Alzheon Appoints Former GlaxoSmithKline CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier as Board Chair

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Alzheon, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on brain health, memory and aging, announced Jean-Pierre Garnier, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the company.

Dr. Garnier brings world-class expertise and global perspective to help build Alzheon into a leading clinical-stage Alzheimer’s company, said a press release.

“We are delighted to have JP chair our Board of Directors,” said Martin Tolar, MD, PhD, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alzheon, said in a press release. “JP will provide invaluable insights and guidance as we advance our lead oral amyloid aggregation inhibitor, ALZ-801, into a Phase 3 clinical program targeting a genetically-defined Alzheimer’s disease population, and execute on our long-term strategy to bring innovative therapies to patients with neurodegenerative disorders.”

“Alzheon has the potential to bring transformational treatments to Alzheimer’s patients, along with growing its unique pipeline with other promising drug candidates for CNS diseases,” said JP Garnier. “It is exhilarating to be part of Alzheon as we are on the cusp of assessing, in late stage clinical trials, a potential first-in-class treatment for this devastating disease.”

From 2000 to 2008, Dr. Garnier was the first Chief Executive Officer of GlaxoSmithKline, assuming this role upon the merger of SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of SmithKline Beecham having joined the company in 1990 as President of Pharmaceuticals for North America. Prior to SmithKline Beecham, Dr. Garnier served as President of Schering-Plough (US). Following his retirement from GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Garnier was Chief Executive Officer of Pierre Fabre Laboratories and Chairman of Cerenis, a biotechnology company.

Currently, Dr. Garnier is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Swiss biopharmaceutical company Actelion. He is a director of the United Technologies Corporation and Renault S.A., as well as Operating Partner at Advent International, a private equity firm. He is a member of the board of trustees of Newman’s Own Foundation and a trustee of The Max Planck Institute.

Dr. Garnier’s accomplishments have been recognized with many prestigious appointments and awards. He is a Knight Commander of the British Empire, as well as Officier de Légion d’Honneur (French knighthood). Dr. Garnier holds a PhD in pharmacology from Louis Pasteur University in France, and as a Fulbright Scholar, he earned an MBA at Stanford University.

Alzheon, Inc. is committed to developing innovative medicines for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Alzheon is located in Framingham, Massachusetts.