Exhibit 99.1
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Appoints Richard J. Daly as Chief Executive Officer
Patrick J. McEnany to Retire as CEO and will Continue to Serve as Catalyst’s Chairman
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Oct. 19, 2023 - Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Catalyst” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: CPRX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing novel medicines for patients living with rare diseases, today announced the appointment of Richard J. Daly as its new Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) effective January 1, 2024. Mr. Daly is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive bringing more than three decades of experience to Catalyst. In order to facilitate an orderly transition, Patrick J. McEnany, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, will retire from the CEO position effective December 31, 2023, and at that time will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board.
“Today’s announcement paves the way for a seamless transition for the new CEO at Catalyst. Rich brings a wealth of industry experience, particularly on the commercial side, along with a profound understanding of our business, strategy, team, and culture. His proven track record and deep knowledge of our Company make him the ideal leader to guide Catalyst toward the next level of success. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with Rich to ensure a smooth transition in this important leadership role,” said Patrick J. McEnany, Chairman and CEO of Catalyst. “Our Board of Directors have been engaged in a very thoughtful, ongoing CEO succession planning and has conducted a rigorous national search with a highly regarded executive search firm. While we identified many highly qualified candidates, at the conclusion of our interviews, our board of directors unanimously agreed that Rich Daly, a member of our board for the past eight years, was the best-suited candidate to be our next CEO.”
“I am honored to serve as Catalyst’s new CEO at such a pivotal point in the Company’s evolution,” said Richard J. Daly. “With a strong commitment to sustained execution across the business, we will remain focused to further capitalize on our compelling accomplishments. We are well-poised for a promising future, and I look forward to advancing our objectives to deliver on our growth strategy and initiatives.”
Mr. Daly has held distinguished positions in multinational corporations and at innovative biotech companies. Prior to his appointment at Catalyst, Mr. Daly served as President of CARsgen Therapeutics Corporation since January 2022. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Beyond Springs Inc. from 2018 to 2022 and as CEO, President, and Chairman of Neuralstem, Inc., a publicly held biotechnology company specializing in central nervous system therapies based on neuronal stem cell technology from 2016 to 2018.