UNION CITY, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- MacuSight(TM), Inc., a developer of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of severe ocular diseases and conditions, today announced the appointment of Brian C. Cunningham to its board of directors. Mr. Cunningham presently serves as chief executive officer of DaoGen, Inc. and Clerigen, Inc., both early stage biopharmaceutical companies, and is Of Counsel to Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in its business department. In addition, Mr. Cunningham is a director of Synarc, Inc., a private, imaging-based clinical research organization.
“What makes Brian such a great fit for MacuSight is his impressive breadth of expertise which spans nearly every aspect of the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. With his depth of experience in the life sciences -- from legal practice to operations -- Brian will serve as a critical resource for MacuSight as we continue to grow as a company,” said David A. Weber, Ph.D., MacuSight’s president and chief executive officer. “We are excited to have someone of his caliber join our board and look forward to the direction and insight that he will provide to the company moving forward.”
In 2003, Mr. Cunningham rejoined Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, having previously served as a partner and the head of the firm’s life sciences practice from 1989-1998. During the time between his tenures at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, he held the positions of president and chief operating officer of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he played a critical role in strategically growing the company into a late-stage developer of innovative pharmaceutical products. His numerous contributions to Rigel Pharmaceuticals included providing key oversight for the company’s successful initial public offering in 2000. From 1982-1988, he was a member of Genentech’s senior management team during a period of rapid growth for the company. Serving as Genentech’s vice president, secretary and general counsel, Mr. Cunningham was responsible for completing a number of significant corporate partnering transactions with major pharmaceutical companies around the world, as well as overseeing numerous innovative financial transactions.
Previously, Mr. Cunningham has served as adjunct professor in biotechnology law at Santa Clara University Law School and as a member of the boards of QuestCor, Inc., SAMCEDA, the Bay Area Bioscience Center and Partners In School Innovation. He is a member of the bar in California, New York and Missouri, and a member of the American Law Institute.
“I am very excited to join the MacuSight team and have the opportunity to support and contribute to the growth of this emerging pharmaceutical company,” stated Mr. Cunningham. “With the broad therapeutic potential of sirolimus, MacuSight’s lead product candidate, and the proven track record of the company’s management team, MacuSight is strongly positioned to play a critical role in advancing the treatment of severe ocular diseases and conditions.”
About MacuSight
MacuSight is a privately-held pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for the treatment of severe ocular diseases and conditions. The company is dedicated to preserving patients’ vision by identifying known, highly-potent and broad-acting small molecule drug compounds that may possess efficacy in treating and/or preventing diseases or conditions of the eye. As part of its unique product development philosophy, MacuSight also concentrates on the optimal delivery of these compounds into the eye. By combining its compounds with innovative delivery approaches, the company strives to optimize the efficacy, safety, convenience and cost- effectiveness of its product candidates.
The company’s lead development program is centered on advancing sirolimus (rapamycin) as a potential next-generation therapeutic for the treatment and prevention of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), a manifestation of diabetic retinopathy.
MacuSight, Inc.
CONTACT: investors, Stephanie Diaz, +1-415-675-7400, orsdiaz@vidacommunication.com, or media, Tim Brons, +1-415-675-7402, ortbrons@vidacommunication.com, both of Vida Communication, for MacuSight
Web site: http://www.macusight.com/
