FREMONT, Calif., June 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardelyx, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ARDX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused
on gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases, today announced that
Robert Bazemore joined the Company's
Board of Directors. Mr. Bazemore, who currently serves as
President and Chief Executive Officer of Epizyme, Inc., brings with
him broad experience in drug development and in navigating the
challenges associated with preparing growing organizations for
commercialization. Following the appointment of Mr. Bazemore to its
Board of Directors, Ardelyx will have six independent board
members.
![Ardelyx logo Ardelyx logo](http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20140619/119451)
"Rob's experience and record of success at Epizyme, Synageva,
Johnson & Johnson and Merck position him as an invaluable
addition for Ardelyx, and we are excited that he will be joining
our Board," said Mike Raab,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Ardelyx. "His
operational experience and proficiency in commercial portfolio
strategy provide another level of depth to our organization as we
continue to advance our lead product candidates toward
commercialization."
"This is a very exciting time to join the Ardelyx Board," Mr.
Bazemore commented. "Since regaining the worldwide rights to
tenapanor from AstraZeneca in 2015, Ardelyx has made significant
advancements with its product candidate in both the IBS-C and
hyperphosphatemia indications. The organization is committed to
expanding its footprint as a leader in treating gastrointestinal
and cardio-renal diseases through the development of RDX227675 as
well as multiple research programs. I look forward to working with
the Company's top quality management team as Ardelyx progresses
toward becoming a commercial organization."
Mr. Bazemore has served as President and Chief Executive Officer
of Epizyme, Inc., since September 2015. Prior to joining
Epizyme, Mr. Bazemore served as Chief Operating Officer of Synageva
BioPharma Corp., which was acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. for $8.4 billion in July
2015. Prior to that, Mr. Bazemore was President of Janssen
Biotech, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson
& Johnson. Mr. Bazemore received his B.S. in Biochemistry
from the University of Georgia.
About Ardelyx, Inc.
Ardelyx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative,
minimally-systemic, small molecule therapeutics that work
exclusively in the gastrointestinal tract to treat gastrointestinal
and cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx has developed a proprietary drug
discovery and design platform enabling it, in a rapid and
cost-efficient manner, to discover and design novel drug
candidates. Utilizing this platform, Ardelyx has discovered and
designed tenapanor, which it is evaluating for the treatment of
irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, or IBS-C, and
management of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal
disease. In addition to tenapanor, Ardelyx is developing RDX227675,
a non-absorbed polymer for the treatment of hyperkalemia, or high
potassium, in kidney and heart disease patients. Ardelyx is also
advancing several research programs focused in gastrointestinal and
cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx is located in Fremont, California. For more information,
please visit Ardelyx's website at www.ardelyx.com.
Forward Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release
are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Ardelyx, they
are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and
expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor of the
Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, including the potential for
tenapanor in treating IBS-C patients and in treating
hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease patients, the
potential for RDX227675 in treating hyperkalemia in kidney and
heart disease patients, and the potential of Ardelyx's drug
discovery and design platform. Such forward-looking statements
involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the
development of tenapanor, RDX227675, or Ardelyx's future
results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from
those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties
inherent in research and the clinical development process and the
uncertainties in the manufacture of clinical trial material,
including process development, scale up and tech transfer of
manufacturing processes. Ardelyx undertakes no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further
description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements, as well as risks relating to Ardelyx's business in
general, please refer to Ardelyx's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2016, and its future current and periodic
reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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SOURCE Ardelyx