LUGANO, Switzerland, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Helsinn Group, the Company focused on building quality cancer care, announced today the appointment of Dr. Philip S. Schein, to the Board of Directors of its U.S. subsidiary, Helsinn Therapeutics Inc. ("HTU"), effective 8 May 2014.

Dr. Philip Schein was the former Founder, Chairman and CEO of US Biosciences, Inc., and Chair of the Clinical Investigations Committee of the National Cancer Advisory Board.  Dr. Schein has served as President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chairman of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Board (ODAC) of the Food and Drug Administration, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Medical Oncology of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has received numerous scientific and medical awards including the Harvey W. Wiley Medal from the FDA and the Wainwright Award for Excellence in Medical Education. He is currently President of The Schein Group, which provides consultative services to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group's CEO and Board member and Chairman of the Board of HTU, said: "Over the last year, during which he served the Company as a consultant, I have had the great pleasure to work closely with Dr. Schein and have been impressed with the depth and breadth of his scientific and clinical knowledge and pharmaceutical industry expertise.  We are very pleased to welcome him to the Board of HTU and believe this further strengthens the skills and expertise of the Board of HTU."

The Board of HTU 

Dr. Schein joins Mr. Paulo F. Costa and Mr. Oscar Schafer, who joined the Board in 2013.

Mr. Costa was formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., President and CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (U.S.A.), President of Janssen Pharmaceutical, and Executive Vice President, Global Franchise Development, and a member of Johnson & Johnson's Pharmaceuticals Group Operating Committee.  Mr. Costa is currently Chairman of the Board of MacroGenics and a member of the Board of Directors of Purdue Pharma Inc.

Mr. Oscar S. Schafer is the Managing Partner of O.S.S. Capital Management LP, a private investment partnership which he co-founded in 2001. Previously, he was a Member of Cumberland Associates and General Partner at Steinhardt Partners. Mr. Schafer has been a longtime participant in the Barron's Roundtable of top money managers. Mr. Schafer is President of the Schafer Family Foundation, which supports the arts and social service organizations. Mr. Schafer serves on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and on The Executive Committee of the New York Philharmonic.

Other members of the HTU Board of Directors include Vice-Chairman, Mr. Franco De Vecchi (Helsinn Group Board Member and Chairman and CEO of VPCI, Inc.), Mr. Giorgio Calderari (Helsinn Group General Manager), Mr. Luigi Caletti (Helsinn Group CFO), and Mr. William Mann (President & CEO of HTU).

About the Helsinn Group 

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and operating subsidiaries in Ireland, the United States and a representative office in China. Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional supplement products in therapeutic niche areas. Helsinn is an important player in cancer supportive care. Helsinn Group in‐licenses early‐to‐late stage new chemical entities, completes their development through the performance of preclinical/ clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) development, and files and attains their market approvals worldwide. Helsinn's products are out‐licensed to its network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep in‐market knowledge and know‐how whom Helsinn assists and supports by providing a full range of product and scientific management services, including commercial, regulatory, and medical marketing advice. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished products are manufactured according to the highest quality, safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland and supplied worldwide to its customers.

In March 2013, Helsinn established a new commercial organization within its subsidiary, Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc., in order to conduct direct sales and marketing activities within the U.S. market. Helsinn's products are manufactured according to the highest quality, safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland from where they are then supplied worldwide to customers

Further information on Helsinn Group is available at http://www.helsinn.com

For more information please contact:
Helsinn Group
Paola Bonvicini
Head of Communication & Press Office
Tel: +41-91-985-21-21
info-hhc@helsinn.com

For media / external inquiries
Consilium Strategic Communications  
Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Matthew Neal / Melissa Jumbo
Tel: +44(0)203-709-5700
Helsinn@consilium-comms.com

SOURCE Helsinn Healthcare SA DUPE