Aequus forms Strategic Advisory Board in Ophthalmology, Chaired by Dr. Ike Ahmed


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS, OTCQB: AQSZF) (“Aequus” or the “Company”), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, today announced the formation of a strategic advisory board in ophthalmology with the appointment of its first two members, Dr. Ike Ahmed of the Prism Eye Institute joining as Chairman, and Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele of the University of Toronto.

Aequus has formed the Advisory Board to assist in assessing and rationalizing the many ophthalmology pipeline opportunities, both in therapeutics and medical devices, available to the Company. The advisory board will help Aequus in determining whether a product can improve patient outcomes, integrate into a clinician’s workflow, and navigate the Canadian reimbursement and commercial landscape.

“The formation of our advisory board is another step in our continued commitment to the ophthalmic space in Canada,” said Doug Janzen, Chairman and CEO of Aequus Pharmaceuticals. “This initial appointment of Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Braga-Mele, both innovators and global leaders in ophthalmology, provides robust insight and guidance from within the clinic and strengthens our ability to assess the utility of products for Canadian patients and physicians.”

“I’m excited to work with Aequus to help advance ophthalmic care within Canada,” said Dr. Ike Ahmed. “With innovative product technologies routinely targeting the major markets of the USA and Europe, I’m happy to work with a company that is championing for Canadian patients, as evidenced by the launch of the Zepto Capsulotomy System. Working alongside my colleagues on the advisory board, we’ll look to address barriers experienced in the clinic and provide access to promising technologies not currently available to Canadian patients.”

“It has been refreshing working with a company committed to the Canadian ophthalmology landscape,” said Dr. Braga-Mele. “Aequus has quickly developed a reputation of responding to patient and physician feedback with the launch of Vistitan™ and the Zepto Capsulotomy system. I look forward to sharing best-practices, product concepts, and innovative techniques seen within our intimate global community with my colleagues on the advisory board to help advance ophthalmic care in Canada.”

Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Braga-Mele will be working with the Aequus team to add additional members to the Advisory Board over the coming weeks.

ABOUT DR. IKE AHMED

Dr. Ike Ahmed has become world renowned for his skills and ground-breaking work in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of highly complex eye diseases including glaucoma and surgical complications. He has been at the leading edge of novel treatments for glaucoma, cataract, and lens implant surgery, having performed the first laser cataract surgery in Canada, and designing devices, implants, and techniques for ophthalmic applications. Dr. Ahmed has a keen interest in the development of advanced microsurgical devices, developing and coining the term “Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)” for a new genre of surgical approaches and devices for treating glaucoma. Dr. Ahmed has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and given over 1000 scientific presentations thus far in his career. He is an ophthalmologist at the Prism Eye Institute (Ontario, Canada), Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Clinical Professor at the University of Utah.

ABOUT DR. ROSA BRAGA-MELE

Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele is a cataract specialist and educator who speaks frequently at both the national and international level on advanced surgical techniques, innovations in phacoemulsification surgery, complicated cataract cases, and IOL development. She was voted by her peers as one of the top 50 opinion leaders in cataract and refractive surgery and has over 150 published abstracts and papers within the field. She has been involved in clinical trials pertaining to wavefront IOL’s, multifocal IOL’s, and phacoemulsification surgery. Dr. Braga-Mele has been active within the ophthalmic community throughout her career, currently serving as Chair of the Education Clinical Committee for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), holding various roles in the past with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Canadian Ophthalmology Society, and achieving several awards for her contributions to mentorship and volunteer service within the community. Dr. Braga-Mele is a Professor of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto and the Cataract Director at the Kensington Eye Institute.

ABOUT AEQUUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS, OTCQB: AQSZF) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing high quality, differentiated products. Aequus has grown its pipeline to include several commercial products in ophthalmology and transplant, and a development stage pipeline in neurology and psychiatry with a goal of addressing the need for improved medication adherence through enhanced delivery systems. As a complement to its focus in neurology, our most recent addition to the development pipeline was a long-acting form of medical cannabis, where there is a high need for a consistent, predictable and pharmaceutical-grade delivery of products for patients. Aequus intends to commercialize its internal programs in Canada alongside its current portfolio of marketed established medicines and will look to form strategic partnerships that would maximize the reach of its product candidates worldwide. Aequus plans to build on its Canadian commercial platform through the launch of additional products that are either created internally or brought in through an acquisition or license; remaining focused on highly specialized therapeutic areas. For further information, please visit www.aequuspharma.ca.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER

This release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believe”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “potential” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements relating to: rationalizing the company’s pipeline opportunities; determining whether a product can improve patient outcomes, integrate into a clinician’s workflow, and navigate the Canadian commercial landscape; our ability to assess the utility of products for Canadian patients and physicians; our ability to provide access to promising technologies not currently available to Canadian patients. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Aequus, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making the forward looking statements included in this release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including, but not limited to: obtaining positive results of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; general business and economic conditions; the Company’s ability to successfully outlicense or sell its current products and in-license and develop new products; the assumption that the Company’s current good relationships with its manufacturer and other third parties will be maintained; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company’s competitors; and the Company’s ability to protect patents and proprietary rights. In evaluating forward looking statements, current and prospective shareholders should specifically consider various factors set out herein and under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated April 30, 2018, a copy of which is available on Aequus’ profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on Aequus’ SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or a risk that is not currently known to us materialize, or should assumptions underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements.

VistitanTM: Trademark owned or used under license by Sandoz Canada Inc.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Aequus Investor Relations

Email: investors@aequuspharma.ca