REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Relypsa, Inc. (Nasdaq:RLYP), today announced that Helen Torley, M.B. Ch.B., M.R.C.P., has been appointed to the company's board of directors, bringing the number of directors to nine. Dr. Torley, current president and chief executive officer of Halozyme Therapeutics, brings to the board significant industry experience and deep knowledge and expertise in development and commercialization of biopharmaceutical products, including several recent successful product launches.
"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Torley to Relypsa's board of directors," said John A. Orwin, president and chief executive officer of Relypsa. "With a wealth of development, commercial, business and leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Torley is a superb addition to our board as we execute on key business objectives, including the potential commercial launch of Patiromer for Oral Suspension."
Prior to joining Halozyme in January 2014, Dr. Torley served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Onyx Pharmaceuticals, where she oversaw the collaboration with Bayer on Nexavar® and Stivarga® and the U.S. launch of Kyprolis. From 2003 to 2011, she held management positions at Amgen, most recently as vice president and general manager of the U.S. Nephrology Business Unit and the U.S. Bone Health Business Unit. Previously, she held various senior management positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, including regional vice president of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sales and head of Cardiovascular Global Marketing. She began her career at Sandoz/Novartis, where she ultimately served as vice president of Medical Affairs, developing and conducting post-marketing clinical studies across all therapeutic areas. Dr. Torley received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees (M.B. Ch.B.) from the University of Glasgow and is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (M.R.C.P.).
About Relypsa, Inc.
Relypsa, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of non-absorbed polymeric drugs to treat disorders in the areas of renal, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The company's two-part pivotal Phase 3 trial of its lead product candidate, Patiromer for Oral Suspension, for the treatment of hyperkalemia, a potentially life-threatening condition defined as abnormally elevated levels of potassium in the blood, has been completed and the primary and secondary endpoints were met. A New Drug Application for Patiromer for Oral Suspension for the treatment of hyperkalemia was accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is currently under review. Relypsa has global royalty-free commercialization rights to Patiromer for Oral Suspension, which has intellectual property protection in the U.S. until at least 2030. More information is available at www.relypsa.com.
Forward Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Relypsa, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the experience, expertise and expected impact of Dr. Torley and the potential commercial launch of Patiromer for Oral Suspension, or Patiromer FOS. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that relate to future events and the actual results could differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including the regulatory approval process, the timing of the company's regulatory filings, the company's substantial dependence on Patiromer FOS, its commercialization plans and efforts and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Patiromer FOS. Relypsa 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 the business of the company in general, see the company's current and future reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014.