SAN DIEGO, Oct. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TearLab Corporation (Nasdaq:TEAR) (TSX:TLB) ("TearLab" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Julie Speed to its senior management team as Vice President, Global Marketing.
Ms. Speed's mandate will be leading global marketing functions for the complete TearLab portfolio, including the Company's internal diagnostics product line and the OcuHub platform.
Ms. Speed has an accomplished history of pharmaceutical and medical device brand leadership as well as market research management within the global ophthalmic industry. She joins TearLab after 15 years of progressive experience at Alcon Laboratories Inc. ("Alcon"). Her experience at Alcon includes previous roles in its global pharmaceutical and U.S. medical device franchises, including managing marketing for its intraocular lenses business, serving as a strategic advisor to its executive team, managing global brand strategies and tactics for its glaucoma franchise, conducting primary and secondary market research for its glaucoma, anti-infective and otic brand teams, and various other commercial assignments.
"I am really happy to be working with Julie again," commented TearLab's President & COO, Seph Jensen. "She brings a wealth of directly related experience in our market with our core audiences. She will be a tremendous asset as we continue to evolve our commercial strategy."
Inducement Grant Under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4)
Upon extending the employment offer to Ms. Speed, a majority of the independent members of the Company's Board of Directors approved the grant of an option to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock. The stock option has a ten-year term and a per share exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the closing price per share of the Company's common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market on October 6, 2014 or (ii) the prior five-day volume weighted average price of the Company's common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market at the close of business on October 6, 2014. The stock option has a vesting commencement date of October 6, 2014, Ms. Speed's start date with the Company, and will vest in equal annual increments over a three year period, subject to Ms. Speed's continued service with the Company through each applicable vesting date. In addition, the stock option will fully accelerate as to vesting in the event of a change of control prior to Ms. Speed's termination of service. The stock option grant was made as an inducement that was material to Ms. Speed's acceptance of employment with the Company and was granted as an employment inducement award pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
About TearLab Corporation
TearLab Corporation (www.tearlab.com) develops and markets lab-on-a-chip technologies that enable eye care practitioners to improve standard of care by objectively and quantitatively testing for disease markers in tears at the point-of-care. The TearLab® Osmolarity Test, for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease, is the first assay developed for the award-winning TearLab Osmolarity System. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, TearLab Corporation's common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol 'TEAR' and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'TLB'.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about TearLab. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the future potential of the TearLab Osmolarity System and the related impact on our sales. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. Many factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including the factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2014, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2014. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.