Acerus Appoints Dr. Geoff Cotton to Its Board of Directors

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation (TSX:ASP) today announced the appointment of Dr. Geoff Cotton, MB BS, MBA to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Cotton is a healthcare executive, venture capital adviser, and angel investor with 20 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He spent over 17 years with Gilead Sciences Inc. in Medical Affairs and Commercial roles of increasing responsibility culminating in leadership of the Global Commercial Strategy group, and leadership of the U.S. HIV business unit, with responsibility for over $8B in revenue and $100M of expenses annually. Dr. Cotton has extensive experience in U.S. pharmaceutical product launch and promotion, Key Opinion Leader development, sales leadership and execution, product lifecycle development, U.S. and EU pricing and reimbursement, portfolio strategy, M&A assessment, clinical development, and medical affairs. His therapeutic experience includes anti-virals and anti-infectives, immunology, oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal disease. Dr. Cotton has worked in the U.S., EU, Global and country level roles. Under Dr. Cotton’s business unit leadership, Gilead launched Genvoya^®, Odefsey^®, and Descovy^® for the treatment of chronic HIV infection, with Genvoya^® achieving the fastest launch of any HIV product at that time. Dr. Cotton also launched Truavada^® for post exposure prophylaxis, a novel HIV preventative achieving over $1B in revenue in the U.S.

Dr. Cotton graduated in Medicine with a BSc and MB BS from the University of London and practiced internal medicine in the UK prior to joining the pharmaceutical Industry. He has an MBA from Golden State University.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cotton to the Acerus Board of Directors,” commented Ian Ihnatowycz, Chairman of the Board. “The depth of his strategic experience, knowledge of drug development, his medical expertise and his U.S. pharma commercial experience will undoubtedly be beneficial to Acerus as we look towards our future with excitement and confidence.”

About Acerus

Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a Canadian-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization and development of innovative prescription products that improve patient experience, with a primary focus in the field of men’s health. The Company commercializes its products via its own salesforce in the United States and Canada, and through a global network of licensed distributors in other territories.

Acerus’ shares trade on TSX under the symbol ASP and on OTCQB under the symbol ASPCF. For more information, visit www.aceruspharma.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.