GAINESVILLE, Fla., and CHICAGO, Oct. 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq:AGTC), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of rare eye diseases, today announced that Sue Washer, AGTC president and CEO is this year’s recipient of the OIS@AAO Innovator Award.
“On behalf of the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit, I would like to congratulate Ms. Washer and AGTC for their work in developing groundbreaking treatments for ophthalmic diseases,” said Gil Kliman, M.D, managing director, Interwest Partners, co-chair, OIS@AAO Ophthalmology Innovation Summit. “Ms. Washer led AGTC through many firsts; AGTC was the first venture-backed gene therapy company to focus on ophthalmology and it recently became the first ophthalmic gene therapy company to complete an IPO. We look forward to many more firsts from Ms. Washer and AGTC.”
The OIS@AAO Innovator Award recognizes trailblazers who have made exceptional contributions to ophthalmic innovation and entrepreneurship. Individuals are nominated and selected via an advisory committee, which includes preeminent executives, researchers and practitioners as well as leaders from the financial community and government officials.
“I would like to thank OIS for recognizing our work. It is an honor to be recognized among the elite visionaries who have previously received this award,” said Ms. Washer. “I’m pleased to accept this award on behalf of our team and our strategic partners, without whom we could not have accomplished so much. We’re on track to sustain our momentum and hope to bring much-needed advances in ophthalmology to patients in the coming years.”
About AGTC
AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that uses its proprietary gene therapy platform to develop products designed to transform the lives of patients with severe diseases in ophthalmology. AGTC’s lead product candidates focus on X-linked retinoschisis, achromatopsia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which are inherited orphan diseases of the eye, caused by mutations in single genes, that significantly affect visual function and currently lack effective medical treatments. AGTC has recently begun development of a product to treat Wet AMD using the company’s experience in ophthalmology to expand into disease indications with larger markets.
About the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit
The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit was created to facilitate meaningful interactions and business partnerships between physicians, entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives who are driving ophthalmic innovation. OIS addresses key issues – both hurdles and opportunities while showcasing the most promising private ophthalmic companies.
CONTACT: David Carey Lazar Partners Ltd. T: (212) 867-1768 dcarey@lazarpartners.com Corporate Contact: Larry Bullock Chief Financial Officer Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation T: (386) 462-2204 lbullock@agtc.com
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