RALEIGH, N.C., June 19, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- DARA BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:DARA), a development stage pharmaceutical company engaged in the acquisition of promising therapeutic drug candidates and advancing their clinical development for later sale or license, announced the appointment of Geert Cauwenbergh, PhD, to its Board of Directors. The appointment was effective June 14, 2008 and fills a vacancy that had previously existed on the company's Board.
Dr. Cauwenbergh is the founder and chief executive officer of Phase123, LLC, a biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing healthcare technology platforms and emerging healthcare companies. He was also the founder of Barrier Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:BTRX), a biopharmaceutical company, which specializes in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products in the field of dermatology. In addition, Dr. Cauwenbergh currently serves on the Board of Directors of two publicly traded companies, Upstream BioSciences (OTCBB:UPBS) and Barrier Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:BTRX) as well as the boards of other domestic and international companies.
"Geert brings to DARA's Board of Directors a wealth of experience," said Dr. John Didsbury, DARA's President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer. "His strong background in research, clinical drug development and new product commercialization for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies enhances DARA's ability to successfully develop its product pipeline."
Dr. Cauwenbergh's previous experience includes serving as Vice President of Technology for the Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Care Products Companies and International Director of Clinical R&D, Dermatology and Infectious Diseases at the Janssen Research Foundation, Janssen Pharmaceutica in Belgium. He has authored over 100 publications and co-authored several books. He received his PhD in Medical Sciences from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), Faculty of Medicine, where he also completed his Masters and undergraduate work.
About DARA BioSciences, Inc.
DARA BioSciences(tm), Inc. ("DARA") is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based development-stage pharmaceutical company that acquires and develops promising drug candidates. DARA focuses its therapeutic development efforts on small molecules from late preclinical development through phase 2 clinical trials. DARA has a portfolio of therapeutic candidates for neuropathic pain, type 2 diabetes, and psoriasis. For more information please contact the Company at 919-872-5578 or visit our web site at www.darabio.com.
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for DARA from those projected. Those factors include risks and uncertainties relating to DARA's ability to develop and bring new products to market as anticipated, the current regulatory environment in which the company develops and sells its products, the market acceptance of those products, dependence on partners, successful performance under collaborative and other commercial agreements, competition, the strength of DARA's intellectual property, the intellectual property of others, DARA's ability to raise capital, and other risk factors identified in the documents DARA has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of DARA's filings with the SEC may be obtained from the SEC Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. DARA expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward- looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in DARA's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. DARA BioSciences and the DARA logo are trademarks of DARA BioSciences, Inc.