PLAINSBORO, N.J., Sept. 18, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) today announced that effective October 31, 2002 it will increase the size of its Board of Directors to six and appoint David C. Auth to fill the newly created vacancy.
Stuart Essig, President and Chief Executive Officer stated: "I am pleased that David has agreed to join our Board of Directors. David is a world recognized expert in bioengineering, with particular expertise in least invasive surgery and energy interactions in biological tissue. He has several widely distributed inventions in the fields of gastrointestinal endoscopy and interventional cardiology. He is the primary inventor of the contact laser scalpel. David's broad interests in medical technologies and tissue/energy interactions makes him a great fit with Integra's mission to lead in the development of innovative medical devices."
"I look forward to working with Mr. Essig, the Board, and the entire team at Integra in this new position as a Director to search out, develop, and commercialize the most effective strategies and devices for improved healthcare delivery within the scope of the company's platform technologies," said Dr. Auth.
From 1989 to 1995, Dr. Auth served as Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Heart Technology, Inc. which was subsequently acquired by Boston Scientific Corporation. Prior to that time, he served as Director, Biophysics International, Bellevue, Washington, a division of E.R. Squibb and Sons, Inc. from 1985 to 1989, and, from 1982 to 1985, Director, New Product Ventures, Squibb Medical Products. He also served as Principal Investigator on numerous federally sponsored research programs encompassing medical device development, high energy laser interactions, and acoustic and optical holography while serving as a Professor of Electrical Engineering from 1969 to 1982 at the University of Washington. He has served as an Affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington from 1985 to 2002. Dr. Auth holds a Ph.D. in physics from Georgetown University and is a registered professional electrical engineer in the State of Washington.
Dr. Auth is an independent investor and serves on the Boards of Directors of several other companies including Novacept, Inc., Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc., AcousTx, and until its acquisition by Boston Scientific in 2001, RadioTherapeutics, Inc.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, implants and biomaterials primarily used in the treatment of cranial and spinal disorders, soft tissue repair and orthopedics. Integra is a leader in applying the principles of biotechnology to medical devices that improve patients' quality of life. Integra has its corporate headquarters in Plainsboro, New Jersey, with manufacturing and research facilities located throughout the world. Integra has approximately 750 permanent employees.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Integra's ambitions to develop new medical products. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted or expected results. In addition, the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in the Business section of Integra's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and information contained in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could affect actual results.