REDWOOD CITY, California, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Coherus BioSciences, Inc., a late-stage biologics platform company focused on the global biosimilar market, announced today the appointment of Mary Szela, Chief Executive Officer of Melinta Therapeutics, Inc., to its board of directors.

"We are delighted to welcome Mary Szela to our team," said Denny Lanfear, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coherus. "Mary's experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing will complement our team's proven product development capabilities, enhancing our cloning-to-commercialization expertise."

"Coherus has established a highly effective biosimilar development platform to gain regulatory approval of these complex biologics, and shares my personal desire to increase access to essential therapeutics to patients around the world," said Ms. Szela. "I look forward to working with the distinguished board of directors at Coherus to advance its collaborative business model and propel its pipeline of biosimilars to the market."

Ms. Szela has a 25-year history of creating growth, generating positive organizational change and inspiring high-performing teams. Ms. Szela joined Melinta Therapeutics as director in January 2013 and was named Chief Executive Officer in April 2013. Prior to that, she held a series of leadership positions at Abbott Laboratories, including Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing and Senior Vice President of U.S. Pharmaceuticals, and was directly responsible for its $8 billion U.S. pharmaceutical business, where she directed the development and launch of more than eight new pharmaceutical products and multi-billion dollar sales growth for Abbott's Humira® product. In Abbott's Hospital Products division, she was responsible for Abbott's peri-operative, intensive care and pain management pharmaceutical business and the global One 2 One™ outsourcing business.

Ms. Szela also serves on the board of directors of Suneva Medical, Inc. and Melinta Therapeutics, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois.

About Coherus BioSciences, Inc.

Coherus is a late-stage biologics platform company focused on the global biosimilar market. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and composed of a team of industry veterans with decades of experience in pioneering biologics companies, our goal is to become a global leader in the biosimilar market by leveraging our team's collective expertise in key areas such as process science, analytical characterization, protein production and clinical-regulatory development. Our commercialization partnerships include global pharmaceutical companies in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Biosimilars are intended for use in place of existing, branded biologics to treat a range of chronic and often life-threatening diseases, with the potential to reduce costs and expand patient access. For additional information, please visit www.coherus.com.

CONTACT: Beth Jimison, +1-650-649-3526, bjimison@coherus.com

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SOURCE Coherus BioSciences