Dr. Jeffrey Siegel, Senior Group Medical Director of Immunology at Genentech, will be honored by the Scleroderma Foundation of Southern California with the Spirit of Leadership Award at their 17^th annual “Key to a Cure” gala, which will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Marriot Hotel in Manhattan Beach.

Dr. Siegel has more than 20 years of experience researching scleroderma during his time at the FDA and Genentech. As Clinical Team Leader in Rheumatology for the FDA, he was involved in the review and approval of many therapies for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, the category which scleroderma falls under. At Genentech, Dr. Siegel is involved in the continuing study of the company's immunology portfolio in order to identify areas where treatments can help address patients with unmet needs.

The Scleroderma Foundation's Spirit of Leadership Award recognizes those who have contributed to the progress in treatments for scleroderma, a chronic disease that can cause degenerative changes and scarring in the skin, joints, and internal organs. Scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease with no FDA-approved therapy.

Dr. Siegel's recent work with Genentech Immunology helped the company obtain an FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for its product Actemra® (tocilizumab) for the treatment of systemic sclerosis, based on data from the phase 2 faSScinate study.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Scleroderma Foundation for my devotion to researching treatments for scleroderma,” said Dr. Siegel. “I am looking forward to the Phase III clinical trial and potentially bringing a much-needed therapy to people with scleroderma.”