WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of product candidates using its proprietary mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology, today announced the appointment of Eric Trachtenberg as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
“I am thrilled to announce Eric’s appointment as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary,” said Mark Iwicki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kala Pharmaceuticals. “He has deep experience across all legal and compliance functions in the biotech industry and we look forward to his strategic leadership on our Executive Committee as Kala continues to evolve into a commercial organization.”
Mr. Trachtenberg has been practicing law for close to 20 years, most of which has been spent in the life sciences industry. Prior to joining Kala Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Trachtenberg served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. since February 2016. Previously, Mr. Trachtenberg served in similar capacities for Pozen Inc., Aralez’s predecessor, which he joined in June 2015. Mr. Trachtenberg formerly served as Deputy General Counsel at Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from 2012 through its acquisition by Endo Pharmaceuticals in February of 2015. Prior to Auxilium, he was Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Enobia Pharma, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Trachtenberg served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Sepracor Inc. (now known as Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.) and remained in that position following the acquisition of Sepracor by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma. Mr. Trachtenberg also held a Senior Counsel position at Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before its acquisition by Abbott. Mr. Trachtenberg began his career at Blank Rome LLP. He holds a Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University.
“I am honored to join Kala at this pivotal time in the Company’s development and look forward to working with the management team to further Kala’s mission of bringing innovative therapies to patients with eye diseases,” commented Mr. Trachtenberg.
About Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kala is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of therapeutics using its proprietary
mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology, with an initial focus on
the treatment of eye diseases. Kala has applied the MPP technology to a
corticosteroid designed for ocular applications, resulting in two lead
product candidates. The product candidates are INVELTYS™ (KPI-121 1%)
for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery, for
which an NDA has been accepted for review by the FDA, and KPI-121 0.25%
for the temporary relief of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties, including statements regarding the development and
regulatory status of the company's product candidates, including
INVELTYS™ (KPI-121 1%) for the treatment of inflammation and pain
following ocular surgery and KPI-121 0.25% for the temporary relief of
the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, contained in this press release,
including statements regarding the Company’s strategy, future
operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs,
prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking
statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,”
“will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue” and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company
may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed
in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue
reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results or events
could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various risks
and uncertainties including, but not limited to: whether the data from
our Phase 3 clinical trials of KPI-121 0.25% will warrant submission of
an NDA on the timeline expected, or at all, whether any additional
clinical trials will be required prior to submission of an NDA and
whether any such NDA will be approved; whether our NDA for INVELTYS will
be approved by its PDUFA date or at all; uncertainties inherent in the
availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical trials;
expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market
products; whether the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to
fund the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and
capital expenditure requirements for the Company’s expected timeline;
other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential
of the Company’s product candidates; and other important factors, any of
which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, discussed in the "Risk
Factors" section of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 10-K and other filings the Company makes with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the
Company’s views as of the date of this release and should not be relied
upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to
the date hereof. The Company does not assume any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
