NORTHVALE, N.J., Aug. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:ELTP) today announced the appointment of industry veteran Doug Plassche as Executive Vice President of Operations to run manufacturing and to lead the operational initiatives of the Company as it expands its product pipeline. Mr. Plassche has a proven track record in all critical areas including quality, compliance, process, operations, planning and personnel development.
Doug Plassche has more than 23 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Plassche was employed by Actavis as Managing Director of the New Jersey Solid Oral Dose Operations, overseeing 450 employees and the production of more than 100 products. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Plassche was Senior Director of Manufacturing for PAR Pharmaceuticals overseeing 200 employees and the production of more than 70 products. From 1990 – 2007, he was employed by Schering-Plough progressing steadily through multiple disciplines, locations and technical operations sectors with increasing levels or responsibility.
"I am excited to have Doug Plassche join our team as he brings a tremendous amount of experience in all aspects of pharmaceutical operations and manufacturing. He has a proven track record of achieving high levels of operational efficiency along with an outstanding quality record," said Nasrat Hakim, Elite's President and CEO. "His expertise will be invaluable to Elite as we grow our existing products and add the thirteen new products just purchased."
"I am pleased to be joining Elite at a pivotal time for the company," said Doug Plassche. "I am committed to maintaining a responsive, streamlined and focused operations organization by continuously improving operational effectiveness and efficiencies and leading the company growing operations."
About Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops oral sustained and controlled release products. Elite's strategy includes assisting partner companies in the life cycle management of products to improve off-patent drug products and developing generic versions of controlled release drug products with high barriers to entry. Elite has six commercial products currently being sold, an additional product approved and soon to be launched, eleven approved products pending manufacturing site transfer and two additional products under review pending approval by the FDA. Elite's lead pipeline products include abuse resistant opioids utilizing the Company's patented proprietary technology, and a once-daily opioid. They are sustained release oral formulations of opioids for the treatment of chronic pain, which address two of the limitations of existing oral opioids: the provision of consistent relief of baseline pain levels and deterrence of potential abuse. Elite also provides contract manufacturing for Ascend Laboratories (a subsidiary of Alkem Laboratories Ltd.) and has partnered with Mikah Pharma to develop a new product, with Hi-Tech Pharmacal to develop an intermediate for a generic product, and a Hong Kong based company to develop a branded product for the United States market and its territories. Elite operates a GMP and DEA registered facility for research, development, and manufacturing located in Northvale, NJ.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Including those related to the effects, if any, on future results, performance or other expectations that may have some correlation to the subject matter of this press release, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, its ability to obtain FDA approval of the transfers of the ANDAs or the timing of such approval process, delays, uncertainties, inability to obtain necessary ingredients and other factors not under the control of Elite, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Elite to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations that may be implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and other factors, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to obtain sufficient funding under the LPC Agreement or from other sources, the timing or results of pending and future clinical trials, regulatory reviews and approvals by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, intellectual property protections and defenses, and the Company's ability to operate as a going concern, are discussed in Elite's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Elite undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: For Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dianne Will, Investor Relations, 518-398-6222
Dianne@elitepharma.com
www.elitepharma.com
