Company Also Adds Key Leadership Talent to Clinical Research and Medical Affairs Group
IRVINE , Calif. & BEDMINSTER, N.J. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AERI), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class glaucoma therapies, today announced that Richard ("Rick") Lewis, M.D., has joined the Company as its Chief Medical Officer. This is a part-time position reporting directly to Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D., Aerie's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Lewis is a world-renowned leader in ophthalmology, particularly in glaucoma. In addition to his clinical practice in Sacramento, California, and his active involvement in clinical research, he is also on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, known as ASCRS. He is also past president of the American Glaucoma Society.
"I am delighted that we have been successful in attracting such highly talented employees to Aerie, which I believe is a testament to the level of excitement many in the profession feel for Aerie's product pipeline and programs."
Separately, Aerie announced two key leadership additions reporting to Theresa Heah, M.D., the Company's Vice President of Clinical Research and Medical Affairs, who joined Aerie from Bayer AG in early 2015 and reports to Thomas Mitro, Aerie's President and Chief Operating Officer. Now reporting to Dr. Heah is Sushanta Mallick, Ph.D., as Vice President, Clinical Research/Glaucoma. Dr. Mallick brings extensive glaucoma clinical research experience from QLT Incorporated and Alcon Research. Mini Balaram, M.D., now also reports to Dr. Heah as Medical Director, Clinical & Medical Affairs. Dr. Balaram also brings a wealth of experience, having worked for several years at Bausch + Lomb and Valeant Pharmaceuticals with a focus on medical affairs across the spectrum of ophthalmic diseases.
"We are very thankful to have Rick join the team. He has been a driving force in ophthalmology for a generation and has always been a strong advocate for novel glaucoma therapies. His insights will certainly prove extraordinarily useful as we strive to build a major ophthalmic pharmaceutical company," said Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Aerie.
Dr. Lewis added, "We continue to see significant unmet need in the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension, and I believe Aerie's late clinical-stage product candidates hold great promise, particularly since they target the diseased tissue in glaucoma. I am also impressed by the early pre-clinical results I have seen regarding the disease-modifying potential of RhopressaTM, and new pre-clinical product candidate AR-13154 for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration."
Dr. Anido continued, "I am delighted that we have been successful in attracting such highly talented employees to Aerie, which I believe is a testament to the level of excitement many in the profession feel for Aerie's product pipeline and programs."
About Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aerie is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. Aerie is currently conducting a Phase 3 registration trial in the United States named Rocket 2, where the primary efficacy endpoint is to demonstrate non-inferiority of IOP lowering for RhopressaTM compared to timolol, along with a Phase 3 registration safety-only trial, named Rocket 3, in Canada. Aerie completed its initial Phase 3 registration trial, named Rocket 1, the three-month efficacy results of which were initially reported in April 2015, and expects to commence a fourth Phase 3 registration trial, named Rocket 4, in September 2015. Aerie also completed in 2014 a Phase 2b clinical trial in which RoclatanTM met the primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating the statistical superiority of RoclatanTM to each of its components, and plans to commence the first Phase 3 registration trial for RoclatanTM, named Mercury 1, in September 2015.
Forward-Looking Statements
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Contacts
Aerie Pharmaceuticals
Richard Rubino, 908-947-3540
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or
Burns McClellan, Inc., on behalf of Aerie Pharmaceuticals
Investors
Ami Bavishi, 212-213-0006
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or
Media
Justin Jackson, 212-213-0006
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