Icon Appoints Murahashi Vice President, Clinical Development

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Icon Bioscience, Inc., (IBI), a privately held biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of novel ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, today announced that Wendy Yee Murahashi, M.D. has joined the management team of IBI as Vice-President, Clinical Development.  Dr. Murahashi will lead Icon Bioscience's clinical development programs based on IBI's proprietary Verisome® drug delivery technology.

"As we near the completion of our pivotal Phase 2/3 trial evaluating IBI-10090 for the treatment of inflammation in patients undergoing cataract surgery, Wendy brings to IBI relevant clinical experience that will provide immediate value to IBI," said William S. White, Chief Executive Officer of Icon Bioscience, Inc. "She will also be a tremendous asset to IBI as we prepare in 2012 to initiate our clinical programs into new areas, including uveitis and glaucoma."

"IBI's versatile Verisome technology is poised to provide a new approach for multiple applications within the ophthalmic market," said Wendy Murahashi, M.D. "By allowing physicians the flexibility to tailor the duration of effect, it allows for personalized patient treatment while decreasing injection frequency.  I look forward to working with Icon to undertake the activities necessary to execute our clinical strategy."

Prior to joining Icon Bioscience, Dr. Murahashi was a Medical Director at Genentech/Roche, Inc. where she directly responsible for clinical activities for LUCENTIS®. While in general ophthalmology private practice, she previously served as Clinical Instructor at the Portland VA Hospital/Casey Eye Institute.  Dr. Murahashi received her M.D. from Loyola University Chicago, and completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and subspecialty vitreoretinal fellowship training at the Retina Institute of Hawaii. She earned her B.S at University of California, Berkeley.  

About the Verisome® Drug Delivery Technology

The Verisome® drug delivery technology was invented by the Founder of Icon Bioscience, Inc., Vernon G. Wong, MD. The technology encompasses over 20 related, but distinct, novel and proprietary drug delivery systems. Highly versatile, it is capable of incorporating a broad range of active agents including small molecules, proteins and monoclonal antibodies and deliver drugs in a controlled release manner for up to a year with a single injection. 

About Icon Bioscience, Inc. 

Icon Bioscience, Inc., (IBI), is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of novel ophthalmic pharmaceuticals based on its Verisome® drug delivery platform technology. IBI is developing a broad portfolio of clinically superior specialty pharmaceuticals targeting all major ophthalmic indications including macular edema, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and cataract surgery.  IBI has also entered into agreements with multiple international pharmaceutical companies interested in the use of the Verisome® technology for their own ophthalmic products.  For more information, please refer to www.iconbioscience.com.

Contact:  Icon Bioscience, Inc.    
William S. (Sandy) White   
Phone:  408-734-8188 Ext. 14
Email:  [email protected]

SOURCE Icon Bioscience, Inc.