Alnylam Appoints Dr. Akshay Vaishnaw as Vice President, Clinical Research.CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: ALNY), a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products based on RNA interference (RNAi) in the United States. , Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today the appointment of Akshay K. Vaishnaw, M.D., Ph.D., to the position of Vice President, Clinical Research. Dr. Vaishnaw has extensive clinical experience in the industry as well as in the academic and hospital settings. At Alnylam, he will be responsible for leading and managing the company's clinical organization and will be a member of the management team. "We are delighted to welcome Akshay to our team," said John Maraganore, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam. "His scientific background, extensive clinical experience, and proven track record in successfully navigating the product approval process will be a tremendous asset to Alnylam as we continue to advance our proprietary and partnered pipeline of RNAi therapeutics." Dr. Vaishnaw comes to Alnylam from Biogen Idec Biogen Idec, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) is a biotechnology company specializing in drugs for neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders and cancer. The company was formed in 2003 by the merger of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen and San Diego, California-based Idec , where he was most recently Senior Director, Translational Medicine translational medicine Molecular medicine The constellation of activities which seek to translate the science of gene discovery, gene transfer, and functional genomics into gene-targeted therapies . In the seven years he was there he was involved in many aspects of clinical research and business development, and led the effort for the approval of alefacept (Amevive(TM)) for psoriasis. Dr. Vaishnaw's other responsibilities at Biogen Idec included initiating a cross-organizational effort in Translational Medicine across all phases of development and multiple therapeutic areas, participating on steering committees for external collaborations, and in M&A activity. Dr. Vaishnaw received his M.D. from the University of Wales College of Medicine The University of Wales College of Medicine was a medical school based in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, that formed a part of the University of Wales. It was also known as UWCM and by its Welsh name Coleg Meddygaeth Prifysgol Cymru. , UK, with Distinctions in Pathology and Medicine, and his Ph.D. from the University of London For most practical purposes, ranging from admission of students to negotiating funding from the government, the 19 constituent colleges are treated as individual universities. Within the university federation they are known as Recognised Bodies , UK, in Molecular Immunology. He is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians of London was the first medical institution in England to receive a Royal Charter. It was founded in 1518 and is one of the most active of all medical professional organisations. , UK, and received an Executive M.B.A. from Harvard Business School Harvard Business School, officially named the Harvard Business School: George F. Baker Foundation, and also known as HBS, is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. . In addition, Dr. Vaishnaw has published papers in leading scientific journals and authored a number of textbook chapters relating to autoimmune disease autoimmune disease, any of a number of abnormal conditions caused when the body produces antibodies to its own substances. In rheumatoid arthritis, a group of antibody molecules called collectively RF, or rheumatoid factor, is complexed to the individual's own gamma . "I am very excited to join Alnylam," said Dr. Vaishnaw. "The breakthrough field of RNAi represents the opportunity to create an entirely new product platform for the discovery and development of innovative medicines. Alnylam has made significant progress with its clinical pipeline in a relatively short amount of time, and I look forward to working with the outstanding team already in place to continue advancing this robust and promising pipeline." About RNA Interference RNA interference n. A process in which the introduction of double-stranded RNA into a cell inhibits the expression of genes. (RNAi) RNA interference, or RNAi, is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes. Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence genes selectively through RNAi could provide a new way to treat a wide range of human diseases. RNAi is induced by small, double-stranded RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic molecules. One method to activate RNAi is with chemically synthesized small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, which are double-stranded RNAs that are targeted to a specific disease-associated gene. The siRNA molecules are used by the natural RNAi machinery in cells to cause highly targeted gene silencing. Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements Various statements in this release concerning our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements with respect to the advancement of our pipeline of RNAi therapeutics, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks related to: our approach to discover and develop novel drugs, which is unproven and may never lead to marketable products; obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property utilized by our products; our ability to enforce our patents against infringers and to defend our patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; our ability to obtain additional funding to support our business activities; our dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of our products; the successful development of products, all of which are in early stages of development; obtaining regulatory approval for products; competition from others using technology similar to ours and others developing products for similar uses; our dependence on collaborators; and our short operating history; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. |
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