media centre
18 September 2006
Appointment of New Non-Executive Director
West Malling, UK--Phoqus Group plc (AIM: PQS), the oral drug delivery and development company, today announces that Mustapha Leavenworth Bakali (Staph Bakali) has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director effective immediately.
Staph Bakali is the former Chief Operating Officer of ID Biomedical Corporation, a Canadian-based biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative vaccine products. At ID Biomedical, Staph was responsible for integrating Shire Biologics, Shire’s vaccine business, and streamlining the Company's development programmes. He subsequently played a key role in the $1.4 billion acquisition of the combined company by GSK.
Prior to ID Biomedical, Staph was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Designate of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals PLC where he was integral in transforming the company from an R&D stage organisation into a fully integrated pharmaceutical company, which led to the acquisition of PowderJect by Chiron for £550 million. Between 1999 and 2001 Staph was Director of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for the Vaccines Division of Chiron Corporation and, prior to that, spent 11 years with Smithkline Beecham PLC in a number of management positions.
Staph Bakali, aged 44, is a director of Osisko Exploration, Intercell AG and Lumiu Limited and a partner of the Data Application Analysis Research Application Service Provider LLP. There are no further disclosures to be made in respect of Mr Bakali under paragraph g of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules.
Dr Edwin Moses, Chairman of Phoqus, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Staph Bakali to the Board. With Staph's track record of transforming businesses, he has the right credentials and experience to help the Company through the next stage of its development.”
Staph Bakali commented:
“I am delighted to be joining Phoqus. I look forward to working with the team to create further value for the business and its shareholders.”
Enquiries:
Phoqus Group plc - Tel: 01732 870227
Edwin Moses, Chairman
Financial Dynamics - Tel: 020 7831 3113
Sarah MacLeod / John Gilbert
Notes to editors
About Phoqus
Phoqus is a drug delivery company using proprietary electrostatic powder coating technology, LeQtracoat®, to provide an extensive range of innovative systems targeting the oral drug delivery market. Drug delivery technologies are applied to pharmaceuticals to provide benefits such as controlling the release of a drug into the body, enhancing patient compliance and improving the performance and efficacy of an existing drug. In turn, these benefits enable pharmaceutical companies to extend the life cycles of their products, strengthen their patent protection and thereby enhance the value of their marketed products and development pipelines. Phoqus is the only company using electrostatic powder coating technology for pharmaceutical applications and has over 120 granted patents.
Based in Kent, Phoqus was established in 1998 as a spin-out from Colorcon, a division of Berwind Pharmaceutical Services Inc. The Company was admitted to trading on AIM in November 2005 and is listed under the symbol "PQS".
Further background on the Company can be found at www.phoqus.com.
Phoqus Pharmaceuticals Limited
10 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4PQ
Telephone: +44 (0)1732 870227, Fax: +44 (0)1732 870228
E-mail: info@phoqus.com
