RADNOR, Pa., Dec. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNS), a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics to treat epilepsy, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, announced today that Elan Ezickson, has joined the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Ezickson is a highly accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in the life sciences industry across commercial, operational and strategic leadership roles.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elan to our board of directors,” said Scott Braunstein, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Marinus. “His diverse leadership experience across the entire value chain of pharmaceutical operations, from capital raising to program development, will be invaluable to Marinus as we continue to execute on the clinical development of ganaxolone across multiple registrational Phase 3 studies. We look forward to leveraging his valuable insight as we prepare for significant regulatory and clinical milestones in 2020.”

Mr. Ezickson brings extensive biopharmaceutical operational, strategic and capital formation expertise to Marinus’s board, most recently having served as the Chief Operating Officer and head of corporate development at Scholar Rock Holding Corporation, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on novel oncology and rare disease treatments. At Scholar Rock, Mr. Ezickson directed corporate development, operations and strategy, and played a significant role in corporate finance, leading the company’s initial public offering. Prior to joining Scholar Rock, Mr. Ezickson served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Aveo Pharmaceuticals where he built and oversaw corporate development, commercial operations, technical operations, medical affairs, program management and legal functions and led capital raising and licensing efforts with multinational pharmaceutical companies. Prior to Aveo, he was at Biogen in roles that included President of Biogen Canada, Program Executive and Associate General Counsel. Mr. Ezickson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University and a Juris Doctorate from the Columbia University School of Law.

Mr. Ezickson also currently serves on the Boards of Directors of three clinical stage biotechnology firms including Carmine Therapeutics, Tvardi Therapeutics and Ziopharm Oncology.

About Marinus Pharmaceuticals

Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of ganaxolone, which offers a new mechanism of action, demonstrated efficacy and safety, and convenient dosing to improve the lives of patients suffering from epilepsy and depression. Ganaxolone is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A that acts on a well-characterized target in the brain known to have anti-seizure, anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects. Ganaxolone is being developed in IV and oral dose forms intended to maximize therapeutic reach to adult and pediatric patient populations in both acute and chronic care settings. Marinus is conducting the first ever pivotal studies in children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder and PCDH19-related epilepsy and has recently released top-line data from Phase 2 studies in women with postpartum depression and patients with refractory status epilepticus. For more information visit www.marinuspharma.com. Please follow us on Twitter: @MarinusPharma.