New Members Bring Extensive Commercial and Financial Expertise from Private and Public Companies
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — April 9, 2019 —Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel anti-integrin therapies for the treatment of ocular diseases, today announced that two new independent members—Marc Carlson and Rebecca Colbert—have been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors with Ms. Colbert serving as Chairperson of the Board’s Audit Committee. Bringing extensive executive level commercial and financial leadership experience from both private and public companies, Mr. Carlson and Ms. Colbert will help lead the company’s strategy and direction as it expands its anti-integrin portfolio into new ocular therapeutic areas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Marc and Rebecca to Allegro’s Board. They bring a tremendous amount of strategic leadership experience across a variety of industries at both large and small companies. Marc and Rebecca join an already stellar board that also includes Bill Link and Ron Kurtz, who are among the world’s most influential ophthalmic innovators. Together, their diverse expertise will serve our company extremely well as we continue to advance our current retina programs as well as clinical programs in new ocular therapeutic areas,” said Vicken Karageozian, M.D., President & CEO, Allegro Ophthalmics.
Mr. Carlson brings more than 35 years of experience commercializing products in a variety of industries and creating value for shareholders. Formerly chief customer officer of DocuSign, Mr. Carlson’s expertise helped DocuSign navigate a crowded marketplace and emerge as a leader in its space. His relentless focus on providing measurable value to customers and shareholders alike as well as his ability to develop creative growth stories and global brands were instrumental in the commercial growth of DocuSign from a $50 million private company to a public company with a nearly $10 billion market capitalization over a period of seven years.
“As someone who has personally seen the impact of Luminate with my own eyes, I am excited to help Allegro build a global ophthalmic company that brings to market innovative products that make marked improvements in patients’ visual function,” said Mr. Carlson.
Currently chief financial officer at Vertos Medical, Inc., Ms. Colbert has more than 15 years of experience working in senior level positions for medical device companies, including in her role as vice president, customer and sales operations, U.S. Surgical at Bausch + Lomb before joining Vertos. As vice president of finance at eyeonics, Inc., Ms. Colbert played a significant role in the company’s filing for its initial public offering and ultimate sale to Bausch + Lomb. She began her career at Deloitte as a certified public accountant.
“I am very pleased to join Allegro’s board at this critical time of growth and development,” said Ms. Colbert. “The mounting evidence behind the current portfolio is compelling, and I am enthusiastic about the potential for expansion beyond current applications. Allegro has assembled an impressive team consisting of management, board members and esteemed ophthalmic opinion leaders, and I look forward to working with them to achieve the company’s objectives.”
About Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC
Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel anti-integrin therapies for the treatment of ocular diseases. Pre-clinical data suggest that risuteganib (Luminate®), Allegro’s lead investigational anti-integrin compound in retina, simultaneously acts on the angiogenic, inflammatory and mitochondrial metabolic pathways implicated in diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (intermediate dry AMD). Risuteganib successfully completed two Phase 2 DME studies and is currently being evaluated in a US Phase 2 intermediate dry AMD study. Allegro is preparing to expand its anti-integrin portfolio into new ocular therapeutic areas. For more information, visit www.allegroeye.com.
Luminate® is a registered trademark of Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC.
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