SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2014--
Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) today announced the appointment of Jeffrey
J. Hessekiel, J.D., as executive vice president and general counsel. Mr.
Hessekiel is a veteran legal professional with more than a decade of
experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as six years spent
in general corporate and litigation practice in Silicon Valley. His
legal expertise in pharmaceutical commercialization, compliance, and
risk management will benefit Exelixis following its first product launch
and in anticipation of top-line data from as many as four phase 3
pivotal trials later this year.
As Exelixis’ general counsel, Mr. Hessekiel is a key member of the
company’s senior leadership team and is responsible for overseeing the
global legal function. Mr. Hessekiel joins Exelixis from Arnold & Porter
LLP, where as senior counsel he advised emerging growth and public
companies, primarily in the life sciences sector, on complex legal
issues connected with strategic transactions, healthcare compliance
programs and investigations, and regulatory matters. Previously, from
2002 to 2012, he held key legal and compliance roles at Gilead Sciences,
Inc., rising to the positions of vice president, commercial legal
affairs and litigation, and then chief compliance and quality officer.
Prior to joining Gilead, Mr. Hessekiel practiced corporate law at Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe. He
received his J.D. from George Washington University’s School of Law, and
his B.A. from Duke University.
“Jeff’s appointment comes at an important time for Exelixis, as we
strive to fully maximize the opportunity for cabozantinib and further
develop cabozantinib into a major oncology product,” said Michael M.
Morrissey, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Exelixis.
“His broad and successful legal experience, particularly with regard to
pharmaceutical marketing and commercialization, makes him well prepared
to guide us through the complex issues that arise as we continue our
transformation into a global commercial organization.”
In his general counsel role, Mr. Hessekiel succeeds Pamela A. Simonton,
J.D., LL.M., who served as Exelixis general counsel from 2008. With Mr.
Hessekiel’s appointment, Ms. Simonton has transitioned to a new
executive vice president role in which she advises management on global
patent strategies, assists with various corporate projects and
activities, and serves as a director of Exelixis’ offshore entities.
“It’s an honor to join Exelixis at the start of an important year that
could include top-line data from as many as four pivotal trials,” said
Mr. Hessekiel. “In the twelve months since its first product launch, the
company has made substantial and rapid progress in its commercial
evolution. I’m looking forward to working with the team to further those
accomplishments and support Exelixis in its mission to help patients
with cancer.”
About Exelixis
Exelixis is a biotechnology company committed to developing small
molecule therapies for the treatment of cancer. Exelixis is focusing its
proprietary resources and development efforts exclusively on COMETRIQ®
(cabozantinib). Exelixis has also established a portfolio of other novel
compounds that it believes have the potential to address serious unmet
medical needs, many of which are being advanced by partners as part of
collaborations. For more information, please visit the company's web
site at www.exelixis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including,
without limitation, statements related to: the expected timing of
various trials, including expected top-line data from four pivotal
trials in 2014; Exelixis’ goal to maximize the opportunity for
cabozantinib and further its development into a major oncology product;
Exelixis’ continued transformation into a global commercial
organization; Exelixis’ mission to help patients with cancer; and the
expected contributions of the company's executive vice president and
general counsel. Words such as “will,” “anticipation,” “later,”
“strive,” “maximize,” “opportunity,” “further,” “continue,”
“transformation,” “could,” “looking forward,” “support,” “mission,”
“potential,” or other similar expressions, identify forward-looking
statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean
that a statement is not forward-looking. In addition, any statements
that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of
future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based upon Exelixis' current plans,
assumptions, beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Exelixis'
actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from
those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these
risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: the
availability of data at the expected times; risks related to the
potential failure of cabozantinib or cobimetinib (GDC-0973/XL518) to
demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical testing; the uncertain
timing and level of expenses associated with the development of
cabozantinib; Exelixis' ability to conduct clinical trials of
cabozantinib sufficient to achieve a positive completion; Exelixis'
dependence on its relationship with Genentech/Roche for the development
of cobimetinib and Exelixis’ ability to maintain its rights; the
uncertainty of regulatory approval processes; the risk that
unanticipated developments could adversely affect the commercialization
of COMETRIQ®(cabozantinib); the degree of market acceptance of COMETRIQ
and the availability of coverage and reimbursement for COMETRIQ; risks
and uncertainties related to Exelixis' compliance with applicable
regulatory requirements, including healthcare fraud and abuse laws and
post-marketing requirements; Exelixis' dependence on third-party
vendors; the sufficiency of Exelixis' capital and other resources;
market competition; changes in economic and business conditions; and
other factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Exelixis’
latest Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
on October 30, 2013 and in Exelixis' other filings with the SEC. The
forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of
the date of this press release. Exelixis expressly disclaims any duty,
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change
in Exelixis' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
Exelixis, the Exelixis logo, and COMETRIQ are registered U.S.
trademarks.
Source: Exelixis, Inc.
Exelixis, Inc.
Charles Butler, 650-837-7277
Vice President,
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
cbutler@exelixis.com