ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampio
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: AMPE) a development stage
biopharmaceutical company, executing a Special Protocol
Assessment (SPA) phase three clinical trial titled
"Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ampion to treat Adults with
Pain Due to Severe Osteoarthritis of the Knee", today
announced that Cooley LLP has been engaged to represent Ampio
with respect to a potential strategic transaction, as well as
related matters. Jeff Libson, a
partner at Cooley, will lead the Cooley team and will provide legal
advice to the newly formed Transaction Advisory Committee
(TAC) and Ampio's Board of Directors.
Mr. Libson has practiced law for 35+ years and is widely
regarded as one of the leading life sciences practitioners in the
eastern United States. In addition
to practicing law, he is an adjunct professor at The Wharton School
of the University of Pennsylvania where
he teaches a graduate business course in life sciences/health care
entrepreneurship. His focus at Cooley is representing life
sciences companies in business matters, including governance,
M&A, strategic transactions and financings where he has advised
buyers, sellers and investors in numerous acquisition, disposition
and combination transactions involving both public and private
companies across the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.
Michael Macaluso, Ampio CEO,
noted, "With Jeff and his team providing legal advice
regarding possible strategic transactions to our TAC and the
Board of Directors, we are satisfied that we have assembled a group
that possesses the experience and expertise necessary to provide
comprehensive evaluations of our strategic options in a rapidly
evolving healthcare market place."
About Transaction Advisory Committee members
William Bindley
Mr Bindley is Chairman of Bindley Capital Partners, LLC, a private
equity investment firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and is also a Founder
and current Chairman of Guardian Pharmacy Services, the largest
privately held long term care pharmacy in the United States. Mr. Bindley also founded,
and was Chairman of Priority Healthcare Corporation, a national
provider of bio-pharmaceuticals and complex therapies for chronic
disease states with annual revenues of over $2 Billion when it was sold to Express Scripts in
2005. Mr. Bindley was the Chairman, President, Chief Executive
Officer and founder of Bindley Western Industries, Inc., a national
pharmaceutical distributor and nuclear pharmacy operator that was a
NYSE Fortune 200 company at the time of its merger into Cardinal
Health, Inc. in 2001. He previously served on the boards of
Cardinal Health, Inc., Key Bank, NA, Bindley Western Industries,
Priority Healthcare Corporation, and Shoe Carnival, Inc. He
received both a B.S. degree in Industrial Economics and a Doctor of
Management (H.C.) degree from Purdue
University. He also completed the Wholesale Management
Program at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He is the past Vice Chairman
of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association and serves on
the President's Advisory Council at Purdue University. Mr.
Bindley provided funding for the construction of the Bindley
Bioscience Center which was part of the largest gift by an
individual in Purdue University
history. Mr Bindley was also an owner of the Indian Pacers
Professional Basketball Team.
Bruce E. Terker
Mr.
Terker is a Founding Partner of a number of private equity and
alternative asset management firms which include Odyssey Capital
Group, Ballyshannon Partners and Argosy Capital. Mr. Terker
is on the advisory board of The Rodney L White Center for Financial
Research at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the founder
and benefactor of the Marshall Blume Prizes in Investment
Research. Mr. Terker was a co‑founder and Partner in Geewax,
Terker and Company, a registered investment advisor that managed
over $8 billion and which catered to
the institutional investor marketplace for over 25 years. He
has extensive experience investing in the Life Sciences and
Biopharmaceutical Industries. Mr. Terker previously taught
courses in Investments and Corporate Finance at the Wharton School,
and has been published in the Journal of Finance for his research
in capital market theory and asset pricing.
About Special Protocol Assessment (SPA)
A SPA is a
process in which sponsors may ask to meet with the FDA to reach
agreement on the design and size of certain clinical trials to
determine if they adequately address scientific and regulatory
requirements for a study that could support marketing approval. Our
SPA agreement for the above referenced study indicates concurrence
by the FDA with the adequacy and acceptability of specific critical
elements of overall protocol design for the study, which we intend
to support a future Biologic License Application (BLA).
About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an
incurable and progressive disorder of the joints involving
degradation of the intra-articular cartilage, joint lining,
ligaments, and bone. Certain risk factors in conjunction with
natural wear and tear lead to the breakdown of cartilage. OA is
caused by inflammation of the soft tissue and bony structures of
the joint, which worsens over time and leads to progressive
thinning of articular cartilage. Other symptoms include narrowing
of the joint space, synovial membrane thickening, osteophyte
formation and increased density of subchondral bone.
About Ampio Pharmaceuticals
Ampio Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. is a development stage biopharmaceutical company primarily
focused on the develop- ment of Ampion, our product candidate, to
treat prevalent inflammatory conditions for which there are limited
treatment options.
Forward-Looking Statements
Ampio's statements in
this press release that are not historical fact, and that relate to
future plans or events, are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words
such as "believe," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," and similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements
regarding Ampio's expectations with respect to Ampion™ and its
classification, as well as those associated with regulatory
approvals and other FDA decisions, the Biological License
Application (BLA), the ability of Ampio to enter into
partnering arrangements, clinical trials and decisions and changes
in business conditions and similar events, all of which are
inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risks
and uncertainties involved include those detailed from time to time
in Ampio's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including without limitation, under Ampio's Annual Report on Form
10-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Ampio undertakes no obligation to revise or update
these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Company Contact
Dan
Stokely, CFO
Phone: (720) 437-6500
info@ampiopharma.com
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SOURCE Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.