Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ACOR)
today announced that Andrew R. Blight, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer,
is the recipient of the Inaugural Purchase College Scientific
Entrepreneurship Award. The award recognizes individuals for their
scientific excellence, ability to integrate science with business,
vision and innovation, social responsibility and providing a positive
role model for future generations. Dr. Blight was selected by a panel of
Purchase College science faculty in partnership with the Westchester
County Association.
"Andy is a rare scientist who, having made seminal contributions to his
field academically, chose to enter industry so that his work could be
applied directly to the benefit of patients,” said Ron Cohen, M.D.,
President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics. "Andy blends great scientific
rigor and insight with a deep sense of humanism. Andy’s work has already
helped to deliver a novel medication that helps improve walking in
people suffering with multiple sclerosis. I am thrilled that Purchase
College has publicly recognized his unique abilities, which we at Acorda
have long admired.”
Dr. Blight is a leader in spinal cord injury (SCI) research and has made
several important contributions to the field, particularly on the role
of demyelination in SCI. He pioneered the therapeutic application of
4-amimopyridine in SCI, which contributed to Acorda Therapeutics’
development of the recently FDA-approved therapy AMPRYA™ (dalfampridine)
Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg.
Prior to joining Acorda, Dr. Blight held academic positions at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Purdue University and New
York University. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal on
Neurotrauma and has served as a member of the NIH NSDA review committee.
Dr. Blight received his BS in Zoology and his Ph D. in
Zoology/Neurobiology from the University of Bristol, UK.
About Acorda
Therapeutics
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for
multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and other nervous system
disorders. The Company's marketed products include AMPYRA™
(dalfampridine), a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to
improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); this was
demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed; and ZANAFLEX
CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug
for the management of spasticity. The Company's pipeline includes a
number of products in development for the treatment, regeneration and
repair of the spinal cord and brain.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding
management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be
considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially,
including Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell
Ampyra in the United States and to successfully market Zanaflex
Capsules, the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra,
the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products, delays in
obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra outside of
the United States and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen
Idec in connection therewith, competition, failure to protect Acorda
Therapeutics’ intellectual property or to defend against the
intellectual property claims of others, the ability to obtain additional
financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations, and unfavorable
results from our preclinical programs. These and other risks are
described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually
achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements,
and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements.
Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after
the date of this press release.
