Ambrx Inc. announced today the appointment of Kevin L. Eastwood as vice president of corporate development.

Eastwood, who has over 17 years of business development, sales and marketing experience within the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, will focus on the development of corporate business strategy and the formation of strategic alliances with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He will report to Ambrx’s president and chief executive officer, Martin Mattingly.

"We’re focused on using our broadly applicable technology to improve existing protein-based therapeutics," Mattingly said. "We’re actively engaged in partnering discussions. Kevin will expand and lead our initiatives in this area."

Prior to joining Ambrx, Eastwood was the senior vice president of business development with Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he held leadership positions of increasing importance with the company over a six-year period. He was also the manager of business development at Agouron-Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and a sales executive for Hoechst Marion Roussel, a predecessor company of sanofi-aventis.

Eastwood holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Missouri State University.

About Ambrx
Ambrx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on optimizing existing protein drugs. Using its technology, the company can overcome the performance challenges of high-value commercial proteins by improving their efficacy, safety and ease of use. Ambrx’s core ReCODE™ technology allows for the precise, site-specific substitution of a novel amino acid within a protein. This technology is applicable to multiple protein products across numerous therapeutic areas. Ambrx expects to initiate clinical trials with a long-acting, PEGylated human growth hormone in early 2007, followed by an enhanced, PEGylated interferon alpha molecule. With its innovative approach, Ambrx has successfully bridged the gap between a platform that works and drug development. For additional information, call 858.875.2400 or visit www.ambrx.com.

Ambrx® and ReCODE™ are trademarks of Ambrx, Inc.