PRESS RELEASE
Accera Names Lauren C. Costantini, Ph.D., As Vice President, Clinical Development
Broomfield, CO, November 3, 2006 - Accera Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs for neurodegenerative diseases announced today the appointment of Lauren C. Costantini, Ph.D., as Vice President, Clinical Development.
Prior to joining Accera, Dr. Costantini was Director, Product Development for Titan Pharmaceuticals in South San Francisco, California. She began her career as a Research Fellow at Albany Medical School in the area of neuroscience. Later Dr. Costantini joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital where she worked on cell and gene therapies for Parkinson's disease, and mechanisms of trophic factor effects and stem cell development.
"We are pleased to welcome Lauren to our team. Her experience in moving products from research through all phases of clinical development will be valuable to Accera as we build our product pipeline," said Dr. Steve Orndorff, President and CEO of Accera. "Lauren will play a central role in the strategic development of our lead product, AC-1202, as it moves into Phase III clinical trials toward an NDA submission."
Dr. Costantini said, "I look forward to the opportunity to serve in a senior leadership role at Accera, and to apply my background in neuroscience and clinical development to the expansion of Accera's drug portfolio into other neurodegenerative diseases."
Dr. Costantini's accomplishments include the development of new drug and device products from research through Phase III clinical trials, interactions with US and European drug regulatory agencies, and management of preclinical research. She has experience in a variety of CNS clinical indications including chronic pain, opioid dependency, spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease. Most recently she has directed international pivotal Phase III clinical trials for a drug delivery product.
Lauren holds a BS degree from Purchase College, State University of New York and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Albany Medical School at the University of Albany. She is affiliated with the Parkinson's Action Network and is a scientific reviewer for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research.
###