Alan Watson, PHD, MBA Joins Elixir Pharmaceuticals as Chief Business Officer; Biotech and Pharmaceutical Veteran to Lead Elixir's Commercial Activities.

Business/Technology Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a genomics-based drug discovery company developing products that slow aging, today announced the appointment of Alan Watson, PhD, MBA to the newly created positions of Chief Business Officer and Executive Vice President. In this capacity, Dr. Watson will be responsible for strategic commercial and business development activities as well as licensing and intellectual property at Elixir.

"As we continue on our mission to become leaders in the commercialization of the new science of aging, we welcome Dr. Watson to our senior management team at Elixir," stated Ed Cannon, CEO of Elixir. "Alan's extensive experience in product research and development, intellectual property and business development will significantly enhance the expansion of our pipeline of genetically validated aging and disease targets. The breadth of Alan's transactional experiences will also be an important asset as we begin to develop strategic partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies for the discovery and development of new drugs based on these targets."

Alan Watson, PhD, MBA commented, "I am very excited to be joining Elixir at a time when research in aging, based on the genomic revolution of the past five years, is undergoing a major transformation to become a credible therapeutic area in its own right. Elixir is already well-positioned as a leader in the aging field and I look forward to helping the company build on and commercialize this remarkable new science."

Alan Watson has almost 20 years of research and development, commercial and executive experience in the biotech and life sciences industries. Since 1999, Dr. Watson served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Business Officer at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he directed the expansion of the Company's anti-infective pipeline and oversaw several strategic commercial and licensing initiatives. From October 1997 to August 1999, he served as Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property and Licensing at Nycomed Amersham plc., a diagnostic imaging and life sciences company. From January 1995 to September 1997, he served as Senior Vice President, Technology Development at Nycomed ASA. From January 1994 to June 1995, he served as Senior Vice President, Research and Development at Nycomed Salutar, Inc. where he also served as a Board Director. Prior to 1994, Dr. Watson served in various senior management positions at Salutar, Inc. From 1983 to 1986 while at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Watson invented the stroke-imaging drug Neurolite(R). Dr. Watson received his B.Sc. from the University of N.S.W., Sydney, Australia; his Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry from the Australia National University; and his MBA from Northeastern University.

About Elixir

Elixir Pharmaceuticals is a genomics-based drug discovery company developing products that slow aging. The Company's technology is based on recently discovered longevity genes, that when altered, slow aging and extend the life span in laboratory organisms. These genes and the pathways in which they act are conserved in humans. Elixir's mission is to replicate these genetic results with pharmaceuticals that slow aging, reduce the disease and disability that accompany aging, and extend youthfulness in humans.