Oslo, Norway, 3 May 2011 - Algeta ASA (OSE: ALGETA), a company focused on the development of novel targeted cancer therapeutics, announces that it has appointed Donald Coppen as Business Development Director.

Dr. Coppen will join Chief Business Officer Roger Harrison in driving Algeta's business development strategy aimed at advancing its Thorium payload technology for creating novel targeted cancer therapies, and expanding the Company's pipeline of product candidates.

Dr. Coppen joins Algeta from Biocompatibles International (now part of BTG plc), a UK-based oncology company developing drug-device combination products, where he was Director, Partnering & Licensing. He has previously held project leadership and managerial roles at Lonza Biologics in the UK, and within the crop protection division of Cyanamid International, part of Wyeth (now Pfizer), in Belgium.
Dr. Coppen has a PhD from the University of Southampton and a MBA from the Cranfield School of Management.

Roger Harrison, CBO of Algeta, said: "Algeta has made significant progress in its business development activities within the past year, concluding several important deals that could lead to new targeted alpha-pharmaceuticals to treat cancer based on our thorium payload. Donald's experience and knowledge make him an excellent choice to strengthen our business development activities and to identify and exploit new collaborative opportunities that will help us build our pipeline."

Dr. Coppen said: "I am delighted to be joining Algeta at this exciting time in its development. The Company's novel alpha-pharmaceutical technologies are generating substantial interest in the sector and I look forward to capitalizing on this awareness to further strengthen Algeta's pipeline."

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