IRVINE, CA – July 25, 2013 – AcuFocus (www.AcuFocus.com), maker of an innovative corneal inlay for the treatment of presbyopia, today announced the appointment of Nicholas (Nick) Tarantino, OD as Chief Global Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs Officer.
In his new role, Dr. Tarantino will manage all aspects of clinical research and regulatory affairs for AcuFocus and partner with the Company’s research and development, sales and marketing, and manufacturing departments to bring the KAMRA™ inlay and their other ophthalmic products to market.
“The KAMRA inlay is a revolutionary device that has proven to be a great long-‐lasting solution for presbyopic patients. I look forward to working with the AcuFocus team to make the inlay available worldwide” commented Dr. Tarantino.
Jim Mazzo, Executive Chairman and AcuFocus CEO said, “We are very pleased to have Dr. Tarantino join the company. His combination of global experience, professional relationships and in-‐depth technical expertise will be a tremendous addition to our valued team here at AcuFocus.”
Dr. Tarantino has over 30 years experience in the ophthalmic medical device industry serving in various Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs executive positions with Allergan Pharmaceuticals, AMO and Hoya Surgical Optics. He has given over 50 scientific and clinical presentations on five continents and has over 15 publications in the area of intraocular lenses and clinical aspects of corneal response to contact lens wear. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He is currently serving as the primary industry representative to the Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee in FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. He also served as the Chair for the American National Standards Institute Z80 Committee on accommodating IOLs.
Dr. Tarantino holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from San Diego State University and a Doctor of Optometry degree with honors from the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Tarantino will officially join the AcuFocus team on August 15, 2013.
About Presbyopia Presbyopia occurs as part of the normal aging process and reduces the ability of the eye to focus on near objects. This condition occurs when the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia may seem to occur suddenly, but the actual loss of flexibility takes place over a number of years, usually becoming noticeable in the early to mid-‐40s. Presbyopia is not a disease and it cannot be prevented. Traditionally, most people with presbyopia use reading glasses to improve their near vision.
About AcuFocus AcuFocus Inc.,
a privately held company located in Irvine, California, developed the KAMRA inlay for the treatment of near vision loss (presbyopia). By applying the “depth-‐of-‐focus” principle, the KAMRA inlay controls light transmission, allowing only central rays to reach the retina through a fixed 1.6mm aperture. The unique small aperture design allows the eye to see near and intermediate objects more clearly while maintaining distance vision. The device provides a revolutionary treatment option for near vision loss, or presbyopia, which affects 1.5 billion people worldwide. The KAMRA™ inlay received CE mark for use in the European Union in 2005 and is now approved in 49 countries worldwide. The KAMRA inlay is an investigational device, limited under federal (U.S.) law to investigational use and is not available for sale in the United States. The AcuFocus KAMRA inlay is a 2012 Medical Design Excellence Awards® Finalist. For more information about the KAMRA inlay from AcuFocus visit www.AcuFocus.com
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