Vertex
Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that
Wayne J. Riley, M.D., M.B.A., joined its board of directors as an
independent director. The addition of Dr. Riley brings the number of
Vertex board members to 10. Dr. Riley was appointed to the class of
directors whose term expires in 2011 and who are subject to re-election
by the company’s shareholders in May 2011.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Riley has been a leader in public health
administration and patient care and will provide a unique perspective to
our board as we seek to bring breakthrough medicines to people with
serious diseases,” said Matthew Emmens, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “In addition, Dr. Riley’s
clinical and operational experience in the public health systems of
major urban centers and at large academic medical institutions will be
invaluable in our efforts to address the needs of people with hepatitis
C and those involved with treatment of this disease.”
Dr. Riley, 51, is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, the nation’s largest
private, independent academic health center dedicated to educating
minority and other health professionals. In addition, he holds the
academic rank of Professor of Internal Medicine at both Meharry and
Vanderbilt University Schools of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr.
Riley has held various leadership roles at academic medical institutions
and has broad experience in public health administration, health policy
and patient care. Prior to his role at Meharry Medical College, which
began in January 2007, Dr. Riley served as a corporate officer as Vice
President and Vice Dean for Health Affairs and Governmental Relations at
the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) from 2004 to 2006 and as Assistant
Dean for Education at BCM from 2000 to 2004. In his senior role at
Baylor, Dr. Riley was one of three physicians on the institution’s
seven-member senior management team. Dr. Riley began his career in
medicine in 1986 and has practiced at Houston’s Ben Taub General
Hospital, Michael. E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Methodist
Hospital and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospitals.
Dr. Riley currently serves as a member of the board of directors for
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., where he serves as a member of the
Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees, and also sits
on the boards of several non-profit and community service organizations,
including the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Health Care
Council, the Nashville Symphony Association, the United Way of
Metropolitan Nashville, the American Cancer Society and the Middle
Tennessee Council for the Boy Scouts of America, among others. He also
serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Labor, Education and
Healthcare Advisory Council and the Advisory Council for the National
Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National
Institutes of Health.
Dr. Riley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in New
Haven, Connecticut, a Master of Public Health degree from the Tulane
University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans,
Louisiana, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Morehouse School of
Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Business Administration
degree from the Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of
Business. Dr. Riley is a Regent and Master of the American College of
Physicians, a member of the Society of Medical Administrators, a
Diplomate of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the
National Board of Medical Examiners, Chair of the Board of the
Association of Minority Heath Professions Schools, and a member of Alpha
Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
About Vertex
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company
committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small
molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company's strategy is to
commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with
major pharmaceutical companies. Vertex's product pipeline is focused on
viral diseases, cystic fibrosis, inflammation, autoimmune diseases,
epilepsy, cancer, and pain.
Vertex's press releases are available at www.vrtx.com.
(VRTX-GEN)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Investors:
Michael
Partridge, 617-444-6108
or
Matt Osborne, 617-444-6057
or
Media:
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Barber, 617-444-6470