Chief Operating Officer Tessie M. Che Departing Company
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Tessie M. Che, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, is departing the Company to pursue other interests.
"For the past decade, it's been a great experience building Optimer Pharmaceuticals and bringing DIFICID® to commercialization. I am quite pleased to see that Optimer continues on a path to achieve the vision we set for the Company back in 1998," commented Tessie M. Che.
"Optimer and DIFICID exist as a result of the perseverance, versatility and operational excellence that Tessie displayed since the creation of our company. Her legacy is inspirational for all of us as we move into the next stage of our development," said Pedro Lichtinger, President and CEO of Optimer. "We wish Tessie well and thank her for her dedication to Optimer and her enduring efforts to bring DIFICID to market."
About Optimer Pharmaceuticals
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative hospital specialty products that have a positive impact on society. Optimer developed and commercialized DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) tablets, an FDA-approved antibacterial drug for the treatment of adult patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Optimer has also received marketing authorization for fidaxomicin tablets in the European Union under the trade name DIFICLIR™. The company is seeking marketing authorization for fidaxomicin in Canada and is exploring marketing authorization in other parts of the world where C. difficile has emerged as a serious health problem, including Asia. Additional information can be found at http://www.optimerpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements related to achieving Optimer's vision and advancing the stage of the Company. Words such as "believes," "would," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "may," "intend," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Optimer that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations on the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Optimer's business including, without limitation, risks relating to: Optimer's ability to continue driving adoption and use of DIFICID, whether healthcare professionals will prescribe DIFICID, whether DIFICID will receive or continue to receive reimbursement coverage from healthcare payers and government agencies, the extent to which DIFICID will be accepted on hospital formularies and potential delays in formulary decisions, Optimer's ability to successfully coordinate commercialization efforts with Cubist Pharmaceuticals under its co-promotion agreement, whether Optimer will be able to realize expected benefits under its co-promotion agreement with Cubist, the fact that past results may not be predictive of future results of performance, the possibility of alternative means of preventing or treating DIFICID impacting adoption and sales of DIFICID, Optimer's ability, though its third party manufacturers and logistics providers, to maintain a sufficient supply of DIFICID to meet demand, Optimer's ability to pursue new indications for DIFICID, whether any studies intended to support additional indications for DIFICID will be successful, whether any new indications for DIFICID will be approved by the FDA and other risks detailed in Optimer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and Optimer undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.
Contacts
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David Walsey, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(858) 909-0736
Canale Communications, Inc.
Jason I. Spark, Senior Vice President
(619) 849-6005
SOURCE Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.