Kala Pharmaceuticals Appoints Steven Zhang as Vice President of Medical Affairs
“Steven brings a tremendous depth of experience leading medical
activities for both clinical stage and commercial ophthalmic products.
He will be a valuable asset to the Kala team as we prepare for the
launch of INVELTYS™ in early 2019 and advance KPI-121 0.25% for dry eye
disease,” said
“I am excited to join Kala at this stage of the company’s evolution into a commercial organization,” said Dr. Zhang. “INVELTYS and KPI-121 0.25% have the potential to be significant additions to the treatment armamentariums for post-surgical inflammation and pain and dry eye disease, respectively. I look forward to working with the team as we continue to leverage the broad potential of our AMPPLIFY technology.”
Dr. Zhang brings to Kala years of experience working in the
pharmaceutical industry, with many of those years spent focused in
ophthalmology. Prior to joining Kala, he served as Senior Director,
Global Ophthalmic Franchise Medical Lead and Head of U.S. Ophthalmic
Medical Affairs at Shire where he played an important role in leading
the pre-approval and launch medical activities of Xiidra®
(lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% in the U.S. and for its global
expansion. In addition, he was also the medical lead for Shire’s
ophthalmic pipeline development programs. Before Shire, Dr. Zhang spent
six years in the medical affairs function at Bausch + Lomb where he
supported the launch of more than 15 ophthalmic products and devices. He
was also the National Clinical Science Manager at Abbott Labs’
respiratory and anti-infective franchise. Previously, Dr. Zhang
conducted neurobiological research as a faculty member of the
About
Kala is a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics
using its proprietary AMPPLIFY™ mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) Drug
Delivery Technology, with an initial focus on the treatment of eye
diseases. In preclinical studies, MPPs increased drug delivery into
ocular tissues more than three-fold by facilitating penetration through
the tear film mucus. Kala has applied the AMPPLIFY Drug Delivery
Technology to a corticosteroid, loteprednol etabonate (LE), designed for
ocular applications, resulting in recently approved INVELTYS™ for the
treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and its lead
product candidate, KPI-121 0.25%, for the temporary relief of the signs
and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties, including statements regarding INVELTYS for the treatment
of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and the Company's lead
product candidate, KPI-121 0.25% for the temporary relief of the signs
and symptoms of dry eye disease, the launch of INVELTYS in early 2019,
INVELTYS and KPI-121 0.25% having the potential to be significant
additions to the treatment armamentariums for post-surgical inflammation
and pain and dry eye disease, respectively, and the Company continuing
to leverage the broad potential of its AMPPLIFY technology. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this
Press Release, including statements regarding the Company’s strategy,
future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected
costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are
forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,”
“target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue”
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words. The Company may not actually achieve the plans,
intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements,
and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the
plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including but
not limited to: whether the Company will be able to successfully
implement its commercialization plans for INVELTYS; whether the market
opportunity for INVELTYS is consistent with the Company’s expectations
and market research; data from the Company’s Phase 3 clinical trials of
KPI-121 0.25% will warrant the
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Source:
For Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investors
Michael
Schaffzin, 212-362-1200
michael@sternir.com
or
Media
Kari
Watson, 781-235-3060
kwatson@macbiocom.com