Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. Strengthens its Board of Directors

Lugano, Switzerland (ots) - Helsinn Group, the Company focused on
building quality cancer care, announced today the appointment of Dr.
Philip S. Schein, to the Board of Directors of its U.S. subsidiary,
Helsinn Therapeutics Inc. ("HTU"), effective 8 May 2014.

Dr. Philip Schein was the former Founder, Chairman and CEO of US
Biosciences, Inc., and Chair of the Clinical Investigations Committee
of the National Cancer Advisory Board. Dr. Schein has served as
President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chairman of
the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Board (ODAC) of the Food and Drug
Administration, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Medical Oncology
of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has received numerous
scientific and medical awards including the Harvey W. Wiley Medal
from the FDA and the Wainwright Award for Excellence in Medical
Education. He is currently President of The Schein Group, which
provides consultative services to the biotech and pharmaceutical
industries.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn
Group's CEO and Board member and Chairman of the Board of HTU, said:
"Over the last year, during which he served the Company as a
consultant, I have had the great pleasure to work closely with Dr.
Schein and have been impressed with the depth and breadth of his
scientific and clinical knowledge and pharmaceutical industry
expertise. We are very pleased to welcome him to the Board of HTU and
believe this further strengthens the skills and expertise of the
Board of HTU."

The Board of HTU

Dr. Schein joins Mr. Paulo F. Costa and Mr. Oscar Schafer, who
joined the Board in 2013.

Mr. Costa was formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., President and CEO of Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (U.S.A.), President of Janssen Pharmaceutical,
and Executive Vice President, Global Franchise Development, and a
member of Johnson & Johnson's Pharmaceuticals Group Operating
Committee. Mr. Costa is currently Chairman of the Board of
MacroGenics and a member of the Board of Directors of Purdue Pharma
Inc.

Mr. Oscar S. Schafer is the Managing Partner of O.S.S. Capital
Management LP, a private investment partnership which he co-founded
in 2001. Previously, he was a Member of Cumberland Associates and
General Partner at Steinhardt Partners. Mr. Schafer has been a
longtime participant in the Barron's Roundtable of top money
managers. Mr. Schafer is President of the Schafer Family Foundation,
which supports the arts and social service organizations. Mr. Schafer
serves on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and
on The Executive Committee of the New York Philharmonic.

Other members of the HTU Board of Directors include Vice-Chairman,
Mr. Franco De Vecchi (Helsinn Group Board Member and Chairman and CEO
of VPCI, Inc.), Mr. Giorgio Calderari (Helsinn Group General
Manager), Mr. Luigi Caletti (Helsinn Group CFO), and Mr. William Mann
(President & CEO of HTU).

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with
headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and operating subsidiaries in
Ireland, the United States and a representative office in China.
Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing of
pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional supplement products
in therapeutic niche areas. Helsinn is an important player in cancer
supportive care. Helsinn Group in-licenses early-to-late stage new
chemical entities, completes their development through the
performance of preclinical/ clinical studies and Chemistry,
Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) development, and files and attains
their market approvals worldwide. Helsinn's products are out-licensed
to its network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected
for their deep in-market knowledge and know-how whom Helsinn assists
and supports by providing a full range of product and scientific
management services, including commercial, regulatory, and medical
marketing advice. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the
finished products are manufactured according to the highest quality,
safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in
Switzerland and Ireland and supplied worldwide to its customers. In
March 2013, Helsinn established a new commercial organization within
its subsidiary, Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc., in order to
conduct direct sales and marketing activities within the U.S. market.
Helsinn's products are manufactured according to the highest quality,
safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in
Switzerland and Ireland from where they are then supplied worldwide
to customers

Further information on Helsinn Group is available at
www.helsinn.com

For more information please contact:
Helsinn Group
Paola Bonvicini
Head of Communication & Press Office
PH +41 91-985-21-21
info-hhc@helsinn.com

For media / external inquiries
Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Matthew Neal / Melissa Jumbo
Tel: +44 (0)203 709 5700
Helsinn@consilium-comms.com