Applied Therapeutics Appoints Mark Vignola, PhD as Chief Financial Officer


NEW YORK, April 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel drug candidates in indications of high unmet medical need, today announced the appointment of Mark Vignola, PhD, as Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Vignola brings extensive experience in capital markets and finance in the life sciences industry to Applied Therapeutics, serving most recently as Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at Intercept Pharmaceuticals and, prior to Intercept, as an equity research associate at Needham & Company.  He joins Dr. Riccardo Perfetti, MD, PhD, who was appointed Chief Medical Officer of Applied in 2018.

“We’re thrilled that Mark is joining Applied at this critical juncture,” said Shoshana Shendelman, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Therapeutics. “His deep expertise in corporate finance and strong relationships within the financial community will be instrumental as we move into our next stage.”

“I look forward to working alongside Applied’s experienced leadership team to deliver on the company’s mission,” said Dr. Vignola.

Prior to joining Applied Therapeutics, Dr. Vignola was Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations at Intercept Pharmaceuticals, where he led company-wide strategic initiatives across corporate development, business development and finance.  Prior to joining Intercept in 2015, he was an equity research associate at Needham & Company, where he covered biotechnology companies across a range of therapeutic verticals. Dr. Vignola earned his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from the Duke University School of Medicine.

About Applied Therapeutics Inc.

Applied Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need. The company’s lead product candidate, AT-001, is a novel aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) that is being developed for the treatment of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, or DbCM, a fatal fibrosis of the heart. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2/3 pivotal study in DbCM in 2019. Applied Therapeutics is also developing AT-007, a central nervous system penetrant ARI, for the treatment of Galactosemia, a rare pediatric metabolic disease, which is expected to advance into a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2019.  The preclinical pipeline also includes AT-003, an ARI designed to cross through the back of the eye when dosed orally, for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, expected to advance into Phase 1 in 2020. For more information, visit www.appliedtherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are forward-looking statements. These include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential of our product candidates, expected timing of initiation of our clinical trials, and our expectations regarding our new Chief Financial Officer. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and we therefore cannot assure you that our plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the uncertainties inherent in the initiation, execution and completion of clinical trials, in the timing of availability of trial data, in the results of the clinical trials, in the actions of regulatory agencies, in the commercialization and acceptance of new therapies. Except as otherwise required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

Investors:
Maeve Conneighton
(212) 600-1902 or
appliedtherapeutics@argotpartners.com

Media:
media@appliedtherapeutics.com