VRP.L Regulatory News (VRP)

Verona Pharma plc ("Verona Pharma" or the "Company") Appointment of Dr David Ebsworth as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors 24 November 2014, Cardiff - Verona Pharma plc (AIM: VRP.L), the drugdevelopment company focused on first-in-class medicines to treat respiratorydiseases, today announces the appointment of David Ebsworth, PhD, asNon-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors with effect from 1 December2014, succeeding Professor Clive Page who has held the role since founding theCompany in 2006. Dr. David Raymond Ebsworth, aged 60, is an experienced pharmaceutical executivewho has worked at Board and Senior Management level at a number of companiesinternationally. He has extensive experience of product development and lifecycle management and has been involved in successful product approvals in theUS and Europe. From October 2009 to August 2014, Dr Ebsworth served as ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) of Vifor Pharma, based in Zürich, the Specialty Pharmadivision of Galenica AG Group, the leading pharmaceutical wholesaler andretailer in Switzerland. Dr Ebsworth was also named as CEO of Galenica AG in2011. He continues as advisor to the CEO of Vifor Pharma and Galenica Santé,the two companies which are preparing to separate out of the Galenica Group asannounced in August 2014. During his tenure with the Galenica Group, its valueincreased from CHF 2.4 billion to CHF 5.6 billion, with, most notably, two FDAapprovals and one EMA approval. Dr Jan-Anders Karlsson, the CEO of Verona Pharma, said, "As well as being thefounder of Verona Pharma, Clive has made an enormous contribution to theCompany over the years, with his extensive knowledge of respiratory medicinesand international reputation in the field. We thank him for all hisachievements, as we welcome David to the Board. David's significant expertisein the pharma industry strongly supports Verona Pharma's focus on high valuecommercial opportunities and future growth." Dr Ebsworth commented, "I am looking forward to working closely with VeronaPharma's Board and Management to guide the Company towards success. I shall usemy background and experience in both international pharma and biotech tosupport this innovative company within the hugely rewarding respiratory space." Dr Ebsworth's career spans over 35 years in the global pharmaceutical industry,largely with Bayer AG covering senior management roles in Leverkusen, Germany,the US and Canada. Aside from Bayer, where he worked for over 19 years havingjoined as a product manager in 1983, Dr Ebsworth spent two years as Chairman ofA&D Pharma-Holdings NV in Bucharest, Romania. He also served as Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Oxford Glycosciences (OGS), a biotech company listed on the LSE andNASDAQ stock exchanges, which was acquired by Celltech plc (now part of UCB) in2003. OGS was the world leader in proteomics and had development compounds forGaucher's disease and cancer. Dr Ebsworth has served on a number of Boardswithin the pharma, biotech and venture capital sectors, in the UK, Germany, theUS, Austria, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, and Japan During the past five years Dr Ebsworth has held directorships at Xention Ltd,Wilex AG and Intercell AG. Save as disclosed in this announcement there are nofurther disclosures required under Rule 17 or Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rulesfor Companies. -Ends- For further information please contact: Verona Pharma plc Tel: +44 (0) 20 7863 3300Jan-Anders Karlsson, CEO N+1 Singer Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000Aubrey Powell / Jen Boorer FTI Consulting Tel: +44 (0)20 3727 1000Julia Phillips / Simon Conway Notes to Editors About Verona Pharma plc Verona Pharma plc is a UK-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical companyfocused on the development of innovative prescription medicines to treatrespiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs, such as COPD, asthmaand cystic fibrosis. Verona Pharma's lead drug, RPL554, is a first-in-classdrug currently in Phase II trials as a nebulised treatment for acuteexacerbations of COPD in the hospital setting. The drug is a dualphosphodiesterase (PDE) 3/4 inhibitor and therefore has both bronchodilator andanti-inflammatory effects, which are essential to the improvement of patientswith COPD and asthma. Verona Pharma is also building a broader franchise aroundRPL554 to maximise its value, both to patients and to investors. This includesthe very significant markets for COPD and asthma maintenance therapy. TheCompany is also exploring the potential of the drug in different diseases, suchas cystic fibrosis, where it is in pre-clinical testing and has recentlyreceived a Venture and Innovation Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.