NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2018-- Ophthotech Corporation (NASDAQ:OPHT) announced today the election of Adrienne L. Graves, Ph.D., former Chief Executive Officer of Santen Inc., the U.S. arm of Japan’s largest ophthalmic pharmaceutical company, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr. Graves is well-known in the ophthalmology community and for her successful track record in building organizations and overseeing innovative ophthalmic products through the development, regulatory and commercialization process in the U.S. and globally.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Graves, a highly-respected executive in our industry, to our Board of Directors,” stated Glenn P. Sblendorio, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ophthotech and David R. Guyer, M.D., Executive Chairman of Ophthotech.

Mr. Sblendorio added, “Adrienne brings an impressive legacy of successful leadership and strategic acumen developing innovative ophthalmic products to our Board. We are confident that the addition of Adrienne as a Board member will have a meaningful impact on our Company, as we focus on building a new chapter of Ophthotech by advancing our pipeline of novel therapeutics and gene therapies for retinal diseases.”

“I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Board and management at Ophthotech,” stated Dr. Graves. “I believe that the industry is only in its infancy in providing treatment options to patients with retinal diseases, and that the vast majority of transformative treatments are still to come. As a Board member, I look forward to providing insight and helping to guide the Company’s efforts to advance its pipeline of retinal assets.”

Ophthotech also announced that Michael J. Ross, Ph.D. has informed the Company that he will step down as an Independent Board Member at the end of February 2019.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ophthotech, I would like to thank Mike for his contributions, guidance and support, and we wish him all the best,” stated Mr. Sblendorio.

Adrienne L. Graves, Ph.D.
Adrienne L. Graves, Ph.D. is a visual scientist by training and a global industry leader in ophthalmology. As the former Chief Executive Officer of Santen Inc., the US subsidiary of the 130-year-old Japanese pharmaceutical company, she successfully established a strong global presence, brought multiple ophthalmic products through development to approval and commercialization and led global teams through successful acquisitions and partnerships. At Santen, Dr. Graves served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Clinical Development (US, Europe and Japan) for seven years and Chief Executive Officer for eight years. Prior to Santen, she spent nine years at Alcon, joining as Senior Scientist to establish Alcon's first Retinal Electrophysiology Laboratory. She progressed through roles of increasing responsibility in R&D, including directing clinical development in multiple therapeutic areas and serving as Director of International Ophthalmology. Dr. Graves currently serves as an Independent Director on multiple corporate boards. She is also a Director on the following Foundation Boards: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation, Glaucoma Research Foundation, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Foundation (Emeritus), Himalayan Cataract Project, Foundation Fighting Blindness Retinal Degeneration Fund and KeepYourSight Foundation. Dr. Graves cofounded Glaucoma 360 (Glaucoma Research Foundation) and Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL). She received her A.B. in Psychology from Brown University, her Ph.D. in Psychobiology from the University of Michigan, and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in visual neuroscience at the University of Paris.

About Ophthotech Corporation
Ophthotech is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel therapies to treat ophthalmic diseases, with a focus on age-related and orphan retinal diseases. For more information, please visit www.ophthotech.com.

Forward-looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about Ophthotech’s future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statements about Ophthotech’s strategy, future operations and future expectations and plans and prospects for Ophthotech, and any other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend”, “goal,” “may”, “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions. In this press release, Ophthotech’s forward looking statements include statements about the implementation of its strategic plan. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Ophthotech’s performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those related to the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, availability of data from clinical trials, expectations for regulatory matters, need for additional financing and negotiation and consummation of in-license and/or acquisition transactions and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section contained in the quarterly and annual reports that Ophthotech files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent Ophthotech’s views only as of the date of this press release. Ophthotech anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. While Ophthotech may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Ophthotech specifically disclaims any obligation to do so except as required by law.

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Source: Ophthotech Corporation

Investors
Kathy Galante
Ophthotech Corporation
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
212-845-8231
kathy.galante@ophthotech.com

Media
Alex Van Rees, 973-442-1555 ext. 111
SmithSolve LLC on behalf of Ophthotech Corporation
alex.vanrees@smithsolve.com