GAINESVILLE, Fla., June 5, 2014 (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 that company management will present at two upcoming investor conferences.
- Jefferies Gene Therapy Summit on Monday, June 16, 2014 in Boston. Sue Washer, President and CEO will provide a corporate overview discussing the company's lead programs in ophthalmology, including X-linked Retinoschisis (XLRS), Achromatopsia (ACHM) and X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP). In addition, Ms. Washer will participate in an ophthalmology panel Q&A hosted by Dr. Jeffery Heier, Vitreoretinal Specialist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston.
- Piper Jaffray GenomeRx Symposium on Monday, June 23, 2014 in New York. Ms. Washer will participate in panel discussions entitled "Ophthalmology: Seeing the Future of Gene Therapy Clearly" and Dr. Jeff Chulay, Chief Medical Officer will participate in the panel "Regulatory: GMP, GCP, FDA…OKAY?"
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 inherited orphan diseases in ophthalmology. AGTC's lead product candidates, which are each in the preclinical stage, focus on X-linked retinoschisis, achromatopsia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which are rare diseases of the eye, caused by mutations in single genes, that significantly affect visual function and currently lack effective medical treatments.
About X-linked Retinoschisis (XLRS)
XLRS is an inherited retinal disease caused by mutations in the RS1 gene, which encodes the retinoschisin protein. It is characterized by abnormal splitting of the layers of the retina, resulting in poor visual acuity in young boys, which can progress to legal blindness in adult men.
About Achromatopsia (ACHM)
ACHM is an inherited retinal disease, which is present from birth and is characterized by the lack of cone photoreceptor function. The condition results in markedly reduced visual acuity light sensitivity causing day blindness, and complete loss of color discrimination. Best-corrected visual acuity in persons affected by ACHM, even under subdued light conditions, is usually about 20/200, a level at which people are considered legally blind.
About X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP)
XLRP is an inherited condition that causes boys to develop night blindness by the time they are ten and progresses to legal blindness by their early forties.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding Applied Genetics Technology Corporation that do not relate to historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies and operations, preclinical and clinical product development and regulatory progress, financing plans, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition, 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. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are only predictions, and actual future events and results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to those risks and uncertainties that are discussed under "Risk Factors" in our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193309), as amended, and our periodic and current reports 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.