-Industry Leader in Ophthalmic Drug Development-
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: ITEK) today announced the appointment of ophthalmic drug development expert, Cadmus Collins Rich, MD, MBA, CPE, as Vice President, Medical Affairs and Clinical Development. Most recently, Dr. Rich served as a Therapeutic Unit Head at Alcon for intraocular lenses. Prior to this he was the Global Head, Pharmaceutical Clinical Trial Management at Alcon, where he led a team of 25-plus MDs and PhDs and shepherded the submission and approval of Nevanac®, Durezol®, and Izba®, and the recently approved glaucoma treatment, Simbrinza®. In his role, Dr. Rich will report to Rudolf Baumgartner, M.D, Chief Medical Officer of Inotek.
"I am excited to be a part of the Inotek team, and to be able to help the company deliver on the potential of trabodenoson and expand the portfolio"
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Rich to Inotek. He brings to the company a wealth of experience as a practicing ophthalmologist and as a seasoned clinical developer focused on ophthalmology having worked both in Specialty Pharma and in a Contract Research Organization," said Dr. Rudolf Baumgartner, Chief Medical Officer. "Dr. Rich's clinical development experience will be important to us as we progress trabodenoson through clinical trials, and build our portfolio. We will also benefit from his years as a practicing ophthalmologist and the respect he has earned among a network of medical and scientific specialists focused on ophthalmology. We look forward to his contributions as we grow our company and advance trabodenoson towards an NDA."
Prior to Alcon, Dr. Rich served as Senior Director in the Integrated Patient and Site Strategies Group, Global Head of Pathways and North American Head of Prime Sites at Quintiles Translational, where he developed a new business unit in ophthalmology that he grew into a Center of Excellence. Other past industry experience includes serving as Medical Director at AAI Pharma and Managing Director and Medical Director at the American Institute of Healthcare and Fitness. As a physician, Dr. Rich was an ophthalmologist and principal investigator at North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat and served on the Board of Directors at N.C. Specialty Hospital in Durham, N.C. He received his BA in psychology from Case Western Reserve University, MBA with honors from Regis University and MD from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Rich completed his Transitional Internship at Carilion Health Systems in Roanoke, VA and his Ophthalmology Residency at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine/UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Rich is a Board Certified ophthalmologist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Certified Physician Executive.
"I am excited to be a part of the Inotek team, and to be able to help the company deliver on the potential of trabodenoson and expand the portfolio," said Dr. Rich. "We believe the non-clinical and clinical data to date describe a novel mechanism of action with a favorable benefit-risk profile that will meet a significant unmet medical need of patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma."
About Inotek Pharmaceuticals
Inotek Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies for glaucoma and other eye diseases. Our lead product candidate, trabodenoson, is a first-in-class selective adenosine mimetic developed in Inotek's laboratories designed to restore the eye's natural pressure control mechanism. The development of trabodenoson monotherapy delivered in a once-daily eye drop formulation will be followed by a fixed-dose combination of trabodenoson with latanoprost. Additionally, we are evaluating the potential for selective adenosine mimetics to address optic neuropathies and other degenerative retinal diseases.
Nevanac®, Durezol®, Izba®, and Simbrinza® are registered trademarks of Novartis AG.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "seek," "will," "may" or similar expressions. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Inotek Contact:
Claudine Prowse, Ph.D., 781-552-4305
Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations Officer
[email protected]
or
Media Contact:
MacDougall Biomedical
Karen Sharma, 781-235-3060
[email protected]