Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR) today announced that Dr. Mauro Ferrari has joined the Company’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Ferrari has served as Arrowhead’s Scientific Advisory Chairman since 2008 and is regarded as a thought leader and pioneer of nanomedicine. With his appointment to Arrowhead’s Board of Directors, Dr. Ferrari will resign his consultancy and his post on the Scientific Advisory Board of Arrowhead.
Dr. Ferrari is the president of the Alliance for NanoHealth, and he serves as Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Professor of Bioengineering at Rice University. Dr. Ferrari has also been named President and CEO of The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (TMHRI), based in Houston, Texas.
Current member of the Arrowhead Board of Directors, LeRoy T. Rahn, has resigned to offer his seat on the Board to Dr. Ferrari.
Arrowhead’s Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors R. Bruce Stewart said, “Dr. Ferrari is a scientific visionary and has been a strong proponent of our efforts at Arrowhead. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his leadership roles at influential hospitals, academia and institutions to help us build-out our nanomedicine portfolio.
“On behalf of Arrowhead, I would also like to thank Lee for his dedication and contributions to our Company. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” concluded Mr. Stewart.
“Dr. Ferrari’s addition to Arrowhead’s Board is an important and powerful step for us as we become a focused nanomedicine company,” said Dr. Christopher Anzalone, Arrowhead President and CEO. “His deep technical expertise and new appointment at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute provide a unique and broad perspective that, we believe, will help us create value for our shareholders.”
Dr. Ferrari will begin his duties as President and CEO of TMHRI on September 1, 2010. The institute was established in 2004 to conduct translational research toward new diagnostics and therapies. It is home to more than 1,000 credentialed physicians, faculty and staff and more than 700 ongoing clinical trials. It expects to add to its existing 100,000 sq ft facility later this year when construction of a new 440,000 sq ft building is complete. The new building will house expanded interdisciplinary research, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility to prepare clinical-grade biological agents and small molecules, state-of-the-art imaging equipment for preclinical and clinical studies, and a specialized laboratory for infectious disease research.
“I have no doubt that nanotechnology will revolutionize every aspect of medicine,” said Dr. Ferrari. “I believe Arrowhead is positioned perfectly to be the leader in the commercialization of nanotechnology-based products for medicine. I am honored to join this most distinguished Board of Directors, and help Arrowhead retain and expand its world-class leadership in the field.”
Dr. Ferrari is a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has over 200 published works, over 30 issued patents, and is regularly invited to speak on biomedical nanotechnology and other topics worldwide.
Source: http://www.arrowheadresearch.com/