Aeris Therapeutics, LLC Bolsters Executive Management Team with Key Appointments for Initial Commercialization of Advanced Emphysema Therapy

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aeris Therapeutics, LLC today announced the appointments of Dennis D’Oria as its new Vice President of International Sales and Marketing and Mr. Charles R. Carter as Chief Financial Officer. “Aeris has made great strides in the development phase of the AeriSeal^® System,” said David Dove, M.D., President and CEO. “Dennis and Charley bring a great deal of combined experience that will enable us to drive our commercialization efforts. We are eager to make the clinical benefits of the AeriSeal System available to as many patients suffering with advanced emphysema as possible.”

“Aeris has made great strides in the development phase of the AeriSeal® System”

Mr. D’Oria is responsible for the international sales and marketing of the AeriSeal System, which received CE mark in September 2010. He will oversee and manage the staged expansion of distribution in strategic geographies and lead direct sales efforts in certain markets. Mr. D’Oria brings over 20 years of international experience in medical device sales and marketing with emerging as well as Fortune 500 companies, and as a consultant to multiple clients. Mr. D’Oria previously served in management roles of increasing responsibility at CooperVision, C.R. Bard, RITA Medical and Inovio Biomedical. Mr. D’Oria earned a bachelor degree from the University of Florida and a Masters of Business Administration from the American Graduate School of International Management and will be based in Frankfurt, Germany.

Mr. Carter is responsible for Aeris’ finance and administration functions and will assist with business development. The company anticipates the future introduction of the AeriSeal System in numerous international markets and in the United States, and Mr. Carter will manage the company’s capital investments in its market expansion and growth phase.

Mr. Carter has over 20 years of medical device, biotechnology and business experience, most recently as CFO and head of business development for Intelligent Medical Devices, Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts maker of rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Previously, Mr. Carter held management positions in finance with Adnexus Therapeutics and Transkaryotic Therapies/Shire Pharmaceutical Group, Plc. and was a Principal in Mercer Management Consulting’s Business Design Innovation group. Mr. Carter earned a bachelor degree from Colgate University and a Masters of Science from the department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and a Masters of Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago.

About Emphysema and the AeriSeal System:

Growing in global prevalence, emphysema is a progressive, debilitating disease of the lung that affects as many as 60 million people worldwide. Patients with advanced emphysema currently have limited treatment choices. In recent years, lung volume reduction surgery, which involves the removal of the most diseased portions of the lung in order to enable the remaining portions of the lung to function better, has become an accepted but costly procedure for advanced emphysema. This surgery, although effective for many patients, is complicated and is accompanied by substantial morbidity and mortality and is therefore infrequently performed.

The AeriSeal System is intended to reduce lung volume without surgery in order to improve lung function and quality of life in patients with advanced emphysema. The AeriSeal System is based on a proprietary polymer sealant that is delivered through a bronchoscope to the most damaged areas of the patient’s lungs. Over time, the sealed regions collapse, thereby reducing lung volume and improving respiratory function. The AeriSeal System procedure requires no special equipment, involves routine bronchoscopy techniques, and is usually completed in less than 20 minutes.

About Aeris Therapeutics:

Aeris Therapeutics is an emerging medical therapeutics company specializing in the development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with emphysema and other advanced lung diseases. Founded in 2001, Aeris Therapeutics is privately held, with corporate offices in Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S.A.