Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Appoints Industry Veteran, Former Amgen Executive Joseph Turgeon, as Senior

Updated

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Appoints Industry Veteran, Former Amgen Executive Joseph Turgeon, as Senior Vice President Sales & Commercial Operations

  • Mr. Turgeon comes to Spectrum from Amgen where he spent more than 22 years including as VP Sales, Oncology; Joe brings over 25 years of relevant biotech and pharmaceutical experience

  • Visionary leader who has built and led sales organizations at Amgen across multiple areas, including oncology, inflammation and bone health

  • Proven expert in oncology marketplace; under Mr. Turgeon's leadership, Amgen Oncology launched four new drugs and revenues rose from $2 billion to over $6 billion

HENDERSON, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS: SPPI), a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, today announced the appointment of Joseph Turgeon as Senior Vice President Sales & Commercial Operations. Mr. Turgeon will be responsible for the commercialization and sales of all Spectrum products; currently, Spectrum markets FUSILEV® (levoleucovorin) for Injection; FOLOTYN® (pralatrexate injection); and ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for intravenous use. Mr. Turgeon brings over 25 years of pharma sales experience, including various executive leadership roles at Amgen. He will report to Ken Keller, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

"With three anticancer drugs on the market now bringing nearly $300 million in pro forma revenue and nearly ten drugs in clinical development, we are committed to strong growth in the next five years," said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, M.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "The addition of Mr. Turgeon following appointment of Mr. Keller earlier this year is part of a planned strategy for expedited growth of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals."


"Having worked with Joe for over twenty years at Amgen, it is my honor to warmly welcome Mr. Turgeon to Spectrum. His impressive sales record at Amgen will be a welcome addition as Spectrum continues expanding its commercial presence on the global market," stated Ken Keller, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Joe's leadership and strategic skills will be broadly beneficial to Spectrum as we pursue our aggressive international growth plans."

"I am excited to head Spectrum's sales and commercial operations, especially in light of the recent Allos acquisition, which I believe represents a strong opportunity for expanding sales. I look forward to working with the team in this capacity and building on Spectrum's growth momentum," stated Mr. Turgeon.

Spectrum further announced that due to personal, health reasons, Jim Shields has decided to retire from the Company, effective immediately. However, Mr. Shields will continue to serve the organization in an advisory role. During Mr. Shields' tenure as Chief Commercial Officer, Spectrum's revenue grew markedly, leading the Company to profitability.

"Jim joined our company in 2010 and immediately provided leadership and oversight for building our company's dynamic commercial team which played a critical role in establishing the successful market presence for FUSILEV and ZEVALIN, our first two commercial products. In addition, Jim's many contributions helped prepare our company for continued growth with the recent addition of FOLOTYN to our product portfolio. Jim will continue to contribute to Spectrum's success as an executive advisor," stated Dr. Shrotriya.

About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a leading biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug products, with a primary focus in oncology and hematology. Spectrum and its affiliates market three oncology drugs - FUSILEV® (levoleucovorin) for Injection in the U.S.; FOLOTYN® (pralatrexate injection), also marketed in the U.S.; and ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for intravenous use, for which the Company has worldwide marketing rights. Spectrum's strong track record in in-licensing and acquiring differentiated drugs, and expertise in clinical development have generated a robust, diversified, and growing pipeline of product candidates in advanced-stage Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies. More information on Spectrum is available at www.sppirx.com.

Forward-looking statement - This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. These statements include but are not limited to statements that relate to our business and its future, including certain company milestones, Spectrum's ability to identify, acquire, develop and commercialize a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products, leveraging the expertise of partners and employees around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy, and any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of Spectrum or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact. Risks that could cause actual results to differ include the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates may not prove safe or effective, the possibility that our existing and new applications to the FDA and other regulatory agencies may not receive approval in a timely manner or at all, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, if approved, may not be more effective, safer or more cost efficient than competing drugs, the possibility that our efforts to acquire or in-license and develop additional drug candidates may fail, our lack of sustained revenue history, our limited marketing experience, our dependence on third parties for clinical trials, manufacturing, distribution and quality control and other risks that are described in further detail in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.

SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.®, FUSILEV®, FOLOTYN®and ZEVALIN®, are registered trademarks of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Incand its affiliates.REDEFINING CANCER CARE™ and the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals logos are trademarks owned by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

© 2012 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Shiv Kapoor, 702-835-6300
Vice President, Strategic Planning & Investor Relations
InvestorRelations@sppirx.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

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