NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN) today announced the appointment of Anthony S. Gibney to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Gibney will assume responsibility for corporate strategy, business development, investor relations and corporate communications as Achillion continues the advancement of its proprietary factor D small molecule portfolio.
Achillion also announced that Brian R. DiDonato has recently joined the Company as Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, reporting to Mr. Gibney.
“We believe we have significant and diverse opportunities to create value in our complement platform and factor D portfolio. The breadth of experience that Tony brings to Achillion will facilitate our ability to deploy optimal strategies to create value for our clinical candidates,” commented Joseph Truitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion. “Attracting talented executives like Tony and Brian to the Achillion team will facilitate meaningful communication with strategic partners and investors as we work to bring innovative factor D therapeutics to patients with rare diseases.”
Mr. Gibney stated, “Having worked closely with Achillion for many years as an investment banker, I understand the value that can be unlocked as the Company extends its leadership in the targeted inhibition of factor D and applies its deep expertise in complement biology to advance its clinical programs in PNH, C3G and other complement mediated indications over time. I’m thrilled to be working with this experienced team to develop strategies that will create value for Achillion’s shareholders by leveraging its clinical and commercial opportunities. Lastly, I look forward to working with Brian as he applies his extensive, successful investor experience to a leadership role in investor relations and corporate communications.”
Anthony S. Gibney
Prior to joining Achillion, Mr. Gibney was an investment banker for almost 25 years, completing over 150 merger and acquisition and financing transactions as a lead advisor to US and EU-based life science clients. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and Co-Head of the Biotechnology Investment Banking Team at Leerink Partners. Prior to that, Tony worked in the Healthcare Group at Merrill Lynch, Inc., where he ultimately led the East Coast Biotechnology origination effort as a Managing Director. Tony began his professional career as an analyst and associate in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Lehman Brothers Inc. Tony holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Economics from Yale University.
Brian R. DiDonato
Mr. DiDonato is an experienced capital markets banker, investor and fund manager, having previously held positions as Managing Director of Sorin Capital Management and President of Capmark Investments. He previously worked in banking at both Morgan Stanley and UBS Securities.
Brian holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology from Penn State University and in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
About Achillion Pharmaceuticals
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing its oral factor D inhibitors into late-stage development and commercialization. Each of the drug candidates in the Company’s oral factor D portfolio was discovered in its laboratories and is wholly owned. Achillion is focusing its drug development activities on alternative pathway-mediated, rare diseases where there are no approved therapies or where existing therapies are inadequate for patients. To advance its investigational drugs into phase 3 and commercialization, the Company plans to work closely with key stakeholders including patients, payors, regulators and healthcare professionals. More information is available at http://www.achillion.com.
