Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced that Scott
Habig has joined the Company as Vice President, Sales, reporting to
Kevin P. McRaith, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, HGS. Mr. Habig
was most recently Vice President, Sales, at Centocor Ortho Biotech, a
subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
"Scott Habig is exemplary of the top leadership talent with which we are
building up our commercial organization. He brings to HGS more than 25
years of experience as a leader in the sales and marketing of biological
and pharmaceutical products for the treatment of autoimmune and
infectious diseases,” said Barry A. Labinger, Executive Vice President
and Chief Commercial Officer. "We are pleased to have Scott join our
commercial team and expect him to play a central role in building and
leading a world class sales organization to launch our lead products,
BENLYSTA for systemic lupus and ZALBIN for hepatitis C, along with our
partners.” Both BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) and ZALBIN™ (albinterferon
alfa-2b) have the potential to receive regulatory clearance in the
United States as soon as late 2010.
During his nine years with the Centocor and Centocor Ortho Biotech
subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Habig held a number of key
leadership positions, including Vice President, Sales and Marketing. He
developed and led the execution of sales and marketing strategy that
established REMICADE (infliximab) as a leading product for the treatment
of autoimmune diseases including Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis,
psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. He also managed a team of more than
600 sales and marketing employees. Prior to joining Centocor in 2000,
Mr. Habig served as Vice President, Marketing, at Ethicon Endo Surgery.
He began his career as a Sales Representative at Janssen Pharmaceutica,
Inc., where he advanced through a series of sales and product management
positions of increasing responsibility during a 14-year tenure. Mr.
Habig received his Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media communications
from the University of Akron, Ohio.
About Human Genome Sciences
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to bring
innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs. The HGS clinical
development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat lupus, hepatitis C,
inhalation anthrax and cancer.
The Company’s primary focus is rapid progress toward the
commercialization of its two lead drugs, BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) for lupus
and ZALBIN™ (albinterferon alfa-2b) for hepatitis C. Phase 3 development
has been completed successfully for both BENLYSTA and ZALBIN. The
submission of marketing applications for BENLYSTA is planned in the
U.S., Europe and other regions in the second quarter of 2010. A BLA has
been submitted for ZALBIN to the FDA in the United States, and an MAA
has been submitted under the brand name JOULFERON® to the EMEA in Europe.
In April 2009, HGS completed the delivery of 20,000 doses of raxibacumab
to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for use in the event of an
emergency to treat inhalational anthrax. In July 2009, HGS secured a new
purchase order for 45,000 doses of raxibacumab to be delivered to the
Stockpile over a three-year period beginning near the end of 2009. In
May 2009, HGS submitted a Biologics License Application to the FDA for
raxibacumab for the treatment of inhalation anthrax.
The Company also has several drugs in earlier stages of clinical
development for the treatment of cancer, led by the TRAIL receptor
antibody mapatumumab and a small-molecule antagonist of
inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins. In addition, HGS has substantial
financial rights to certain products in the GSK clinical pipeline
including darapladib, currently in Phase 3 development in patients with
coronary heart disease, and Syncria® (albiglutide), currently in Phase 3
development in patients with type 2 diabetes.
For more information about HGS, please visit the Company’s web site at www.hgsi.com.
Health professionals and patients interested in clinical trials of HGS
products may inquire via e-mail to medinfo@hgsi.com
or by calling HGS at (877) 822-8472.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences’ current
intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties
that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from
these forward-looking statements because of Human Genome Sciences’
unproven business model, its dependence on new technologies, the
uncertainty and timing of clinical trials, Human Genome Sciences’
ability to develop and commercialize products, its dependence on
collaborators for services and revenue, its substantial indebtedness and
lease obligations, its changing requirements and costs associated with
facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty of patent and
intellectual property protection, Human Genome Sciences’ dependence on
key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of
products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks
described in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Existing and
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today’s date. Human
Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.