CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ironwood
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRWD) announced today the appointment
of Lawrence Olanoff, M.D., Ph.D., to its board of directors as well as
to its pharmaceutical advisory committee. Dr. Olanoff has more than 30
years of pharmaceutical industry experience and has been a leader in
clinical development, discovery research, strategy and operations for
several companies ranging from small biotechnology firms to large
pharmaceutical corporations. Most recently, he served as a director and
as chief operating officer of Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Ironwood also announced that current board members Joseph Cook, Jr. and
David Ebersman have decided to transition off of Ironwood's board of
directors at the end of their current terms in office, at Ironwood's
2015 annual meeting of stockholders.
"Ironwood is committed to attracting board members who have business
savvy, a strong interest in our company, absolute integrity, great
strategic judgment and an owner-oriented mindset. We believe Larry has
each of these qualities, as well as tremendous breadth of experience
guiding the development of more than 30 FDA-approved drugs utilized
across a broad range of therapeutic needs. He is a great clinical
pharmacologist, with extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical development
and regulatory history, and he is also a masterful business strategist
and leader. This rare combination of skills makes Larry a valuable
representative of our shareholders and advisor to our scientists," said
Peter Hecht, chief executive officer of Ironwood.
Hecht continued, "As I welcome Larry to the board, I would also like to
recognize Joe and David for their years of service to our shareholders.
Joe has been an Ironwood director since co-founding the company in 1998
and has impacted virtually every significant decision we have made,
shaping our strategy, development and culture while helping us to remain
focused on the needs of patients. Similarly, David's strategic wisdom
has guided Ironwood through many opportunities as we have grown as an
organization."
"I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Ironwood
team over the years, and I have developed great respect for their
ingenuity and ability to innovate. They brought the first in a new class
of gastrointestinal products to the market, developed an innovative
commercialization strategy to deliver that product to patients and
physicians, and built a pipeline of gastrointestinal programs targeting
diseases that impact millions of patients," said Dr. Olanoff. "I look
forward to joining Ironwood's esteemed board and, in my role with the
pharmaceutical advisory committee, collaborating closely with their
impressive R&D team."
Dr. Olanoff most recently served as a director and as chief operating
officer, and previously as executive vice president and chief scientific
officer, of Forest Laboratories, Inc. (acquired by Actavis plc). He also
previously served as president and chief executive officer of Celsion
Corporation, senior vice president of clinical research and development
at Sandoz Pharmaceutical Corporation (now a division of the Novartis
Group), and in a number of positions at the Upjohn Company. Dr. Olanoff
is currently an adjunct assistant professor and special advisor to the
president for corporate relations at the Medical University of South
Carolina (MUSC), a member of the MUSC foundation for research
development board, and chairman of the board of the Clinical
Biotechnology Research Institute at Roper St. Francis Hospital. He
received his doctorate in biomedical engineering and medical doctor
degree from Case Western Reserve University.
About Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD) is focused on creating medicines
that make a difference for patients, building value to earn the
continued support of our fellow shareholders, and empowering our team to
passionately pursue excellence. We discovered, developed and are
commercializing linaclotide, which is approved in the United States and
a number of other countries. Our pipeline priorities include exploring
further opportunities for linaclotide, as well as leveraging our
therapeutic expertise in gastrointestinal disorders and our
pharmacologic expertise in guanylate cyclases to address patient needs
across the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. Ironwood was founded
in 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. Connect with us at www.ironwoodpharma.com
or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ironwoodpharma;
information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted
in both these locations.
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their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Media Relations
Trista
Morrison, 617-374-5095
Director, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
or
Investor
Relations
Meredith Kaya, 617-374-5082
Director, Investor
Relations
[email protected]
Source: Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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