Vicki Sato resigns from Galapagos Board

MECHELEN, Belgium, Jan. 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announces the resignation of Dr Vicki Sato as a member of its Board of Directors, effective 31 December 2014.

Dr Sato has been a member of the Galapagos Board since 2011.  She is also a member of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Board of Directors.  Dr Sato is leaving the Board of Galapagos to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

"We wish to thank Vicki for her strong contribution to the evolution of Galapagos into a full-fledged, mature therapeutic pipeline company," said Dr Raj Parekh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Galapagos.  "We wish Vicki much success going forward."

About Galapagos

Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is specialized in novel modes-of-action, with a large pipeline comprising three Phase 2 programs, two Phase 1 studies, five pre-clinical, and 25 discovery small-molecule and antibody programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, antibiotics, metabolic disease, and other indications.  In the field of inflammation, AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement for the development and commercialization of GLPG0634.  GLPG0634 is an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases, currently in Phase 2B studies in RA and in Phase 2 in Crohn's disease.  Galapagos has another selective JAK1 inhibitor, GSK2586184 (formerly GLPG0778, in-licensed by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012).  GLPG1205, a first-in-class inhibitor of GPR84, is currently being tested in a Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept study in ulcerative colitis patients.  GLPG1690 is a first-in-class compound that targets pulmonary diseases and is currently in a Phase 1 study.  AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement in cystic fibrosis to develop and commercialize molecules that address mutations in the CFTR gene.  Potentiator GLPG1837 started Phase 1 last month, and corrector GLPG2222 is at the pre-clinical candidate stage.  The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has around 400 employees, operating from its Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in The Netherlands, France, and Croatia.  Further information at: www.glpg.com