LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS), a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs, announced today the appointment of Mark G. Foletta to its Board of Directors and Audit Committee, effective immediately. 

"We are very pleased to have Mark join our Board," said John Maraganore, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Regulus and CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  "His extensive financial and operational experience contributed to Amylin Pharmaceuticals' success and his guidance will serve the Regulus Board and Audit Committee well as we continue to grow the company."

"Regulus is leading the drive to use microRNA therapeutics to treat complex human diseases and is also a well-capitalized, emerging public biopharmaceutical company," said Mr. Foletta.  "I am excited to work with an experienced management team and an accomplished Board as the Company prepares to nominate its first clinical candidates."

Most recently, Mr. Foletta served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from March 2006 through Amylin's acquisition by Bristol Myers-Squibb Company in August 2012.  Mr. Foletta was instrumental in the growth of Amylin's diabetes and obesity franchises, including the commercial launch of diabetes drugs BYDUREON®, BYETTA® and SYMLIN®.  Prior to joining Amylin in 2000, Mr. Foletta held a number of management positions with Intermark, Inc. and Triton Group Ltd. and served as an Audit Manager with Ernst & Young.  He is currently a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.  Mr. Foletta received a B.A. in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Financial Executives Institute.

About Regulus

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS) is a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs. Regulus is leveraging a mature therapeutic platform based on technology that has been developed over 20 years. Regulus works with a broad network of academic collaborators and leverages the oligonucleotide drug discovery and development expertise of its founding companies, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Isis Pharmaceuticals. Regulus is advancing microRNA therapeutics toward clinical development in several areas, including oncology, fibrosis, hepatitis C and metabolic diseases. Regulus has formed strategic alliances with AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi and a research collaboration with Biogen Idec.

For more information, please visit http://www.regulusrx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with Regulus' expectations regarding future therapeutic and commercial potential of Regulus' business plans, technologies and intellectual property related to microRNA therapeutics being discovered and developed by Regulus.  Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Regulus' current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs.  These and other risks concerning Regulus' programs are described in additional detail in Regulus' SEC filings.  All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Regulus undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

BYDUREON®, BYETTA® and SYMLIN® are registered trademarks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

SOURCE Regulus Therapeutics Inc.