WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, May 30, 2008 -- Histogenics Corporation, a cartilage regeneration company whose NeoCart® neocartilage implant shows promise in clinical trials as a long-lasting treatment for knee joint repair, has named F. Ken Andrews as President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Ken’s rich experience in a range of biomedical areas, especially tissue regeneration, will serve Histogenics well,” said Laurence Berlowitz Tarrant, Ph.D., Histogenics Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder. “His impressive record of achievement makes him an ideal leader as we progress through clinical trials and strive to bring our products to market.”
Mr. Andrews was most recently Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and Chief Commercial Officer at Alkermes. Previously, he was founding CEO at Medicalis Corporation. Among his senior executive positions at biotechnology, pharmaceutical and device companies, he was Vice President of Marketing and Sales of the Tissue Repair Division of Genzyme Corporation.
He was Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Alteon Pharmaceuticals and Vice President of U.S. Operations for Seikagaku Corporation. He began his career with American Hospital Supply as a sales representative and rose in the ranks to Director of Sales and Marketing. He helped lead the creation of the initial sales and marketing organizations at both Genentech, Inc. and Centocor, Inc. He has also been a consultant with Synergy Partners, assessing new technologies and products in the life science industry.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.A. degree in business administration.
About Histogenics Histogenics develops and manufactures products that improve the body’s ability to regenerate healthy cartilage, improve joint function and prevent degenerative disease. Formed in 2000, the company takes an interdisciplinary approach to engineering neocartilage that looks, acts, and lasts like hyaline cartilage. It is developing new treatments for sports injuries and other orthopedic conditions, where demand is growing for long-term alternatives to joint replacement. Histogenics has successfully completed Phase I clinical trials, and has nearly completed Phase II trials in which the NeoCart® implant’s effectiveness is compared to that of standard microfracture surgery. Trials for the VeriCart(TM) matrix began in 2008. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company is privately held. Major investors include Boston Millennia Partners, Foundation Medical Partners, Takagi Sangyo and Stryker Corporation. For more information, visit http://www.histogenics.com.
