Global Blood Therapeutics Appoints New Chief Business And Strategy Officer

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2015) - Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of grievous blood-based disorders, today announced the appointment of Jung E. Choi as the company's chief business and strategy officer. Ms. Choi, who has more than 18 years of transactional and operational leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, will be responsible for spearheading the company's business development activities and corporate strategy, including identifying and executing strategic transactions to drive corporate value. In addition, she will oversee investor and media relations, as well as advocacy development activities.

During her career, Ms. Choi has led or managed over 50 transactions exceeding $13 billion in value. She most recently served as senior vice president, corporate development for InterMune, Inc. during the company's acquisition by and integration into Roche/Genentech. From 2011 to 2013, Ms. Choi led corporate and business development for Chimerix, Inc. as its senior vice president, corporate development. She also spent nearly a decade at Gilead Sciences, holding various management positions including leadership of business development, licensing, and mergers and acquisition activities. During her tenure, she built and oversaw the corporate development group, and played a leading role in Gilead's numerous licensing transactions and company acquisitions. Ms. Choi also led the U.S. commercial launch of Hepsera® for the treatment of hepatitis B virus. She also possesses venture capital and strategy experience having previously served as vice president at Bay City Capital and as engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. She received an undergraduate degree in human biology, as well as an MBA, from Stanford University.

"The addition of Jung brings considerable biopharmaceutical deal and strategy experience to the Global Blood Therapeutics management team. Her track record of executing transactions is impressive, and we are excited to leverage her expertise in support of our strategic objectives," said Ted W. Love, M.D., chief executive officer of GBT.

About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the beta-chain of hemoglobin, leading to formation of abnormal hemoglobin known as sickle hemoglobin, or HbS. In its deoxygenated state, HbS has a propensity to polymerize, or bind together into long, rigid rods within a red blood cell (RBC). This polymerization causes RBCs to assume a sickled shape and to become inflexible, which can cause blockage in small blood vessels. Beginning in childhood, SCD patients suffer unpredictable and recurrent episodes or crises of severe pain due to blocked blood flow to organs, which often lead to psychosocial and physical disabilities. This blocked blood flow, combined with hemolytic anemia (the destruction of RBCs), can eventually lead to multi-organ damage and early death.

About Global Blood Therapeutics

Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing novel, small molecule therapeutics to treat grievous blood-based disorders. GBT is developing its initial product candidate, GBT440, as an oral, once-daily therapy for sickle cell disease, or SCD, and is currently evaluating GBT440 in both healthy subjects and SCD patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. In addition to GBT440 for the treatment of SCD, GBT is engaged in research and development activities targeted toward hypoxemic pulmonary disorders and hereditary angioedema, or HAE.

To learn more, please visit: www.globalbloodtx.com.