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ALS Therapy Development Institute Announces Resignation of CEO James Heywood and Appointment to Board

8/23/2007






CAMBRIDGE, Mass., August 23, 2007 — The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a leading research organization engaged in the discovery and development of a cure for ALS, today announced that its board of directors accepted the resignation of founder James “Jamie” Heywood as chief executive officer. Sean Scott was chosen by the board to lead the Institute, continuing as president in a planned transition that began earlier this year. Heywood will become a member of the board.

ALS TDI also named Maureen A. Lister, as chief financial officer, formerly director of finance, treasurer and secretary at endoVia Medical, Inc., a developer of computer-assisted devices for minimally invasive medicine.

Heywood received a letter of commendation (see the end of this page), from the ALS TDI board of directors, recognizing his contributions. “On behalf of ALS patients and their families everywhere, the board acknowledges with deep gratitude Jamie’s extraordinary vision, dedication, leadership and enterprise in building one of the world’s leading ALS drug discovery programs,” said Augie Nieto, chairman of the board.

“Sean Scott understands the needs of patients and researchers, having served TDI for more than seven years as a key executive and as an ALS family member whose mother died from the disease. He has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and he has our unanimous vote of confidence to take the Institute forward.”

Mr. Scott came to the Institute in 2000 after his mother was diagnosed with ALS. Beginning as a volunteer, he quickly assumed the management and direction of the research and development program. He was responsible for developing the Institute’s pipeline software, which surveys all known therapeutics for their potential efficacy against ALS. Prior to Scott’s recruitment of Steve Perrin, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer, Scott’s team pioneered new pharmacological and surgical study designs and statistical techniques for a new generation of previously uncharacterized transgenic mice., Scott also directed the Institute’s drug screening program, attracting the attention of corporate research departments, building strong relationships to attract funding and accelerate the pace of drug development.

“As a result of our partnership with Augie’s Quest and MDA, ALS TDI is at a pivotal point in its growth and development as a world-class research organization,” said Jamie Heywood. “Under the guid*ance of Sean Scott, Steven Perrin, Maureen Lister, Augie Nieto and the rest of the management team, I’m confident the Institute is in good hands as it continues to aggressively seek out, develop, and deliver promising therapies for ALS.”
Faced with his 29-year-old brother Stephen’s diagnosis of ALS in 1998, Jamie founded ALS TDI as the world’s first “non-profit biotechnology company” aimed at dramatically accelerat*ing ALS research. Under Jamie’s leadership, ALS TDI was the first organization to run an open research program, posting in real time the results of its studies for patients, doctors, and the research community. Over 100 families have joined with the Heywood family and ALS TDI to raise tens of millions of dollars through philanthropic, corporate and government programs, including the historic $36 million discovery research collaboration with Augie’s Quest and the Muscular Dystrophy Association announced earlier this year.



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About ALS Therapy Development Institute



The ALS Therapy Development Institute (www.als.net), based in Cambridge, Mass., was founded in 1999 as the ALS Therapy Development Foundation. Re-named in 2006 as a result of its collaboration with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and its Augie’s Quest initiative, the Institute continues its mission to discover and develop drugs to treat ALS. A leader in ALS transgenic mouse studies, it excels in identifying novel disease targets, and screening potential treatments for ALS, as well as related neuro*muscular disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington diseases.



Media Contacts:

Charles Versaggi, Ph.D.

Versaggi Biocommunications®

415/806-6039

cv@versaggibio.com





Commendation for James Heywood, ALS TDI’s Founder and CEO.

The Board of Directors of ALS TDI has regretfully accepted the resignation of James Heywood as Chief Executive Officer and appoints him to the Board of Directors. On behalf of ALS patients and their families everywhere, the Board acknowledges with deep gratitude the extraordinary vision, dedication, leadership and enterprise of its founder in creating and managing ALS TDI.

Faced with his 29 year old brother Stephen's diagnosis of ALS in 1998, Jamie founded ALS TDI, the world’s first non-profit biotechnology company, and applied his engineering and management skills to dramatically accelerate ALS research. ALS TDI broke new ground on many fronts and has become widely recognized as one of the most promising and innovative research organizations. Under Jamie’s leadership, ALS TDI implemented an industrialized therapeutic validation process and built one of the world’s leading ALS drug discovery programs. ALS TDI was the first organization to run an open research program, posting in real time the results of its studies for patients, doctors, and the research community. It also pioneered a new model for engaging patients and families in fund raising and actively involving them in ALS research. Over 100 families have joined with Jamie, Stephen and the Heywood’s to fund these innovative efforts. ALS TDI has raised tens of millions of dollars through its philanthropic, corporate, and government programs, culminating in the historic discovery partnership in 2007 with Augie’s Quest and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"It has been an honor to lead ALS TDI, and I am very proud of the Institute and team that have built it. I know that the research program is in good hands and this is the right moment to move on to new challenges," said James Heywood, d'Arbeloff Founding Director, adding "I wish to thank my brother Stephen, my family, and all of the families that have joined together to create our shared vision of a research center focused not on profits, patents, or prestige but on patients."

Jamie’s remarkable commitment to his brother and the cause has inspired and given hope to thousands of donors, patients and their families. ALS TDI’s innovative efforts have set new standards for ALS research and significantly advanced the search for new treatments. The Board expects that ALS TDI will continue to benefit from Jamie’s inspiration and support both in his role as a member of the Board and from his ongoing work to improve the way in which biomedical research is conducted.

http://www.als.net/articles/articleD...articleId=5282