New Mexico-based pharmaceutical company Zocere, Inc. has named former pharmaceutical executive Adrian Hobden, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Hobden has been instrumental in developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals for a range of disease areas, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular, respiratory, HIV, and antifungals.

Zocere is developing an injectable drug designed to protect patients from brain injury by arresting the progression of brain damage caused by reduced blood flow. While the initial target is stroke, Zocere's drug shows promise in treating other brain trauma such as concussion. The human STEP peptide-based drug is being licensed from STC.UNM and was developed at the University of New Mexico.

Hobden brings a wealth of experience to the Zocere Board based upon a long and distinguished career in the global pharmaceutical industry. He joined Glaxo in the United Kingdom (U.K.) as a research scientist in 1981 and went on to run its Genetics Department and several others, including CNS Pharmacology. Hobden moved to the United States in 1996 and was responsible for Glaxo's collaborations with biotechnology companies. In 1998, he joined Myriad Genetics in Salt Lake City as president of Myriad Pharmaceuticals. This division was later spun out as a public company called Myrexis with Hobden as CEO. He retired from Myrexis in 2011.

Commenting on Hobden's board appointment, Zocere President and CEO Wayne Laslie said, "I have known Adrian for many years and have a deep respect for his ability to advance promising compounds through the commercialization process. We welcome his knowledge and counsel as we work to commercialize this and other neuroprotectant compounds."

Hobden earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biochemistry from Cambridge University and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Leicester University, both in the U.K. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Medical Research Council in the U.K. In addition to the Zocere Board, Hobden serves on the Board of Directors of the Hope Fund for Cancer Research.

About Zocere, Inc.

Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Zocere is a startup pharmaceutical company developing injectable, neuroprotectant drugs intended to combat stroke and other neurological trauma. Zocere is led by a team of seasoned pharmaceutical industry executives with extensive experience in drug commercialization. Visit www.Zocere.com.

Lux + Associates
Melanie Lux, 803-331-4794
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