Peter Falzon Joins Avellino Lab USA as Chief Executive Officer
Genetic Test for Refractive Surgery Safety has Screened Nearly a half-million Patients for Granular Corneal Dystrophy with 450 Positive Results
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Avellino Lab USA, developer of the first genetic test for Granular Corneal Dystrophy (GCD), today announced that Peter Falzon has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer. Avellino Lab will introduce Peter Falzon at the 2015 World Cornea Congress, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Symposium and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators Congress (WCC/ASCRS/ASOA) in San Diego, California April 15-21 at booth #1607. While at ASCRS/ASOA, Falzon will also share the company's accomplishment of having tested nearly 500,000 patients for GCD to date, while protecting over 450 GCD positive patients from refractive surgery complications.
"Peter has been an advisor to Avellino Lab for the past several months helping define the company's next-phase commercialization strategy," stated Scott Korney, chief operating officer, Avellino Lab USA. "He has a successful track record in the medical device and diagnostics sector, which is important to Avellino Lab as we develop our patent-protected rapid, affordable and accurate DNA test platform technology for personal medicine applications in ophthalmology."
Avellino Lab is currently the industry leader in LASIK and refractive surgery safety testing, offering the first and only commercially available test for corneal dystrophy, which is associated with several specific genetic mutations. Refractive surgery is known to exacerbate corneal dystrophy, causing vision loss and blindness in refractive surgery patients whose symptoms may not be detectable without the Avellino DNA Test. By screening for Corneal Dystrophy prior to refractive surgery, patients who test negative for the mutations can move forward with the surgery with confidence. The current test was first introduced to the U.S. market in April 2014 and is now available in 50 countries.
"I am excited to join Avellino Lab, especially at a time when the company has achieved an impressive milestone of having tested nearly a half-million patients," said Falzon. "I look forward to leading the company through its next stage of growth, allowing patients around the world to feel secure when moving forward with Refractive Surgery and directing Avellino's transition from a scientific to a commercially driven global company based on proprietary technology adaptable to personalized medicine needs, both current and future."
Peter Falzon joins Avellino Lab with nearly 25 years of experience recruiting and building leading management teams in the ophthalmic industry. Falzon brings public company CEO with international sales, marketing and early stage start-up experience to the organization. With a strong background in finance, sales management, marketing and business development, he has a proven track record of growing commercial operations for medical companies. Falzon has held executive positions at Coherent Medical, Cutera and Ellex. Complimenting Falzon's joining the company as chief executive officer, Avellino Lab USA has recently added two ophthalmic industry veterans in key positions with Mark Walsh appointed director of North American sales and Benedetto Sgroi appointed director of international sales and marketing, rounding out the company's executive team expected to lead the next phase of growth.
Please visit Avellino Lab USA at ASCRS/ASOA at booth #1607 and attend the company's Breakfast Symposium "First Do No Harm: DNA Test for Refractive Surgery Safety," on Monday, April 20 at 6:15 a.m. at the Marriott Marquis adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center.
About Avellino Lab USA
Avellino Lab USA has developed the first and only commercially available testing system, the DNA Test for LASIK and Refractive Surgery Safety, for Granular Corneal Dystrophy type 1 (GCD1) and Granular Corneal Dystrophy type 2 (GCD2), also known as Avellino Corneal Dystrophy (ACD). The company's proprietary genetic diagnostics system provides fast, safe and affordable evaluations of an individual's genetic predisposition to GCD1 and/or GCD2. With the Avellino DNA Test, Avellino Lab is able to positively identify, with high accuracy, a patient's GCD status. Based on the test's results, patients and their physician can make an informed decision when considering vision correction surgery.
To learn more please visit http://www.avellinolab.com/us/.
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SOURCE Avellino Lab USA
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