Merck-Serono spin-off appoints advisory board and independent director

Calypso Biotech SA is a Swiss pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies to treat severe autoimmune gastro-intestinal diseases. The company was incorporated in Geneva in 2013 as a spin-off of Merck-Serono and its portfolio includes two preclinical programs for Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease and Refractory Celiac Disease, respectively. Calypso Biotech intends to bring both antibody drugs to clinical stage by early 2016 and demonstrate signs of efficacy and safety in patients by 2017.

In order to strengthen its value proposition and consolidate its development strategy, Calypso Biotech announces the appointment of:

Alexandre P. LeBeaut, MD, as Independent Director of its Board of Directors. Dr. LeBeaut brings significant medical and scientific knowledge to Calypso Biotech SA, with more than 20 years of broad experience working with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, especially in gastroenterology.

--‐ Brian Feagan, MD, as Chairman of its Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Feagan is Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics at University of Western Ontario, Canada and Director of Clinical Trials at the Robarts Research Institute. He is a leading authority in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

--‐ Christophe Cellier, MD, PhD, as Member of its Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Cellier has been involved in celiac disease clinical and translational research for 20 years and is the Coordinator of the French national network for patients with malignant complications.

--- Peter HR Green, MD, as Member of its Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Green is the Director of The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University and has broad clinical and academic expertise in celiac disease.

--‐ Gerhard Rogler, MD, PhD, as Member of its Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Rogler Group at the Zürich University Hospital has developed new models for intestinal fibrosis and achieved a completely new understanding of fistula pathophysiology.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Alex LeBeaut to our Board of Directors," said Alain Vicari, Chief Executive Officer of Calypso Biotech. "Alex brings extensive global development experience in clinical development, regulatory strategy and portfolio management to the team as well a solid global network in gastroenterology. His support will be critical to elaborate the best strategy as we advance our programs towards the clinic and beyond."

“We are honoured to welcome Professors Brian Feagan, Christophe Cellier, Peter Green and Gerhard Rogler, highly skilled and experienced clinicians, to our Scientific Advisor Board” said Yolande Chvatchko, Chief Scientific Officer of Calypso Biotech. “Their track record of success in translational science is exemplary and reflects their status as world-class gastroenterologists. They will provide Calypso Biotech with extremely valuable expertise on how to charter the best clinical path to meet patient needs and regulatory requirements in Europe and North America, in the field of IBD and celiac disease”.