Veteran Biotech Executive David Arkowitz Joins Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors

MILFORD, Mass., Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals today announced that David Arkowitz has been appointed to its Board of Directors.  Mr. Arkowitz has more than two decades of finance and operations leadership in the healthcare, life sciences and biotechnology industries.  He will help guide Spring Bank's growth with a focus on optimizing the company's financial and operational performance.

"The expansion of Spring Bank's Board of Directors ensures that the company can fully leverage the financial opportunities being created by the strong performance of our drug discovery and development programs," said Doug Jensen, CEO of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals.  "We are very pleased to welcome David Arkowitz to our Board.  He has an exceptional track record in the life sciences industry and will add significant depth of financial, business development and operational expertise that will be of great value to our company as we navigate this exciting period of rapid growth and development."

David Arkowitz brings more than 20 years of finance and operations leadership experience in the healthcare, life sciences and biotechnology industries.  Mr. Arkowitz currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Visterra Pharmaceuticals.  Prior to joining Visterra, Mr. Arkowitz was at Mascoma Corporation, a bioconversion company, where he served as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager.  Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, a commercial stage public biopharmaceutical company, where he had a broad range of operational and general management responsibilities.  Prior to his tenure at AMAG, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Idenix Pharmaceuticals where he managed the company's initial public offering.  Earlier in his career, he spent more than thirteen years at Merck & Co. including as Vice President and Controller of the U.S. sales and marketing division and as Controller of the global research and development division.  Mr. Arkowitz served on the board of directors of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals and ImpactRx.

About Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of a new class of pharmaceuticals based on the Company's proprietary SMNH, "Small Molecule Nucleic Hybrid" technology program.  The Company's lead compound, SB 9200, currently in Ph. I clinical studies, is a potential breakthrough drug for the treatment of HCV and HBV.  The Company also has novel compounds in preclinical development for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Norovirus and an early stage anti inflammatory program targeting COPD and Asthma.  For more information please visit our website: www.springbankpharm.com

Contact: Douglas Jensen (508) 473-5993 Ext.105

SOURCE Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc.