Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,Monday, July 28, 2003
NEW YORK, Jul 28, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the company has appointed Douglas Altschuler as General Counsel. The Company also announced that it is expanding its commercial team with the additions of Michael Leone as National Sales Director, Henric Bjarke as Senior Director, Macugen(TM) Marketing Team Leader, and Mary Ann DeMarco as Marketing Director.
Mr. Altschuler served most recently as Vice President/General Counsel of Nektar Therapeutics, in which capacity he oversaw the legal functions for Nektar and its subsidiaries. Prior to this, he was Vice President/General Counsel of AXYS Pharmaceuticals, as well as Vice President/General Counsel and Compliance Officer of Mentor Corporation, a medical device company. Mr. Altschuler received his J.D. degree from the University of Arizona School of Law and a B.S. degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Arizona.
"Douglas Altschuler brings excellent experience working with both development-stage companies and life sciences firms that have a strong presence in the marketplace," said Dr. David Guyer, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals' co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Douglas' range of expertise will no doubt prove a tremendous asset to the company and its continued progress." Mr. Altschuler will serve on Eyetech's Leadership Team.
New Members of Eyetech's Commercialization Team
Mike Leone comes to Eyetech from First Horizon, where he was Vice President of Sales. Prior to that, he spent 22 years in sales and sales management at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Mike started as a sales representative and moved on to positions of increasing responsibility within the company, including National Director of Federal and Institutional Sales.
Prior to joining Eyetech, Henric Bjarke had more than 10 years' experience at Pharmacia Ophthalmology Division, where he most recently led the XALATAN(R) US and Global Team for medical education initiatives. Mr. Bjarke was also a member of the global team that launched XALATAN(R), the world's largest-selling ophthalmology product, in the field of glaucoma.
Mary Ann DeMarco has 17 years' experience in ophthalmology marketing and was most recently the Senior Brand Manager for XALATAN(R) US business at Pharmacia Ophthalmology.
Arda Ural, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, commented, "Mike, Henric and Mary Ann together bring to Eyetech solid launch experience at a number of the industry's leading pharmaceutical organizations. With this world-class commercial team in place, we will continue to establish and enhance our commercial capabilities prior to a potential launch of our first product."
Eyetech's Phase III development program for Macugen(TM) (pegaptanib sodium) is the largest clinical development program to treat the "wet" form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Company's two Phase III trials involve nearly 1,200 patients at 117 investigational sites in the United States and other countries. In August 2002, Eyetech announced the completion of patient enrollment into the registration trials. Subsequently, in December 2002, Eyetech entered into an agreement with Pfizer to jointly develop and commercialize Macugen as a potential treatment for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema (DME). Eyetech also entered into an agreement with Pfizer this year in which Eyetech's sales force will participate in selling XALATAN(R) (latanoprost ophthalmic solution) to ophthalmologists and retinal specialists in the U.S.
Eyetech Pharmaceuticals ( ) is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics and delivery systems to combat the vision loss associated with ophthalmic diseases. Founded in 2000, the privately held, New York City-based company is focused on meeting the unmet medical needs of patients with diseases that affect the back of the eye. Its investors include partners and affiliates of JP Morgan Partners, BB Biotech, MPM Capital, Alta Partners, Schroder Ventures Life Sciences and International BioTechnology Trust plc, and Merrill Lynch KeCalp.
SOURCE Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Justin Jackson of Burns McClellan, +1-212-213-0006, for Eyetech
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