Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation Named Bioflorida Company Of The Year
GAINESVILLE, Fla. and FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 14, 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, announced BioFlorida has awarded it the 2014 David J. Gury Company of the Year Award.
"AGTC is one of the Florida life sciences industry's home grown success stories," said Nancy K. Bryan, President & CEO, BioFlorida. "We chose to honor AGTC as our Company of the Year for 2014 in honor of their significant milestones, including a new strategic manufacturing partnership, promising clinical data, a successful IPO and a strong second stock offering. We are confident that AGTC will continue to be a shining example for life science innovation in the state."
The David J. Gury Company of the Year Award honors a company who has made significant achievements or contributions to the growth of Florida's life sciences industry, which includes biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, bioagriculture and biofuels. The award is named in honor of David Gury, one of the founding directors of BioFlorida who ran successful biotech companies in Florida and aided biotechnology growth in the state.
"AGTC is honored to receive this recognition and we extend our thanks to the entire BioFlorida Board of Directors," said Sue Washer, AGTC President and CEO. "We would also like to recognize the significant contributions BioFlorida has made to uniting the biotech community across the state. Florida has a rich history of innovation and significant potential to become a major hub for the life sciences industry."
Ms. Washer sits on the boards of Southeast BIO, Florida High Tech Corridor Council and BioFlorida. She has an MBA from the University of Florida where she was one of the first graduates from the Warrington College of Business Entrepreneurship program. In 2007, Ms. Washer led AGTC to graduate from the award-winning Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator Program at the University of Florida.
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 BioFlorida
BioFlorida (BioFlorida.com) is the voice of Florida's life sciences industry, representing more than 3,000 companies and research organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and bioagriculture fields that employ nearly 84,000 Floridians. BioFlorida's member-driven initiatives provide a strong business climate for development and production of innovative technologies and products that improve lives and promote economic benefits to the state.
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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