IVERIC bio Appoints Abraham Scaria, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IVERIC bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISEE) announced today the appointment of Abraham Scaria, PhD, to the position of Chief Scientific Officer, effective October 29, 2019. Dr. Scaria will lead the Company’s research and pre-clinical gene therapy activities. Dr. Scaria’s extensive experience includes positions at Genzyme, Sanofi and most recently at Casebia Therapeutics, leading multiple ocular gene therapy programs. He will report to Glenn P. Sblendorio, Chief Executive Officer and President of IVERIC bio.

“We are pleased to welcome Abraham, an accomplished scientist and researcher with extensive experience in AAV-vector mediated gene therapy in the eye, to the IVERIC bio team,” stated Mr. Sblendorio. “We believe Abraham’s expertise will be invaluable to our collaborations with leading academic institutions to broaden and advance our programs as we prepare to enter into the clinic with our lead gene therapy program in the second half of 2020.”

“Gene therapy with AAV vectors present a significant opportunity in treating orphan inherited retinal diseases with unmet medical needs,” stated Dr. Scaria. “The Company has built an impressive pipeline of innovative gene therapy programs based on compelling science with the goal of providing transformational therapies for patients. I am excited to be working closely with this dynamic and experienced team.”

Dr. Scaria has more than 25 years of experience in gene therapy, ranging from discovery research to early-stage clinical trials. For much of his career, Dr. Scaria has specialized in viral gene therapy vectors and ocular gene therapy, having served as Senior Scientific Director of Gene Therapy and Ophthalmology at Genzyme-Sanofi and subsequently Head of Gene Therapy Research at Sanofi. Most recently, Dr. Scaria was Vice President and Head of Ophthalmology at Casebia Therapeutics, where he oversaw efforts to develop gene-editing based therapies for inherited retinal diseases. He earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Indiana University School of Medicine and conducted postdoctoral research at St. Louis University School of Medicine and at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Dr. Scaria has more than 45 publications and currently serves on several committees for the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy.

About IVERIC bio
IVERIC bio is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel treatment options for retinal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Vision is Our Mission. For more information on the Company please visit www.ivericbio.com.

IVERIC bio Forward-looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statements about the Company’s strategy, future operations and future expectations and plans and prospects for the Company, and any other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend”, “goal,” “may”, “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions. In this press release, the Company’s forward-looking statements include statements about the implementation of its strategic plan, the timing, progress and results of clinical trials and other research and development activities, including manufacturing activities, the potential utility and development potential of its product candidates and the potential for its business development strategy. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those related to the initiation and the conduct and design of research and development programs and clinical trials, establishment of manufacturing capabilities, availability of data from these programs, reliance on university collaborators and other third parties, expectations for regulatory matters, need for additional financing and negotiation and consummation of business development transactions and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section contained in the quarterly and annual reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. While the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law.

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