CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2009--
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA), a biotechnology company
engaged in the discovery and development of DNA- and RNA-based drug
candidates targeted to Toll-like Receptors (TLR), announced today the
appointment of Rahul Jasuja, Ph.D., as Vice President of Corporate
Development. Dr. Jasuja previously served as Managing Director, Life
Sciences at MDB Capital Group, a life sciences and technology Merchant
and Investment Bank located in Santa Monica, CA.
“Rahul brings extensive and relevant scientific understanding and
experience in the capital markets to Idera,” commented Sudhir Agrawal,
D.Phil., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. “We
welcome Rahul to our team and expect him to play a key role in the
Company as we continue to advance our drug discovery and development
programs with agonists, antagonists, and antisense targeted to TLRs.”
“I have been impressed with Idera’s chemistry-based approach to
identifying agonists, antagonists, and antisense targeted to TLRs which
has potential in creating a novel class of drugs for a broad range of
diseases,” commented Dr. Jasuja. “I am excited to be part of a team with
such an impressive track record, and I look forward to participating in
advancing the goals of the Company.”
Dr. Jasuja joined MDB Capital Group in 2004 and most recently served as
Managing Director, Life Sciences Investment Banking. Previously, he led
its life sciences research effort as Senior Biotechnology Research
Analyst. He conducted due-diligence on private companies and initiated
research reports on several public biotechnology companies, including
Idera. His past experience includes serving as Senior Biotechnology
Research Analyst at Rodman & Renshaw and Techvest LLC. Throughout his
career, Dr. Jasuja has conducted equity research, due-diligence and
consulting for institutional investors and moderated therapeutic and
business panels at major investor conferences. Dr. Jasuja received his
Ph.D. in Immunology at Tufts Medical School, Boston, and carried out his
post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Boston. He is a member
of the American Association of Immunologists and American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Jasuja will be joining the Company January 1, 2010.
About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Idera Pharmaceuticals develops drug candidates to treat infectious
diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and respiratory
diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Our proprietary drug
candidates are designed to modulate specific Toll-like Receptors, which
are a family of immune system receptors that direct immune system
responses. Our pioneering DNA and RNA chemistry expertise enables us to
create drug candidates for internal development and generates
opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. For more
information, visit www.iderapharma.com.
Idera Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Idera
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not
statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking
statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "should,"
"could," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that
could cause Idera's actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether products
based on Idera's technology will advance into or through the clinical
trial process on a timely basis or at all and receive approval from the
United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign
regulatory agencies; whether, if the Company's products receive
approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; whether
the Company's collaborations with Merck KGaA and an affiliate of Merck &
Co. Inc. will be successful; whether the patents and patent applications
owned or licensed by the Company will protect the Company’s technology
and prevent others from infringing it; whether Idera's cash resources
will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations; and such other
important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in
Idera's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
September 30, 2009, which important factors are incorporated herein by
reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements.
Source: Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kelly Luethje, 617-679-5519
kluethje@iderapharma.com
or
MacDougall
Biomedical Communications
Chris Erdman, 781-235-3060
cerdman@macbiocom.com