Press Releases

Howard Weisman, Chairman & CEO of EKR Therapeutics, Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award Winner For The New Jersey Pharmaceutical Industry

Bedminster, N.J., June 25, 2009 – EKR Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty acute-care pharmaceutical company, today announced that Howard Weisman, Chairman & CEO, is a recipient of an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award.  Mr. Weisman was honored with the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 New Jersey regional award in the category: Pharmaceuticals. 

Weisman was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the highly prized award was presented at a gala black-tie ceremony held on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.  The New Jersey regional awards were presented in different categories to 11 winners chosen from a group of 34 finalists representing 29 companies.  Celebrating its 23rd anniversary, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program is recognized globally for honoring outstanding entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptionality in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. 

During the presentation ceremony, Weisman was praised for “… being an inspiring CEO …” who “… understands the healthcare industry as few others do.”  Among the many accolades accorded Weisman, he was recognized as a driving force behind “EKR’s phenomenal growth.”  Since initiating operations in June 2006, EKR has grown from a start-up situation into a cash-flow positive profitable specialty pharmaceutical company with over 100 employees focused on serving the needs of the acute-care hospital space.

“Whatever I have accomplished to warrant this esteemed award would not have been possible without the support of others who have, and continue to stand at my side,” said Weisman.  “I am sincerely grateful to all EKR employees whose entrepreneurial spirit is truly being honored by this award.  As further testament to the untiring commitment to excellence by the EKR team, I note that just a few days ago, on June 12th, my friend and co-founder of EKR, Richard DeSimone, was named CFO of the Year by the New Jersey Technology Council.”

Commenting on today’s announcement, Richard DeSimone, COO and Interim CFO, said “Howard has dedicated himself to enhancing the benefits of pharmaceutical healthcare, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of being honored with such a valued award for the New Jersey region, a global center of the pharmaceutical industry.”  DeSimone further noted, “I join Howard in acknowledging and thanking everyone at EKR for all that our company has accomplished so quickly.”

Weisman concluded saying, “EKR has also been fortunate to have the support of a strong group of equity investors and I want to thank Zev Scherl, General Partner, at NewSpring Capital for submitting my nomination for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program.”

As a New Jersey award winner, Weisman is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. 

About EKR Therapeutics
EKR Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, fostering and targeting the growth of novel acute-care hospital products to improve outcomes and patient quality of life.  Backed by the strength of its management team, the dedication of its field force of product specialists and its commitment to excellence in customer service and medical education, EKR has been organized to be a class leader in commercializing products to address unmet and under-satisfied medical needs or to otherwise enhance the therapeutic value of acute-care products. A privately held company, EKR has investment support from the leading venture capital and private equity firms of ESP Equity Partners, LLR Partners, NewSpring Capital, MPM Capital, and Quaker BioVentures. For additional information about EKR visit the Company’s website at www.ekrtx.com. 

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Contact for EKR Therapeutics
Stuart Z. Levine, Ph.D.
Director, Corp. Communications / Investor Relations
877-435-2524
s.levine@ekrtx.com