BioDelivery Sciences Announces Organizational Changes

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.

announced a number of changes to it senior management staff. BDSI has promoted Dr. Niraj Vasisht to Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, and Albert J. Medwar has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate and Business Development. BDSI Logo In addition, Dr. Andrew Finn, who has served as Executive Vice President of Product Development, will retire effective December 31, 2015 after a distinguished 12 year career at BDSI. Dr. Sarah DeRossett, Vice President of Clinical Research and Medical Affairs, will assume the role. Dr. DeRossett joined BDSI in April 2015 with nearly twenty-five years of clinical and pharmaceutical industry experience in the neurosciences area both as Director of the Chronic Pain and Headache Clinic at Emory University School of Medicine and in clinical research at GlaxoSmithKline in the neurosciences therapy area. "Both Niraj and Al have earned these promotions through their consistent and significant contributions to the positive growth and evolution of BDSI. I am confident that their mutual persistence, work ethic and leadership will further strengthen BDSI as we continue to evolve as a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceutical company," said Dr. Mark A. Sirgo, President and Chief Executive Officer of BDSI. Dr. Vasisht joined BDSI in 2005 and has been leading the technical development and manufacturing efforts behind BDSI's portfolio of BEMA-derived products, and he has also been an important resource as BDSI has explored new products and technologies. In his new role, Dr. Vasisht will also focus on identifying additional drug delivery platforms and products where delivery is the differentiating feature to continue growing BDSI's product development pipeline. In addition, he will continue to further BDSI's initiatives towards the development of the 30-day buprenorphine depot injection, which BDSI expects will enter clinical trials in 2016. Mr. Medwar joined BDSI in 2007 and has been highly involved in BDSI's business development and partnering initiatives over the past several years while also managing a critical role in BDSI's investor relations activities. Mr. Medwar's broad market knowledge coupled with his deep understanding of BDSI's business, will continue to provide significant value to BDSI in this newly defined role. Going forward, Mr. Medwar will specifically focus on business building initiatives as BDSI seeks to continue its evolution and growth. Dr. Andrew Finn, who will be retiring after twelve years at BDSI and more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, succeeded in creating a solid product development group that is well-positioned for continued pipeline growth and development. "I have had the pleasure of knowing and working closely with Dr. Finn for over thirty years, since we met at Glaxo in 1981. BDSI has been fortunate to have had Dr. Finn's expertise and leadership during his 12 years as he helped us to become a multi-product specialty pharmaceutical company. I sincerely thank Drew for working alongside me through both the challenges and many successes we have achieved including the approvals of ONSOLIS, BUNAVAIL and BELBUCA. On behalf of our Board of Directors and all of BDSI's employees, we thank Drew for his many contributions as we also wish him well as he enjoys the many other things life has to offer."