PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: EIGR), focused on the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for rare and ultra-rare diseases, today announced the appointment of Sri Ryali as the company's Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Ryali brings over fifteen years of finance and commercial experience to Eiger.  He was most recently at Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., where he was Vice President of Finance, responsible for building and leading the finance department from Aimmune's 2015 initial public offering, and subsequently was a key executive involved in operational preparation for product approval.  Previously, Mr. Ryali led U.S. Financial Planning and Analysis at Jazz Pharmaceuticals and was Head of Corporate Finance at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., until the company was acquired by Amgen, Inc. in 2013.  Following the acquisition, Mr. Ryali continued as Head of R&D, Technical Operations, and Medical Affairs Finance at Onyx.  Mr. Ryali began his career in biopharmaceutical companies at Amgen Inc., where he held positions of increasing responsibility in the finance organization.  

Mr. Ryali earned a BA from UCLA with a double major in Economics and Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. 

"Eiger is now a late stage biopharmaceutical company with sites activating in our international Phase 3 D-LIVR study in Hepatitis Delta Virus infection and preparation of an NDA for Progeria with plans to file in 2019," said David Cory, Eiger President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We expect Sri's background and recent relevant experience in commercial stage preparation and management, and financial operations in public pharma companies to strengthen Eiger and the executive team as we advance our pipeline."

"This is an exciting time as Eiger prepares to transition into a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company," said Sri Ryali.  "Eiger is poised for significant growth in the future, and I look forward to contributing as a member of the executive team."

In connection with Mr. Ryali's appointment, James Welch, Eiger's previous Chief Financial Officer, has left the company, and Eiger expresses its deep gratitude for his contributions including his assistance in the company's Nasdaq listing in 2016.

About Eiger
Eiger is a late stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for rare and ultra-rare diseases.  We innovate by developing well-characterized drugs in newly identified or novel targets in rare diseases.  Our mission is to systematically reduce the time and cost of the drug development process to more rapidly deliver important medicines to patients. 

The company's lead program is in Phase 3, developing lonafarnib, a first-in-class prenylation inhibitor for the treatment of Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) infection.  Eiger is also preparing an NDA for lonafarnib to treat Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS or Progeria) with plans to file in 2019.  For additional information about Eiger and its clinical programs, please visit www.eigerbio.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial condition, timing for and outcomes of clinical results, business strategy and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include terminology such as "believe," "will," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "contemplate," "intend," "target," "project," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "could," "potentially" or the negative of these terms.  Forward looking statements are our current statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer and  our ongoing and planned clinical development, including  plans to file an NDA for Progeria in 2019; our ability to transition into a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company; our ability to finance the continued advancement of our development pipeline products; and the potential for success of any of our product candidates.

Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Eiger makes, including the risks described in the "Risk Factors" sections in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and Eiger's periodic reports filed with the SEC.  Eiger does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Investors: Ingrid Choong, PhD
Email: [email protected] / Phone: 1-650-619-6115

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SOURCE Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.