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SAN DIEGO, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced the election of two new members to the Neurocrine Board of Directors: Joseph A. Mollica, Ph.D, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacopeia, Inc., a biophamaceutical and combinatorial chemistry company, and Errol B. De Souza, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Research and Development of Neurocrine Biosciences.

Dr. Mollica has led a distinguished career in pharmaceutical research and development. Prior to joining Pharmacopeia in 1994, Dr. Mollica spent 7 years at the DuPont Company and the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of DuPont Merck. Dr. Mollica shaped the philosophy and developed the master plan for the joint venture between the two industrial leaders, DuPont and Merck, resulting in a multinational, billion dollar, research-based pharmaceutical company. He also served as Senior Vice President of Ciba-Geigy's Pharmaceutical Division where he was employed from 1966-1986. He also actively serves on the Boards of USP, Inc., Impath, Inc., Synteni, Inc., and Biotechnology Council of New Jersey. Dr. Mollica received a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He also received a Doctor of Science, h.c. from the University of Rhode Island.

"We are extremely pleased that Dr. Mollica is joining the Neurocrine Board of Directors," said Gary A. Lyons, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences. "Neurocrine is entering an exciting period in our rapid transition into a research and development biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Mollica's leadership and experience will be a valuable asset in shaping the future strategy of Neurocrine."

Dr. De Souza is a Founder and Executive Vice President of Neurocrin. Under Dr. De Souza's direction, Neurocrine currently has developed a broad research pipeline focused in neuroimmunology. The Company's lead development programs are based on two broadly enabling technology platforms, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and altered peptide ligands (APLs). Errol and his scientific team are responsible for the lead APL compound, NBI-5788 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, about to enter Phase II clinical studies in collaboration with strategic partner, Novartis, Inc. In addition, Neurocrine's research efforts are integrated into a neurogenomics program which has already identified 5,000 novel genes in the central nervous system implicated in neurodegeneration, and a program in new target screening to identify new chemical lead compounds.

Prior to joining Neurocrine in 1992, Dr. De Souza was Director of Central Nervous System Diseases Research for the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company where he directed the discovery efforts in the fields of neurobiology, molecular biology, pharmacology and chemistry. He also hold several academic positions and is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego.

"Errol has been critical in the development of our broad-based research pipeline. We and our collaborative partners, Eli Lilly & Co., Novartis Inc. and Janssen value his expertise in bringing Neurocrine's lead proprietary compounds into development" said Gary A. Lyons.

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroimmunolgy company focusing on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics to treat diseases and disorders of the central nervous and immune system such as anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's disease, obesity and multiple sclerosis.
SOURCE Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Foster of Neurocrine Biosciences, 619-658-7600