NeurogesX, Inc.

Prosecutors declined to charge former Seagen CEO Clay Siegall in December 2022 after he was arrested for domestic violence earlier in the year. Former Seagen CEO Clay Siegall, Ph.D., will head up a new biotech spun out of Purdue University, less than a year after he stood down from the Seattle-based biopharma in the wake of an arrest for alleged domestic violence. Siegall, best known for co-founding and building Seagen into an oncology powerhouse that was recently bought by Pfizer for $43 billion, resigned in May 2022 following the arrest. A memo obtained by The Seattle Times detailed prosecutors' reasoning for declining to charge Siegall, which centered on contradictory witness statements. MorphImmune noted this decision in its statement.  The preclinical oncology company also said in a statement to Fierce Biotech that it is a “values-based company” that prioritizes ethics, integrity and respect for others. The biotech said that its own outside counsel, as well as executive search agency Caldwell, performed an independent review on Siegall before the hire. MorphImmune’s board also “performed its own due diligence.”  “These assessments find that Dr. Siegall is uniformly recognized not only as a highly passionate and dedicated person who has a demonstrated ability to build significant value as a company leader\ but also a colleague whose workplace demeanor and values are entirely consistent with those of MorphImmune,” the biotech said.  Ronald Martell, former CEO of Sevion and NeurogesX, previously led MorphImmune after being hired almost two years ago. The company was spun out of research from Philip Low, a distinguished professor of chemistry at Purdue University. Low was co-founder and chief scientific officer at Endocyte, an Indiana-based biotech that was bought by Novartis in 2018 for $2.1 billion. MorphImmune’s chief scientific officer, Jack Higgins, was previously the chief development sciences officer at Molecular Templates.  MorphImmune describes itself as designing targeted drugs that can “reprogram specific immune cell types” to treat a bevy of diseases. The company is currently advancing a couple of candidates including a folate receptor-targeted TLR7 agonist and a fibroblast activation protein (FAP) targeted radioligand therapy. MorphImmune has received early seed and follow-on investments from Research Bridge Partners, although it hasn't disclosed how much money has been raised to date.  Editor's note: This story was updated with information about MorphImmune's pipeline. 

SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeurogesX, Inc. (OTCQB:NGSX) (OTCBB:NGSX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of novel non-opioid, pain management therapies, announced today that Ronald Martell, President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the Rodman & Renshaw 14th Annual Healthcare Conference to be held September 9-11, 2012, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, NY. Mr. Martell, as well as Stephen Ghiglieri, Chief Financial Officer, will be available to respond to questions and participate in one-on-one meetings with investors.

SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, announced today that Anthony DiTonno, President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at three upcoming conferences: the Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, to be held September 13-15, 2010 in New York, NY; the UBS Global Life Sciences Conference, taking place September 20-22, 2010 in New York, New York; and the JMP Securities Healthcare Conference, taking place September 27-28, 2010 in New York, NY. Mr. DiTonno and Stephen Ghiglieri, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will be available to respond to questions immediately following the presentations and to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors attending the conferences. Event: Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Time: 9:15am ET Place: New York Palace Hotel, New York, NY Event: UBS Global Life Sciences Conference Date: Monday, September 20, 2010 Time: 4:00pm ET Place: The Grand Hyatt, New York, NY Event: JMP Securities Healthcare Conference Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Time: 1:00pm ET Place: New York Palace Hotel, New York, NY All presentations will be webcast live and can be accessed by visiting the investor relations section of NeurogesX' website at . The webcast will be archived for 90 days. About NeurogesX, Inc. NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX) is a San Francisco Bay Area-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies. NeurogesX was founded on the concept that use of prescription-strength capsaicin could help manage the pain associated with neuropathic pain conditions. Since its inception, NeurogesX has leveraged its passion to help people with pain to efficiently develop this concept, resulting in the commercial launch of Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch in 2010. The Company continues to apply its knowledge and expertise in the development of other novel treatments for pain. The Company's lead product, Qutenza, is a localized dermal delivery system containing prescription strength capsaicin that is currently approved in the United States and the European Union. Qutenza is now available in the United States for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In Europe, Qutenza is being marketed by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. (Astellas), the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. The Company's most advanced product candidate, NGX-1998, is a topically applied liquid formulation containing a high concentration of capsaicin designed to treat pain associated with neuropathic pain conditions such as PHN. NGX-1998 has completed three Phase 1 studies. The Company's early-stage product pipeline includes pre-clinical compounds which are prodrugs of acetaminophen and various opioids. The Company has evaluated these compounds in vitro and in vivo. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). NeurogesX disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Examples of such statements include but are not limited to statements about the safety and efficacy of Qutenza. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: difficulties or delays in the commercialization of Qutenza, including with respect to manufacture and supply of Qutenza; Qutenza and NeurogesX' other product candidates may have unexpected adverse side effects; physician or patient reluctance to use Qutenza; and other difficulties or delays in the launch of Qutenza in the United States and, by Astellas in the European Union. For further information regarding these and other risks related to NeurogesX' business, investors should consult NeurogesX' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NeurogesX, Inc. The Ruth Group Stephen Ghiglieri Sara Pellegrino (investors) Executive Vice President, COO and CFO (646) 536-7002 (650) 358-3310 spellegrino@theruthgroup.com Jason Rando (media) (646) 536-7025 jrando@theruthgroup.com SOURCE NeurogesX, Inc.