GAINESVILLE, Fla., June 1, 2015 (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, today announced the appointment of Rabia Ozden, M.D. as Vice President of Clinical Research and Development. In her new role, Dr. Ozden will be responsible for leading the development of pipeline product candidates and overseeing the company's clinical research operations.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Ozden to AGTC," said Sue Washer, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGTC. "Rabia's extensive background in managing clinical and regulatory development of ophthalmic products at leading biotechnology companies is quite relevant for AGTC as we approach significant clinical milestones. Her experience across many ophthalmic indications at all stages of clinical development will be invaluable to the development of AGTC's novel product candidates."
"I look forward to collaborating with AGTC's scientific and management teams, and helping the company advance its mission to develop effective gene-based therapies for rare and serious ocular disorders," said Dr. Ozden. "The company has an impressive development pipeline, with multiple programs nearing critical periods of clinical development."
Dr. Ozden was employed most recently by GlaxoSmithKline plc., where she served as Vice President and Head of Clinical Ophthalmology since May 2014. Previously, she was Executive Medical Director of Ophthalmology at Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Ozden served in the Clinical Affairs Department at Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals and also held positions with increasing responsibilities in the Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Department at Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. Dr. Ozden earned a doctor of medicine degree from the Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey, and after finishing an ophthalmology residency in Turkey she completed clinical glaucoma fellowship training at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
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 is also using its gene therapy expertise to expand into disease indications with large market opportunity such as wet AMD.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect AGTC's plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies and operations, preclinical and clinical product development and regulatory progress, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "seeks," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, due to a number of important factors, including, without limitation, those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, as filed with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent management's plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.