Chief Operating Officer Employment Agreement

EXHIBIT 99.1


CUBIST PHARMACEUTICALS APPOINTS DINU SEN PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
New Corporate Structure Reflects Progress Towards Commercialization


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBST) today announced the appointment of Dinendra "Dinu" Sen to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Cubist. Concurrent with the election of Scott M. Rocklage, Ph.D. as Chairman one year ago, Cubist's board of directors initiated a search for the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer to work closely with Dr. Rocklage in the management of internal operations. Dr. Rocklage is continuing as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Cubist.


Mr. Sen's healthcare experience includes senior positions overseeing sales, marketing, strategic planning and consulting. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Pathogenesis Corporation, a company that was focused exclusively on infectious diseases. There, his responsibilities included the management of all sales and marketing activities, the prioritization of research and development projects, a role in licensing and acquisition, and investigation of strategic alternatives for the company. His efforts ultimately lead to the acquisition of Pathogenesis by Chiron Corporation in October 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Sen served for several years as Vice President Marketing and Sales at Schwarz Pharma, where he was able to achieve significantly greater efficiencies in the sales and marketing organization through reorganization and improved alignment of resources. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Sen served in various senior marketing positions at Amgen, Inc., where he played a key role in the growth of Epogen and Neupogen, which are considered by most to be the first successfully commercialized biotechnology products. Mr. Sen has also served in various marketing and finance positions at Abbott Laboratories and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountan ...