Advanced Cell Technology Appoints LeRoux Jooste as SVP of Business Development & Chief Commercial Officer
October 20 2014 - 9:02AM
Business Wire
Industry Veteran to Lead Business Development
and Commercialization
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in
the field of regenerative medicine, today announced the appointment
of LeRoux Jooste to the newly created position of Senior Vice
President of Business Development and Chief Commercial Officer.
LeRoux has a global track record of building commercial capability
and proven success in launching blockbuster products in the USA and
Europe. LeRoux joins ACT from Antares Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRS),
where he served as Senior Vice President and General Manager,
Pharmaceuticals since May 2012.
“I have previously worked successfully with LeRoux and am very
pleased to attract a seasoned commercial leader with so much
experience and leadership in business development, new product
planning and commercializing innovative, breakthrough products,”
said Dr. Paul Wotton, President and CEO of ACT. “LeRoux's
appointment completes our senior management team and brings the
‘voice of the customer’ into our product development process.
LeRoux has tremendous experience leading commercialization and
partnering activities and is joining our company at the right time.
We are about to initiate our phase 2 clinical studies with the RPE
program and many of our pre-clinical programs have shown promising
proof-of-concept data. As we continue to focus on regenerative
ophthalmology, our non-ophthalmic programs enable us to seek
collaborations with external groups that have the resources
necessary to bring the results of our ground-breaking technologies
to patients in need.”
Prior to joining Antares, LeRoux was Vice President Commercial
Assessment and Product Planning at Cephalon. Earlier in his career
he held senior level positions at Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, Aton
Pharma, Wyeth and Eli Lilly. LeRoux graduated from Pharmacy School
in Pretoria, South Africa and received his Bachelor of Commerce
from the University of South Africa.
“I am delighted to join the ACT senior management team at this
pivotal time in its evolution into a product development and
commercially oriented company. With the positive results of the RPE
program now published in The Lancet, it is the right time to begin
charting the course toward commercial success,” commented Jooste.
“We have options to consider when commercializing our lead
programs, including partnering, and there are critical decisions
over the next 12 – 18 months that could have a dramatic impact on
shareholder value. I believe ACT is the leading regenerative
ophthalmology company and we are committed to bringing novel,
cell-based therapies to patients in need. I am privileged to be
part of this amazing endeavor.”
About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., (ACT) is a Marlborough,
Mass.-based biotechnology company focused on the development and
commercialization of novel cell-based therapies. ACT’s therapeutic
area of focus is ophthalmology and the Company’s most advanced
products are in clinical trials for the treatment of dry
age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt’s macular degeneration
and myopic macular degeneration. The Company is also developing
several pre-clinical cell therapies for the treatment of other
ocular disorders. Additionally, the Company also has a number of
pre-clinical stage assets in disease areas outside the field of
ophthalmology, including autoimmune, inflammatory and wound
healing-related disorders. For more information, visit
www.advancedcell.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding future clinical
studies, potential fundraising opportunities and sources, potential
business development strategies, future financial and operating
results, future growth in research and development programs,
potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the
Company and any other statements about the future expectations,
beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements
that are not statements of historical fact (including statements
containing the words “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,”
“expects,” “estimates,” and similar expressions) should also be
considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of
important factors that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements, including: limited operating history, need for future
capital, uncertainty of future clinical trial results, risks
inherent in the development and commercialization of potential
products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic
conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors
that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are
detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports,
including our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2013 and our report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2014. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,
opinions, and expectations of the Company’s management at the time
they are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to
update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions,
expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of
the Company’s management at the time they are made, and the Company
does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking
statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other
circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the
Company’s clinical trials or other development programs will be
successful.
Investors:Westwicke PartnersJohn Woolford,
443-213-0506orPress:Russo PartnersDavid Schull, 858-717-2310