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ObsEva Strengthens Board with Appointment of Biotechnology Veteran Dr. Frank Verwiel

Geneva, Switzerland, 24 March 2016 – ObsEva, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company innovating women’s reproductive health and pregnancy therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Frank Verwiel, MD to its Board of Directors. Over the last 25 years, Dr. Verwiel has amassed a wealth of knowledge across multiple operational, development, and commercial disciplines for both small and large biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, Dr. Verwiel was President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptalis Pharma, Inc. (formerly Axcan Pharma Inc.), which was acquired by Forest Laboratories for $2.9 billion in 2014.

“Frank has demonstrated tremendous success in building valuable companies and his appointment to the Board is well-suited for ObsEva at this stage in our growth,” said Ernest Loumaye, MD, PhD., ObsEva’s CEO & Co-Founder. “With his proven track record in the development and commercialization of specialty pharmaceuticals, Frank’s guidance will strengthen our ability to advance our late-stage clinical pipeline toward the market.”

Dr. Loumaye noted that the ObsEva Board includes internationally-experienced R&D, corporate development and finance executives, who have led large and small biopharmaceutical companies, as well as representation from the company’s premier US and EU-based investors.

“ObsEva has a unique opportunity to improve upon women’s reproductive health by developing novel, oral, compounds that fill existing gaps in the marketplace,” added Dr. Verwiel. “I am excited to help guide the dedicated management team and very accomplished Board to grow ObsEva into a leading, global biopharmaceutical company.”

From 2005 through 2014, Dr. Verwiel served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Board member of Aptalis Pharma, Inc. Under his leadership, Aptalis became widely recognized as the global leader in specialty pharmaceuticals used for the treatment of multiple GI disorders and cystic fibrosis in more than 40 countries. During his tenure, Dr. Verwiel executed several key business development transactions that grew Aptalis into a successful global commercial company, including the acquisitions of Eurand Pharma and Mpex in 2011, valued at more than $600 million.

Prior to Aptalis, Dr. Verwiel held international senior management positions with Merck & Co. Inc. including Vice President, Hypertension, Worldwide Human Health Marketing. Dr. Verwiel concurrently served as a leader of Merck’s Worldwide Hypertension Business Strategy team and was Managing Director of Merck’s Dutch subsidiary. Prior to that, he held several key roles within Servier Laboratories and he was amongst others responsible for Servier’s Western European operations.

Dr. Verwiel is also an experienced board member. He served as a member of the Board of Directors, of Intermune Inc. (acquired by Roche in 2014), and as a member of the Board of Directors of BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization). Currently, Dr. Verwiel is a member of the Board of Directors of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN), and of AveXis Inc (NASDAQ: AVXS). Dr Verwiel is an observer of the Board of Directors of Bavarian Nordic A/S (NASDAQ: BAVA). Dr. Verwiel holds an MD degree from Erasmus University, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau in France.

About ObsEva

ObsEva is a biopharmaceutical company innovating women’s reproductive health and pregnancy therapeutics from conception to birth. Between the ages of 20 and 50, millions of women worldwide suffer from reproductive health conditions that affect their quality of life and their ability to conceive or may lead to complications during pregnancy. ObsEva aims to improve upon the current treatment landscape with the development of novel, oral medicines with potentially best-in-class safety and efficacy profiles. Through strategic in-licensing and disciplined drug development, ObsEva has established a late-stage clinical pipeline with multiple development programs focused on treating endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and preterm labor. ObsEva is supported by top-tier investors and a globally recognized board and is well-positioned to establish a leadership position in women’s reproductive therapeutics. For more information, please visit www.ObsEva.com.

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Gretchen Schweitzer or Blair Atkinson

MacDougall Biomedical Communications

Direct: +49 172 861 8540 or +1 812 454 6257

Main: +49 89 2424 3494 or +1 781 235 3060

gschweitzer@macbiocom.com

IR CONTACT

Amy Conrad

Juniper Point

+1 858 914 1962

Amy@juniper-point.com

COMPANY CONTACT

Delphine Renaud

ObsEva CEO Office

+41 22 552 1550

delphine.renaud@obseva.ch

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Note that the following information contains information on investigational medicinal products. These products have not yet been approved for marketing by the European Medicines Agency or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are still under development. Further additional investigations may be needed in order for the marketing authorization to be granted, which grant may depend on a variety of factors and is not guaranteed. Click on “return” if you do not wish to receive such information. By clicking on “continue” you acknowledge that you wish to receive scientific information on our investigational products.

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Disclaimer

Note that the following information contains information on investigational medicinal products. These products have not yet been approved for marketing by the European Medicines Agency or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are still under development. Further additional investigations may be needed in order for the marketing authorization to be granted, which grant may depend on a variety of factors and is not guaranteed. Click on “return” if you do not wish to receive such information. By clicking on “continue” you acknowledge that you wish to receive scientific information on our investigational products.

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