prior to joining Onyx, Mr. Osborn was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Dendreon Corporation.  Previously, he held similar roles at US Oncology, Inc., where he worked on its merger with McKesson, and at Cephalon, Inc., where he managed legal, public and government affairs during a critical growth period.  Mr. Osborn also served with the U.S. Department of State during the George H.W. Bush administration, and in 2008 was confirmed by the Senate as a member of the bipartisan United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.  He has held faculty appointments at Oxford, Princeton and the University of Washington, served on the board of governors of the East-West Center in Hawaii, and examined the peace process in Northern Ireland as an Eisenhower Fellow.  Early in his career he clerked for Judge Albert V. Bryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and practiced corporate law in Boston for Hale and Dorr (now WilmerHale).  Mr. Osborn received his undergraduate degree in economics and history from the University of Iowa, his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, and his master's degree in international public policy from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

About Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Based in South San Francisco, California, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for improving the lives of people with cancer.  The company is focused on developing novel medicines that target key molecular pathways.  For more information about Onyx, visit the company's website at www.onyx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" of Onyx within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  These forward-looking statements include without limitation, statements regarding the progress and results of preclinical and clinical development of carfilzomib.  These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including risks related to the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products.  Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  Reference should be made to Onyx's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading "Risk Factors" and Onyx's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a more detailed description of such factors.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this release.  Onyx undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date of this release except as required by law.

SOURCE Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.