Dr Cherrington is President of Phenomix Corporation, a San Diego based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of drugs for the treatment of metabolic and infectious diseases.  Prior to her appointment as President, Dr Cherrington served as the Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Phenomix.  Before joining Phenomix, Dr Cherrrington held senior research positions at prominent biotechnology companies such as SUGEN, Inc. and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Recently Dr Cherrington joined the Board of ASX and NASDAQ listed Progen Pharmaceuticals Limited.  She has also served on the Board of ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Xenome’s Chairman, Mr Jim Hazel, welcomed Dr Cherrington’s appointment as an important step in the ongoing evolution of the Xenome Board.  “We are delighted to have a person of Julie’s stature and experience join the Board and look forward to her help in building Xenome as a drug development company.”

Dr Cherrington’s appointment took effect on 1 August 2009.

About Xenome:

Xenome is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based therapeutics.  The Company's lead product, Xen2174, is a novel conopeptide analogue for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.  Xen2174 is a non-competitive inhibitor of norepinephrine transporter (NET), a validated target for the management of pain.  In an international phase I/II clinical trial in cancer patients, a single intrathecal administration of Xen2174 was found to be safe and well-tolerated across a broad dose range.  In addition, the study provided evidence for an analgesic effect that had a rapid onset of action and was long-lasting.

Xenome's discovery platform is based on proprietary libraries of venom peptides, analogues and mimetics.  In November 2007 Xenome and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMLN) entered into a partnership to screen Xenome's XDiscover™ library for new drug candidates against metabolic and musculoskeletal disease targets.  Both Xen2174 and the Amylin partnership leverage off Xenome's unique expertise in peptide chemistry and its ability to translate the evolutionary advantages inherent in venom peptides into highly bioactive, drug-like molecules.
 

 
Further information:

Company:
Dr Ian Nisbet
Chief Executive Officer
Xenome Limited
T: + 61 7 3720 8055
Mobile: +61 431 709 121
E: ian.nisbet@xenome.com

Media relations:
Rebecca Wilson
Buchan Consulting
T: +61 2 9237 2800
Mobile: 0417 382 391
E: rwilson@bcg.com.au