IPM Welcomes New Board Members Dr. Bruce Burlington and Tamar Howson

New members lend years of expertise in product development and regulatory affairs

SILVER SPRING, Md. (February 5, 2013) – The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) today announced the appointments of Dr. Bruce Burlington and Tamar Howson to its Board of Directors. Together they bring an impressive combination of experience in pharmaceutical product development, biotechnology and regulatory affairs that will support IPM’s efforts to advance HIV prevention technologies, and new sexual and reproductive health solutions for women around the world.

Currently a pharmaceutical development and regulatory affairs consultant, Dr. Burlington held several senior posts at Wyeth, including executive vice president and worldwide head of Regulatory Affairs, where he played a central role in the development and global registration of many pharmaceutical products. Prior to joining Wyeth, Dr. Burlington was a leader at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he served for 17 years in various roles, including director of the Division of Biological Investigational New Drugs and director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and also held several management positions in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. As an infectious disease physician and a leader in regulatory policy, Dr. Burlington also served as the industry representative on the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.

“I am honored to be joining IPM’s Board of Directors at such a landmark time for the organization,” said Dr. Burlington. “With two Phase III trials of IPM’s dapivirine ring currently in the field and innovative technologies like the dual-purpose microbicide-contraceptive ring on the horizon, I look forward to contributing to IPM’s ongoing efforts to identify, expedite and establish regulatory pathways for these promising technologies.”

Joining Dr. Burlington as a new IPM board member is Ms. Tamar Howson, a biotechnology consultant and a corporate and business development executive with over 20 years of experience in several major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Her particular expertise in structuring and negotiating in- and out-licensing agreements, and establishing industry collaborations makes her ideally suited to guide IPM’s work in developing HIV prevention technologies and other sexual and reproductive health solutions for women. Ms. Howson served as senior vice president of Corporate and Business Development at both SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) and Bristol-Myers Squibb and held senior positions at Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals and Johnston Associates.

“I’m thrilled to be joining IPM’s Board of Directors to advance the organization’s critical mission for women and girls around the world,” said Tamar Howson. “IPM’s negotiation of non-exclusive, royalty-free licenses to promising ARV compounds for the developing world will prove crucial to achieving widespread access to a successful product. I look forward to supporting those efforts so that IPM, along with its partners, may help reach an HIV-free generation in our lifetime.”

Dr. Burlington and Ms. Howson will join an experienced Board of Directors at an exciting time for the organization. IPM is nearly a year into a Phase III licensure program for its monthly microbicide ring, which slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine to protect women against HIV. Pending the results of the Phase III program along with several other smaller studies, IPM  will seek regulatory approval for the product and collaborate with partners to ensure the ring reaches women in developing countries at low cost as soon as possible.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Burlington and Ms. Howson to our board of directors. IPM is sure to benefit from their wealth of experience in product development,” said IPM CEO Dr. Zeda Rosenberg. “As we continue the dapivirine ring licensure program, prepare for potential product approval and continue to expand our pipeline, we will rely on our new and existing board members to help guide the way forward.”

About IPM: IPM is a nonprofit product development partnership dedicated to developing new HIV prevention technologies and making them available to women in developing countries. IPM has offices in the United States, South Africa and Belgium. To learn more, please visit www.IPMglobal.org.

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Contacts:

IPM US and Europe: Holly Seltzer, hseltzer@IPMglobal.org, +1.301.608.4277

IPM Africa: Leonard Solai, lsolai@IPMglobal.org, +27.21.860.2314