WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics using its proprietary AMPPLIFY™ mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) Drug Delivery Technology, today announced the appointment of Steven Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., as Vice President of Medical Affairs.
“Steven brings a tremendous depth of experience leading medical activities for both clinical stage and commercial ophthalmic products. He will be a valuable asset to the Kala team as we prepare for the launch of INVELTYS™ in early 2019 and advance KPI-121 0.25% for dry eye disease,” said Kim Brazzell, Chief Medical Officer of Kala Pharmaceuticals.
“I am excited to join Kala at this stage of the company’s evolution into a commercial organization,” said Dr. Zhang. “INVELTYS and KPI-121 0.25% have the potential to be significant additions to the treatment armamentariums for post-surgical inflammation and pain and dry eye disease, respectively. I look forward to working with the team as we continue to leverage the broad potential of our AMPPLIFY technology.”
Dr. Zhang brings to Kala years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry, with many of those years spent focused in ophthalmology. Prior to joining Kala, he served as Senior Director, Global Ophthalmic Franchise Medical Lead and Head of U.S. Ophthalmic Medical Affairs at Shire where he played an important role in leading the pre-approval and launch medical activities of Xiidra® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% in the U.S. and for its global expansion. In addition, he was also the medical lead for Shire’s ophthalmic pipeline development programs. Before Shire, Dr. Zhang spent six years in the medical affairs function at Bausch + Lomb where he supported the launch of more than 15 ophthalmic products and devices. He was also the National Clinical Science Manager at Abbott Labs’ respiratory and anti-infective franchise. Previously, Dr. Zhang conducted neurobiological research as a faculty member of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Dr. Zhang holds an M.D. with residency training in neurotrauma and a Ph.D. in biophysics.
About Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kala is a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics
using its proprietary AMPPLIFY™ mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) Drug
Delivery Technology, with an initial focus on the treatment of eye
diseases. In preclinical studies, MPPs increased drug delivery into
ocular tissues more than three-fold by facilitating penetration through
the tear film mucus. Kala has applied the AMPPLIFY Drug Delivery
Technology to a corticosteroid, loteprednol etabonate (LE), designed for
ocular applications, resulting in recently approved INVELTYS™ for the
treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and its lead
product candidate, 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 INVELTYS for the treatment
of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and the Company's lead
product candidate, KPI-121 0.25% for the temporary relief of the signs
and symptoms of dry eye disease, the launch of INVELTYS in early 2019,
INVELTYS and KPI-121 0.25% having the potential to be significant
additions to the treatment armamentariums for post-surgical inflammation
and pain and dry eye disease, respectively, and the Company continuing
to leverage the broad potential of its AMPPLIFY technology. 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 Company will be able to successfully
implement its commercialization plans for INVELTYS; whether the market
opportunity for INVELTYS is consistent with the Company’s expectations
and market research; data from the Company’s Phase 3 clinical trials of
KPI-121 0.25% will warrant the FDA accepting for filing of the NDA;
whether any additional clinical trials will be initiated or required for
KPI-121 0.25% prior to filing of an NDA, or at all, and whether any such
NDA will be accepted for filing and/or approved; the Company’s ability
to build a specialty sales force and prepare for commercial launch of
INVELTYS on the timeline expected, or at all; 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 INVELTYS and the Company's
product candidates, including KPI-121 0.25%; 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K, most
recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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.
