Idera Pharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Carol A. Schafer to its Board of Directors

EXTON, Pa., Dec. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDRA) today announced that Carol A. Schafer joined its Board of Directors, effective December 18, 2018. 

Ms. Schafer is a seasoned financial professional with more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and equity capital markets, as well as corporate finance and business development in the biopharmaceutical sector.  Ms. Schafer most recently served as Vice Chair, Equity Capital Markets at Wells Fargo Securities.  Prior to Wells Fargo, Ms. Schafer served as Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Schafer served as an Equity Capital Markets Sector Head in her role as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan.  Ms. Schafer received a B.A. from Boston College and an M.B.A from New York University.

“Carol brings a unique set of skills and experience that traverses the financial and corporate biotech landscape and will be incredibly valuable to our board as we continue to advance Idera’s mission to bring forward options for patients suffering from life-threatening diseases and ultimately create long-term shareholder value,” stated James Geraghty, Chairman of Idera’s Board of Directors.

Ms. Schafer will be succeeding Mr. William Reardon, who will be resigning from the Board effective March 10, 2019. 

“We are extremely thankful for the contributions provided by Bill through his 16 years of service on the Board of Idera,” continued Mr. Geraghty.  “We also appreciate Bill’s further dedication to remain in the role to enable continuity and assist the transition of the Audit Committee Chairperson role to Carol through the 2018 year-end financial filing period.” 

About Idera Pharmaceuticals
Harnessing the approach of the earliest researchers in immunotherapy and the Company’s vast experience in developing proprietary immunology platforms, Idera’s lead development program is focused on priming the immune system to play a more powerful role in fighting cancer, ultimately increasing the number of people who can benefit from immunotherapy. Idera also continues to focus on the acquisition, development and ultimate commercialization of drug candidates for both oncology and rare disease indications characterized by small, well-defined patient populations with serious unmet needs. To learn more about Idera, visit www.iderapharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this press release, including statements regarding the Company’s strategy, future operations, collaborations, cash resources, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, clinical trials, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “potential,” “likely,” “projects,” “continue,” “will,” and “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Idera cannot guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Idera’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by its forward-looking statements, including whether the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund the Company’s continuing operations and the further development of the Company’s programs for the period anticipated; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials will be indicative of the results that will be generated in future clinical trials; whether products based on the Company’s technology will advance into or through the clinical trial process when anticipated or at all or warrant submission for regulatory approval; whether such products will receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if the Company's products receive approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; whether the Company's collaborations will be successful; and such other important factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017 and in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018. Although Idera may elect to do so at some point in the future, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements and it disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor and Media Contact
Robert Doody
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Office: 484-348-1677
rdoody@iderapharma.com