June 9, 2008 Amira Pharmaceuticals Hires Industry Veteran for CFO Position Media Release IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Marcy Zech at Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc. Tel: +1 858 228 4689 marcy.zech@amirapharm.com SAN DIEGO, June 9, 2008 -- Amira Pharmaceuticals, a small molecule pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of compounds to treat inflammatory diseases, announced the hiring of Michael V. Swanson as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Swanson has over 30 years of experience in finance and accounting, including 17 years of CFO-level experience in life sciences and specialty pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Amira, Swanson was the CFO of Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company which sells both pharmaceutical products and diagnostic testing services for gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. During his time at Prometheus, Swanson led several financings totaling over $200 million dollars and, most recently, led the filing of a registration statement for Prometheus’ initial public offering. Prior to Prometheus, Swanson was the CFO of Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc. where his responsibilities included the financing of this publicly-held, life sciences company. Swanson is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California. “Mike’s track record in the pharmaceutical industry speaks for itself, and I look forward to partnering closely with him as we chart a course for the company. His addition further enriches an already diverse and strong management team,” said Bob Baltera, Chief Executive Officer, Amira. “I am truly excited to be working with the proven group of drug hunters at Amira,” said Swanson. “I believe I will be able to provide the financial expertise and support required on this fascinating journey of drug discovery and development.” About Amira Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Diego, Amira Pharmaceuticals is a small molecule pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and early development of compounds to treat inflammatory disease linked to the eicosanoid pathway. Amira has strategic partnerships with GlaxoSmithKline and Roche in the area of inflammatory disease. Amira combines the rigor of a big pharmaceutical company with the ingenuity and energy of a small company, creating an environment for efficient and effective pre-clinical and clinical program decisions. Its scientific founders have successfully worked together for more than a decade and were pivotal in the discovery of a number of inflammatory drugs, including Singulair®. The drug hunters at Amira are now actively leveraging their history of success to create high-value compounds for the future. For more information, visit www.amirapharm.com. ### News Main Menu