Developing Groundbreaking

WINSTON SALEM, N.C., Aug. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greater Gift of Winston Salem, a non-profit that celebrates participation in clinical trials today announced a partnership with Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: AGTC), a biotechnology company developing genetic therapies for the treatment of rare inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), and mobile vision provider 2020 On-site, a company involved in IRD clinical research and provides complimentary eye exams and facilitates the delivery of eyeglasses to students in need.

“The pandemic has shone a bright light on the need for clinical trial participation as never before in history,” said Lilly Skok Bunch, Executive Director of Greater Gift. “Greater Gift has been celebrating and acknowledging clinical trial participants for more than 10 years; this is the first time that a program will recognize trial participants in a way that also yields benefits for students with vision challenges.”

Greater Gift’s programs celebrate clinical trial participants by making donations on behalf of those individuals to reinforce the impact of their contribution on the advancement of clinical research. Celebrations of clinical trial participants have provided an additional benefit of 130,000 vaccines and meals to children in need through prior programs.

“AGTC is thrilled to partner with Greater Gift to honor clinical trial participants and their families for their contribution to the clinical research community,” said Halley Losekamp, Director of Patient Enrollment at AGTC. “Through this partnership, our goal is to enhance awareness within the community about the value of clinical trial participation in advancing the science and understanding of gene therapies in IRDs while underscoring AGTC’s commitment to support the underserved communities that have limited access to vision care services.”

Greater Gift partnered with 2020 On-site because of the organization’s commitment to the underserved through their relationship with the Boston Public School System. This donation will allow 2020 On-site to continue the longstanding eye exam program and to double the impact of the gift, as they conduct their annual exam program and delivery of eyeglasses to public school students in need in Boston.

“We are honored to be part of this partnership with AGTC and Greater Gift. Both companies align with our mission to make eye care more accessible and to increase trust in and awareness of clinical trials. Now, because of this relationship, we will be able to support even more Boston area school children to help them succeed in the coming school year and beyond,” said Jessica Mays, Senior Director of Life Sciences for 2020 On-site, which uses their fleet of Mobile Vision Clinics to provide eye care both routinely and as part of ongoing clinical trials.

About Greater Gift (www.greatergift.org): Greater Gift is a non-profit organization, founded in 2010, with a mission to increase awareness of clinical research, especially among underrepresented communities, to improve global health. Greater Gift builds bridges with underrepresented communities to engage them in research, ensure equal representation in clinical research and to increase access to research as an option for medical care. Since its founding, Greater Gift has honored 130,000 clinical trial volunteers by making donations of vaccines and meals to children in need in their honor.

About AGTC: AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing genetic therapies for people with rare and debilitating ophthalmic, otologic and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. AGTC is a leader in designing and constructing all critical gene therapy elements and bringing them together to develop customized therapies that address real patient needs. AGTC’s most advanced clinical programs leverage its best-in-class technology platform to potentially improve vision for patients with an inherited retinal disease. AGTC has active clinical trials in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and achromatopsia (ACHM B3 and ACHM A3). Its preclinical programs build on the Company’s industry leading AAV manufacturing technology and scientific expertise. AGTC is advancing multiple important pipeline candidates to address substantial unmet clinical need in optogenetics, otology and CNS disorders. In recent years AGTC has entered into strategic partnerships with companies including Otonomy, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for neurotology, and Bionic Sight, LLC, an innovator in the emerging field of optogenetics and retinal coding.

About: 2020 On-site: 2020 On-site has been revolutionizing how vision care benefits are being delivered to companies and patients for 7 years. Its state-of-the-art mobile vision clinics serve over 450 companies in the greater Boston area. The company has also expanded its services to support BioPharma companies, CROs, and clinical sites to develop programs to assess their patients close to home, or even right at their front door. To learn more about how 2020 On-site is supporting clinical research, visit their website.

Contact:
David Harrison
[email protected]
410-804-1728

GAINESVILLE, Fla. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: AGTC), a biotechnology company conducting human clinical trials of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of rare retinal diseases, today announced the addition of Yehia Hashad, MD to its Board of Directors.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Hashad to our Board of Directors,” said Sue Washer, President and CEO of AGTC. “His experience as an accomplished pharmaceutical executive and physician, combined with his expertise in ophthalmology and retinal disease, will bring AGTC invaluable perspective and guidance as we work to bring groundbreaking gene therapies to patients.”

For more than 25 years, Dr. Hashad has successfully led global development strategies from research to launch to post-launch management for innovations that address high unmet medical needs. After practicing as an ophthalmologist and retina specialist for many years, Dr. Hashad joined industry and has held several leadership roles in Novartis and Allergan, most recently as Senior Vice President & Global Head of Research and Development at Allergen Aesthetics. In this role, Dr. Hashad was responsible for all research and development activities and the overall performance of more than 40 active projects in the Allergan Aesthetics pipeline. He also served as the Vice President & Global Head of Clinical Development for Ophthalmology, Dermatology and Medical Aesthetics where he led the corporate development strategy. Prior to his current position he served as Vice President & Global Head of Ophthalmology Therapeutic Areas where he established a well-diversified ophthalmic portfolio with more than 20 active projects in different therapeutic indications with high unmet medical needs. He has served on the Boards of the Glaucoma Research Foundation and the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and currently sits on the Executive Board for the University of California Irvine Research Center and Institutes.

“Gene therapy is showing incredible potential to help patients with rare and debilitating retinal diseases who currently have limited treatment options,” said Dr. Hashad. “AGTC is leading the way to meet this unmet medical need and I am excited to work with the company’s leadership team and Board to bring these innovative therapies to patients.”

About AGTC

AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing genetic therapies for people with rare and debilitating ophthalmic, otologic and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. AGTC is a leader in designing and constructing all critical gene therapy elements and bringing them together to develop customized therapies that address real patient needs. AGTC’s most advanced clinical programs leverage its best-in-class technology platform to potentially improve vision for patients with an inherited retinal disease. AGTC has active clinical trials in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and achromatopsia (ACHM CNGB3 and ACHM CNGA3). Its preclinical programs build on the Company’s industry leading AAV manufacturing technology and scientific expertise. AGTC is advancing multiple important pipeline candidates to address substantial unmet clinical need in optogenetics, otology and CNS disorders. In recent years AGTC has entered into strategic partnerships with companies including Otonomy, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for neurotology, and Bionic Sight, LLC, an innovator in the emerging field of optogenetics and retinal coding.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect AGTC’s plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs, including statements about the potential of the Company’s late-stage development programs in X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP) and Achromatopsia (ACHM). Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, financial guidance, business strategies and operations, preclinical and clinical product development and regulatory progress, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities, the effects of competition and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact on its ability to obtain the raw materials necessary to conduct its clinical trials. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, due to a number of important factors. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include, among others: gene therapy is still novel with only a few approved treatments so far; AGTC cannot predict when or if it will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize a product candidate or receive reasonable reimbursement; uncertainty inherent in clinical trials and the regulatory review process; risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization; the direct and indirect impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, and financial condition; factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports we have filed with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent management’s plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

IR/PR Contacts:

David Carey (IR) or Glenn Silver (PR)

Lazar FINN Partners

T: (212) 867-1768 or (646) 871-8485

[email protected] or [email protected]

Corporate Contact:

Stephen Potter

Chief Business Officer

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

T: (617) 413-2754

[email protected]

Source: Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation