FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., Clarus Ventures, Tel.: 617-949-2223
Robert Liptak, Clarus Ventures, Tel.: 617-694-2222
Benjamin Carmichael, Noonan Russo, Tel.: 212-845-4242

FORMER ABBOTT PRESIDENT/COO DR JEFFREY LEIDEN
JOINS CLARUS VENTURES AS PARTNER

                      - Clarus also adds Wyeth’s Cristina Csimma as Principal -

Cambridge MA, November 1, 2006.  Leading lifesciences venture capital firm Clarus Ventures announced today that Dr. Jeff Leiden, former President and COO of Abbott’s Pharmaceuticals business, has joined the firm’s Cambridge office as Partner. 

Dr. Leiden, who is 51, joined Abbott in 2000, first as Chief Scientific Officer, and then was quickly promoted to President of the Company’s global pharmaceuticals business.

Dr. Leiden trained at the University of Chicago where he received his MD and PhD degrees.  He then became Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan, Chief of Cardiology at the University of Chicago, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  During this 14 year period in academia, Dr. Leiden published more than 130 peer reviewed papers and helped start three biotechnology companies, two of which are now publicly traded (CV Therapeutics and Vical), and Cardiogene, which was sold to Boston Scientific.  Among his many distinctions, Dr. Leiden is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Jeff is a distinguished physician scientist, an accomplished entrepreneur, and a very successful pharmaceutical executive with a broad and deep knowledge of our business.  His unique blend of talents, leadership abilities, and high standards ideally align with our focus and values as an organization” said Dr. Nick Galakatos, a Managing Director at Clarus.

“I am delighted to join Clarus, a firm that in a short period of time has established itself as one of the premier firms in the lifesciences investing arena.  I feel fortunate to join a team that, with its deep scientific and commercial experience and collegial culture, sets the standard for excellence in the industry” said Dr. Leiden.

Clarus also announced that in addition to Dr. Leiden, Cristina Csimma, PharmD, MHP, has joined the firm as a Principal in the firm’s Cambridge office.  Prior to joining the firm, Dr. Csimma was Senior Director of Translational Research and Experimental Medicine at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.  In that capacity she oversaw a broad range of exploratory clinical studies and led the integration of biomarkers and novel technologies into clinical development.  Prior to Wyeth, Dr. Csimma held leadership responsibilities at Genetics Institute for over 10 years, including the development and approval of INFUSE® Bone Graft for fracture healing.  Dr. Csimma received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and a Master of Health Professions from Northeastern University. 

“Cristina’s background is in the most important area of our investment focus, translating drug discovery into clinical outcomes.  We are very fortunate to have attracted her to our team” added Dr. Galakatos.