New member for Millennium Pharmaceuticals board

Millennium Pharmaceuticals has elected Dr Jeffrey M Leiden to its board of directors.

Dr Leiden, currently managing director at life sciences venture capital firm, Clarus Ventures, has over 20 years of experience in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Prior to joining Clarus, Leiden served as President and COO of the global Pharmaceutical business of US pharmaceutical company, Abbott Laboratories.

Before joining Abbott in 2000, Leiden was the Elkan R Blout professor of biological sciences at Harvard School of Public Health, as well as professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Before his career at Harvard, he served as professor of medicine and pathology and chief of cardiology at the University of Chicago, School of Medicine. Leiden has also co-founded several biotechnology firms.

"It is a pleasure to have Dr Leiden join the Millennium Board of Directors," said Deborah Dunsire, Millennium's CEO, "We believe his diverse pharmaceutical and scientific experience will enable him to help guide our continued growth and success in our mission of delivering vital medicines to patients."

Leiden joins as an independent director and brings the number of Millennium board members to ten.