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Giacomo Di Nepi Appointed New CEO of Polyphor

Allschwil, Switzerland, October 18, 2016. - Polyphor has announced the appointment of Giacomo Di Nepi as the new CEO. He will assume responsibilities on November 1^st, 2016. Michael Altorfer will support Giacomo over the coming months to facilitate the transition and then leave the company to pursue other opportunities.

Giacomo Di Nepi has been advising the Board of Directors of Polyphor on strategy and organization since last May. He has a long and successful career in the Pharma/Biotech industry where he launched several products at country, regional and global level and developed broad leadership skills across a variety of general management positions.

Jerry Karabelas, Chairman of the Board, commented: "I am very pleased that Giacomo accepted to take over this role. I know him since a long time and believe he will bring tremendous energy and capabilities to successfully prepare the launch of our products, drive the business, and lead its future success. I would also like to thank Michael for his excellent contribution in all these years and wish him all the best personally and professionally for his future".

Giacomo Di Nepi said: "I am extremely happy to join Polyphor, and to continue to work with its team and the Board. Polyphor has developed two strong businesses with great potential: a strong Technology collaboration business in macrocycles, which is rapidly growing, and the Pharma business with three exciting product candidates in specialty and orphan areas of great medical need - which can provide an important benefit to patients affected by severe diseases and significant value to Polyphor. These two businesses are both important, but have different characteristics and will be managed ensuring proper focus, skills and strategic direction to each of them".

Giacomo brings over 30 years' experience in the industry, most recently as EVP and General Manager, Europe for InterMune Inc., where he launched Esbriet, an orphan drug, and built from scratch a USD 140 million and 200 people business - until the acquisition of InterMune by Roche for USD 8.3bn. Prior, he was in senior leadership responsibilities with Takeda and Novartis, where he was also member of the Pharma Executive Committee, and was a Partner with McKinsey&Co. He currently serves on the boards of Geneuro (GNRO.PA) and NTC, a privately held Company.

About Polyphor:
Polyphor is a privately held Swiss Specialty Pharma company focused on the development of macrocycle drugs that address antibiotic resistances and rare pulmonary diseases. The company's lead drug candidates include:

- Murepavadin (POL7080, in Phase II), a highly specific antibiotic with a new mechanism of action,to treat Pseudomonas infections

- POL6014 (in Phase Ib), an inhaled inhibitor of neutrophil elastase for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and other lung diseases

- Balixafortide (POL6326, in Phase Ib), a CXCR4 antagonist for combination treatments in oncology

In addition, Polyphor is developing a new class of innovative broad-spectrum antibiotics to address infections caused by difficult-to-treat, resistant Gram-negative pathogens - one of the most pressing emerging medical needs.
Polyphor leverages its proprietary macrocycle technology platform to efficiently develop its own product portfolio and to pursue licensing and collaboration opportunities with industry partners. It has collaborative partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Taisho, Novartis and Gilead Sciences.