LIVINGSTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRX) announced today that as of July 8, 2010, its Board of Directors has appointed G. Frederick Wilkinson, Executive Vice President, Global Brands, of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), as a director of the Company. His appointment brings to eight the number of members of Columbia's Board of Directors.
Mr. Wilkinson was appointed pursuant to the terms of an Investor’s Rights Agreement, dated July 2, 2010, between Coventry Acquisition, Inc., a subsidiary of Watson, and the Company, which granted Coventry the right to designate one director for election to the Board.
Mr. Wilkinson has served as Watson's Executive Vice President, Global Brands since September 21, 2009. Prior to joining Watson, Mr. Wilkinson was President and Chief Operating Officer of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the proprietary products subsidiary of Barr, from 2006 to 2009. Prior to joining Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Laboratories, Inc. from 2001 to 2006. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Wilkinson was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining Watson, he spent sixteen years at Sandoz in numerous senior management positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Wilkinson received his M.B.A. from Capital University in 1984 and his B.S. in Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University in 1979.
About Columbia Laboratories
Columbia Laboratories, Inc. is focused on developing products that utilize its novel bioadhesive drug delivery technologies to optimize drug delivery in a controlled, sustained manner. The Company's strategy is to fund new development projects through proof of concept, then partner for later-stage clinical development and commercialization. CRINONE® 8% (progesterone gel) is marketed by Watson Pharmaceuticals in the United States and by Merck Serono in foreign countries.
Columbia is conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled Phase III clinical program, called the PREGNANT (PROCHIEVE® Extending GestatioN A New Therapy) Study, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PROCHIEVE 8% (progesterone gel) to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with a cervical length between 1.0 and 2.0 centimeters as measured by transvaginal ultrasound at mid-pregnancy. The primary endpoint of this study is a reduction in the incidence of preterm birth at less than or equal to 32 weeks gestation vs. placebo. The Company expects study results around the end of the year.
Columbia's press releases and other company information are available at Columbia's website at www.columbialabs.com and its investor relations website at www.cbrxir.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This communication contains forward-looking statements, which statements are indicated by the words “may,” “will,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Factors that might cause future results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following: the successful marketing of CRINONE® by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in the United States; the successful marketing of CRINONE by Merck Serono outside the United States; the timely and successful completion of the ongoing Phase III PREGNANT (PROCHIEVE® Extending Gestation A New Therapy) Study of PROCHIEVE 8% to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with a short cervix at mid-pregnancy; successful development of a next-generation vaginal progesterone product; success in obtaining acceptance and approval of new products and new indications for current products by the United States Food and Drug Administration and international regulatory agencies; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the timely and successful negotiation of partnerships or other transactions; the strength of the United States dollar relative to international currencies, particularly the euro; competitive economic and regulatory factors in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry; general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties that may be detailed, from time-to-time, in Columbia’s reports filed with the SEC. Columbia does not undertake any responsibility to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained herein.
CRINONE® and PROCHIEVE® are trademarks of Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT:
Columbia Laboratories, Inc.
Lawrence A. Gyenes, 973-486-8860
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
or
The Trout Group LLC
Seth Lewis, 646-378-2952
Vice President
KEYWORDS: United States North America New Jersey
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology
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