David A. Dodd Appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of Aeterna Zentaris Inc.

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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n\nQUÉBEC CITY, April 15, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc.\n (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the \"Company\") announced today that David A.\n Dodd has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the\n Company, succeeding Juergen Engel, PhD.  Mr. Dodd has also been\n appointed director on the Company's Board of Directors. Aeterna\n Zentaris Inc. is an oncology and endocrinology drug development company\n currently investigating treatments for various unmet medical needs.\n\n\n\"With the appointment of David, we are taking an important first step in\n transforming Aeterna Zentaris from a company focused on R&D to a\n company focused on commercializing the promising compounds in our\n pipeline,\" said Juergen Ernst, Chairman of the, Board of Directors.\n \"David's reputation in the industry as a 'transformation specialist' is\n well deserved, with a record of successful and dramatic transformations\n of multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology enterprises.  David is a\n strong, focused leader with the ability to motivate employees, and\n significantly enhance shareholder value.  We are delighted that he is\n joining our management team, and we look forward to his leadership and\n stewardship of Aeterna Zentaris.\"\n\n\n\"I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead Aeterna\n Zentaris,\" said Mr. Dodd.  \"Building on the existing strong R&D\n foundation, my focus will be to serve the needs of patients,\n shareholders and employees through successful development and\n commercialization of novel, differentiated products that enhance and\n may save lives.  I am fully committed to rewarding our shareholders\n with sustained growth and future profitability. Moreover, I look\n forward to the challenge of moving this company forward, and working\n with its highly dedicated staff.\"\n\n\nMr. Dodd's executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and\n biotechnology industries spans more than 35 years.  From December 2007\n to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, CEO and Chairman of BioReliance\n Corporation, a leading provider of biological safety and related\n testing services. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as\n non-executive Chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc., where he oversaw the\n development and implementation of a strategic gro...

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