LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLS), a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs, today announced the appointment of Timothy M. Wright, M.D. as Chief Research and Development (R&D) Officer reporting to Paul Grint, M.D., President and CEO.  Dr. Wright will oversee Regulus' research, drug discovery, clinical development, and regulatory affairs functions.

"Tim brings over 30 years of academic and industry experience that includes leading worldwide clinical development programs," said Paul C. Grint, M.D., President and CEO. "His expertise in translational research will enable us to significantly advance and develop our pipeline. With three clinical-stage compounds, a fourth clinical candidate to be nominated by year-end, and multiple promising compounds in our pipeline, Tim joins us at an exciting time in the evolution of the company."

Dr. Wright joins Regulus from California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), a not-for-profit translational research institute, where he was Executive Vice President of Translational Sciences since February 2015.  Prior to Calibr, Dr. Wright held a variety of positions with increasing levels of responsibility over an 11-year period at Novartis Pharma most recently as Global Head of Development.  Prior to Novartis, Dr. Wright spent three years at Pfizer holding leadership positions in Discovery and Clinical Sciences, leading translational research efforts and clinical trials for numerous programs across several therapeutic areas.  Dr. Wright was trained as a physician-scientist at Johns Hopkins and had an accomplished academic career at both Johns Hopkins and the University of Pittsburgh before moving to pharma. He also serves as a key scientific advisor to several organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

About Regulus

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLS) is a biopharmaceutical company leading the discovery and development of innovative medicines targeting microRNAs.  Regulus has leveraged its oligonucleotide drug discovery and development expertise to develop a well-balanced microRNA therapeutics pipeline complemented by a maturing microMarkers^SM biomarkers platform and a rich intellectual property estate to retain its leadership in the microRNA field.  Regulus is developing RG-101, a GalNAc-conjugated anti-miR targeting microRNA-122 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and RG-012, an anti-miR targeting microRNA-21 for the treatment of Alport syndrome, a life-threatening kidney disease driven by genetic mutations with no approved therapy.  In addition, RG-125, a GalNAc-conjugated anti-miR targeting microRNA-103/107 for the treatment of NASH in patients with type 2 diabetes/pre-diabetes, has entered Phase I clinical development through its strategic alliance with AstraZeneca.  Regulus is also advancing several programs toward clinical development in renal, hepatic and central nervous systems diseases, both independently and with our strategic alliance partners, Sanofi and AstraZeneca. Regulus' commitment to innovation has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications in notable scientific journals and has resulted in the formation of strategic alliances with AstraZeneca and Sanofi.  Regulus maintains its corporate headquarters in La Jolla, CA.  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 the expected ability of Regulus to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain, the projected timeline of clinical development activities, and expectations regarding future therapeutic and commercial potential of Regulus' business plans, technologies and intellectual property related to microRNA therapeutics and biomarkers 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' financial position and programs are described in additional detail in Regulus filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  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.

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SOURCE Regulus Therapeutics Inc.