LEIDEN, Netherlands, April 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Pharming Group N.V. ("Pharming" or "the Company") (Euronext:PHARM) (PHAR.AS) announced that the Company's annual shareholders meeting (AGM) will be held on May 10, 2005. The Company will present a business update, its annual accounts and additional corporate items for approval by shareholders.
Pharming will designate Mr. B. Veltman as Chairman of the Board of Supervisory Directors (BOSD) at the AGM. The term of Mr. G. Verhagen, the current chairman, expires on May 10, 2005. Mr. Verhagen is available for reappointment as a BOSD member for one additional year until May 2006.
The Company will propose to appoint Mr. R. Strijker as a member of the Board of Supervisory Directors. Mr. Strijker is the CEO of DNage, a start-up company focusing on age related disorders. Prior to DNage, Mr. Strijker has held management and R&D positions at Pharming and Genentech, Inc. In addition, he serves on the Board of Supervisory Directors of MucoVax B.V. and is a member of the board of Biofarmind, the Dutch foundation of pharmaceutical biotechnology.
"Pharming is fortunate to have the continued guidance of Mr. Verhagen and Mr. Veltman on the BOSD," said Dr. Francis Pinto, CEO of Pharming. "In addition, we believe Mr. Strijker will make a solid contribution to the Company with his knowledge of Pharming and the biotechnology industry at large."
Pharming has also promoted Mr. S. Singh to the position of Chief Business Officer. In this position, Mr. Singh will continue to be responsible for business development, corporate communications and the Company's operations in the USA.
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held on May 10, 2005 at 14:00 hrs at the offices of the Company in Leiden. The agenda with explanatory notes, the management board report, the annual accounts and other information can be obtained free of charge at the office address of the Company.
Background on Pharming Group N.V.
Pharming Group N.V. is developing innovative protein therapeutics for unmet medical needs. The Company's products include potential treatments for genetic disorders, specialty products for surgical indications, and intermediates for various applications. Pharming's lead product (recombinant human C1 inhibitor) for hereditary angioedema is in Phase III of clinical development. The advanced technologies of the Company include innovative platforms for the production of protein therapeutics, as well as technology and processes for the purification and formulation of these products. Additional information is available on the Pharming website, http://www.pharming.com.
This press release contains forward looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward looking statements.