VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS, OTCQB: AQSZF) (“Aequus” or the “Company”), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Vikram Lekhi, a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist of Seema Eye Care, Ken Patterson, National Director of Business Development at Vision Group Canada, and an undisclosed regulatory consultant to the previously announced strategic advisory board in ophthalmology.
“We are pleased to have a full compliment of expertise on our advisory board that spans clinical, commercial, and regulatory,” said Doug Janzen, CEO of Aequus. “The board will be an invaluable resource moving forward as we continue to validate global products for use in the Canadian market and make strategic decisions on current and future internal development programs within Ophthalmology.”
Aequus has formed the Advisory Board to assist in assessing and rationalizing the many ophthalmology pipeline opportunities, both in therapeutics and medical devices, available to the Company. The advisory board will help Aequus in determining whether a product can improve patient outcomes, integrate into a clinician’s workflow, and navigate the Canadian reimbursement and commercial landscape. Dr. Vikram Lekhi, Ken Patterson, and the undisclosed regulatory consultant will join the previously announced advisory board members, Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele and Dr. Ike Ahmed.
ABOUT DR VIKRAM LEKHI
Dr. Vikram Lekhi is a medical and surgical Comprehensive Ophthalmologist with a broad clinical practice, including but not limited to pediatric cases, lid lesions, meibomian gland disease, corneal dystrophies, degenerations and infections, glaucoma and retinal pathology. Dr. Lekhi regularly presents at conferences around the country and internationally. His work has appeared in various publications, such as Canadian Family Physician and BioSpectrum. Dr. Lekhi serves the rural population in Alberta through his own practice, High River Eye Surgeons. He also sees residents of Calgary as a part of the well-established Seema Eye Care Centre. Apart from his clinical and surgical duties, Dr. Lekhi is a clinical lecturer with the University of Calgary’s department of surgery.
ABOUT KEN PATTERSON, MBA
Mr. Ken Patterson is the National Director of Business Development at Vision Group Canada. Vision Group Canada oversees and manages a network of over 40 of Canada’s leading vision correction providers including LASIK MD, TLC, and the London Eye Centre. Prior to his position as National Director, Mr. Patterson dedicated over 15 years to the commercial space with Alcon, Bausch and Lomb, and Johnson and Johnson. He has built a reputation for developing business strategies and incubating new business models while remaining sensitive to supporting a positive patient experience. Ken holds an MBA and bachelor’s degree majoring in Economics.
ABOUT AEQUUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX-V: AQS, OTCQB: AQSZF) is a growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing high quality, differentiated products. Aequus has grown its pipeline to include several commercial products in ophthalmology and transplant, and a development stage pipeline in neurology and psychiatry with a goal of addressing the need for improved medication adherence through enhanced delivery systems. As a complement to its focus in neurology, our most recent addition to the development pipeline was a long-acting form of medical cannabis, where there is a high need for a consistent, predictable and pharmaceutical-grade delivery of products for patients. Aequus intends to commercialize its internal programs in Canada alongside its current portfolio of marketed established medicines and will look to form strategic partnerships that would maximize the reach of its product candidates worldwide. Aequus plans to build on its Canadian commercial platform through the launch of additional products that are either created internally or brought in through an acquisition or license; remaining focused on highly specialized therapeutic areas. For further information, please visit www.aequuspharma.ca.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLAIMER
This release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believe”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “potential” and similar expressions. Forward- looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements relating to: rationalizing the company’s pipeline opportunities; determining whether a product can improve patient outcomes, integrate into a clinician’s workflow, and navigate the Canadian commercial landscape; our ability to assess the utility of products for Canadian patients and physicians; our ability to provide access to promising technologies not currently available to Canadian patients. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Aequus, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making the forward looking statements included in this release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including, but not limited to: obtaining positive results of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; general business and economic conditions; the Company’s ability to successfully outlicense or sell its current products and in-license and develop new products; the assumption that the Company’s current good relationships with its manufacturer and other third parties will be maintained; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and technology offered by the Company’s competitors; and the Company’s ability to protect patents and proprietary rights. In evaluating forward looking statements, current and prospective shareholders should specifically consider various factors set out herein and under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2016, a copy of which is available on Aequus’ profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on Aequus’ SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or a risk that is not currently known to us materialize, or should assumptions underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Aequus Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
