Liquidia Founder and CEO Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2011 Finalists

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Liquidia Technologies today announced that the company’s Founder Dr. Joseph DeSimone and Chief Executive Officer Neal Fowler are Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2011 Carolinas Award finalists. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Dr. DeSimone and Mr. Fowler were selected as finalists from nearly 100 nominations by a panel of independent judges and former award recipients. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 9, 2011 at The Westin Charlotte.

“It is flattering to be recognized by such an elite group of entrepreneurs, both locally and globally,” said Neal Fowler, CEO Liquidia Technologies. “However, this nomination truly reflects the hard work and dedication of an amazing team at Liquidia and a revolutionary technology for improving the lives of patients.”

Liquidia Technologies is a novel biotechnology company in Research Triangle Park, NC focusing on improving the safety and efficacy of potentially lifesaving medications using precisely engineered particles. Liquidia was recently recognized as a “Top 25 N.C. Company to Watch” by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) and the recipient of the first ever equity investment in a privately held biotech company from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the advancement of their vaccines platform. Liquidia was founded by Dr. DeSimone in 2004.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized, along with Neal Fowler, as a finalist for this award,” said Dr. Joseph DeSimone, Liquidia Founder. “The nature of this nomination further exemplifies the powerful entrepreneurial bridge that can exist between academia and industry”. DeSimone is the Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at NC State University.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities and more than 50 countries throughout the world.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as a national sponsor.

About Liquidia

Liquidia Technologies is developing precisely engineered particles for improved delivery of biologics and small molecules for vaccine and therapeutic applications. The ability to control particle design parameters such as size, shape and chemistry is allowing Liquidia to address critical unmet needs in the prevention and treatment of human disease. In addition to its own products, Liquidia licenses its PRINT® particle technology and its GMP manufacturing capabilities to support proprietary programs advanced by collaborators. The company was founded in 2004 and is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. www.liquidia.com.

About Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.



CONTACT:

Liquidia Technologies
Michael Parks, 267-885-3066

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  North Carolina

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Pharmaceutical

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