INNATE PHARMA : appoints Nicolai Wagtmann Chief Scientific Officer

INNATE PHARMA : appoints Nicolai Wagtmann Chief Scientific Officer

   -- Nicolai Wagtmann, previously Vice-President R&D at Novo Nordisk A/S, 
      generated and developed a portfolio of therapeutic antibodies for the 
      treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases 
 
   -- François Romagné to lead CIMTECH and join Innate Pharma's 
      Scientific Advisory Board 

MARSEILLE, France, Oct. 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 - IPH), the innate immunity company developing first-in-class drug candidates for cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announces the appointment of Nicolai Wagtmann as Chief Scientific Officer. His appointment to the Executive Board will be proposed at the next Supervisory board.

Nicolai Wagtmann joins Innate Pharma from Novo Nordisk A/S where he was Vice-President R&D and Head of Inflammation Biology. Nicolai Wagtmann is a pioneer of pharmacological approaches targeting innate immunity lymphocytes both in immuno-oncology and in inflammation. His research, initiated in academia, was developed in industry through the research collaboration between Innate Pharma and Novo Nordisk A/S.

Nicolai Wagtmann has resigned from Novo Nordisk A/S. His appointment as Innate Pharma's CSO is independent of Innate Pharma's corporate agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S and was supported unanimously by Innate Pharma's Supervisory board. He replaces François Romagné, co-founder of Innate Pharma, Chief Scientific Officer and member of the Executive Board since the Company's inception. From January 2014 François Romagné will lead CIMTECH, the new immuno-technology platform at Aix-Marseille University, which Innate Pharma co-founded. François Romagné will join Innate Pharma's Scientific Advisory Board at the same date.

Nicolai Wagtmann said: "My team at Novo Nordisk has enjoyed very productive interactions with Innate Pharma during a multi-year research collaboration which resulted in three first-in-class therapeutic antibodies undergoing clinical development. I have been impressed by Innate Pharma's unique scientific approach for therapeutically modulating the immune system. I now look forward to leading this excellent team to broaden and grow this unique platform and to advance several novel drug candidates into clinical development over the next few years. With the explosion of the immuno-pharmacoloy field, we have an exciting opportunity for building a high-value therapeutic antibody company".

François Romagné said: "The appointment of Nicolai is a great opportunity for Innate Pharma. Heading CIMTECH will allow me to focus on discovery and validation of new targets in immunology, in close link with fundamental research and of course Innate Pharma".

Hervé Brailly, CEO and co-founder of Innate Pharma, said: "We are very happy to welcome Nicolai, who brings not only a deep understanding of immunology and its creativity, but also an industrial vision which will be key for the growth and development of Innate Pharma's portfolio of drug candidates.

François was decisive in building the Company and its portfolio of first-in-class antibodies. The changes we are announcing today are an important step for Innate Pharma and also for the structuring and development of Marseille-Immunopole, confirming its world-class status as a collaborative ecosystem in immunology".

About Innate Pharma:

Innate Pharma S.A. is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class immunotherapy drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

The Company specializes in the development of new monoclonal antibodies targeting receptors and pathways controlling the activation of innate immunity cells. Its innovative approaches have led to licensing agreements with Novo Nordisk A/S and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Incorporated in 1999 and listed on NYSE-Euronext in Paris in 2006, Innate Pharma is based in Marseilles, France, and had 84 employees as at June 30, 2013.

Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com.

Practical Information about Innate Pharma shares:

 
ISIN code    FR0010331421 
Ticker code  IPH 
 

Disclaimer:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharma's website.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country.

For additional information, please contact:

 
Innate Pharma                   ATCG Press 
Laure-Hélène Mercier  Marielle Bricman 
Director, Investor Relations 
Phone: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 87     Mob.: +33 (0)6 26 94 18 53 
[email protected]     [email protected] 
 

Appointment Nicolai Wagtmann : http://hugin.info/155662/R/1732900/579875.pdf