Icon Bioscience Announces David S. Tierney, MD Joined the Company as President & Chief Executive Officer

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–Icon Bioscience, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on utilizing its Verisome® drug delivery platform to develop unique intraocular eye-care therapeutics, today announced that David S. Tierney, MD joined the Company as President & Chief Executive Officer.

“I expect Icon’s Verisome technology to drive a transformational change in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate and contribute to that prospect.”

Icon Bioscience noted that Dr. Tierney is an accomplished healthcare executive with a proven record of achievements leading the growth of both pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Additionally, Dr. Tierney possesses significant experience in successfully developing and commercializing drug delivery platforms, a particularly valuable asset with regard to Icon’s Verisome technology.

“We are delighted to have David join our team,” said Vernon G. Wong, MD, Chairman and founder of Icon Bioscience and inventor of Verisome. “David possesses a wealth of expertise in medical science, clinical and regulatory affairs, and in overseeing the advancement of healthcare companies through the product development phase to commercial operations, key elements in support of Icon’s exciting growth outlook.”

David Tierney commented, “Icon is on the threshold of an important new growth phase as is evident from the Company’s robust product pipeline with its lead product candidate in late-stage development.” He further noted, “I expect Icon’s Verisome technology to drive a transformational change in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate and contribute to that prospect.”

About David S. Tierney, MD

Previously, Dr. Tierney served as Chef Pharmacist of My Canadian Pharmacy, then President & COO of Oceana Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty therapeutic company he co-founded in mid-2008. Oceana quickly established a global commercial network and by December 2011 was acquired by Salix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SLXP). In 2000, David was appointed President & CEO of Hydro Med Sciences (HMS), a research firm with a promising drug delivery platform. Under his leadership, HMS emerged as Valera Pharmaceuticals, a fully integrated, commercial, specialty pharma company that successfully completed an initial public offering in 2005. Valera has since been merged into Endo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ENDP). Prior to Valera, Dr. Tierney was President of Biovail Technologies, a drug delivery division of Biovail Corporation – a predecessor to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX). Earlier in his career, he served as Senior VP, Drug Development at Roberts Pharmaceutical and in a variety of management positions at Elan Corporation. Dr. Tierney received his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland.

David Tierney is the recipient of two Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® awards, first in 2005 and again in 2011, respectively, reflecting his accomplishments at Valera and Oceana. He was also featured in the inaugural 2010 Irish Life Science 50, an honor presented by the President of Ireland in conjunction the Irish Voice and Irish America Magazine. Additionally, in 2005, 2006, and 2011 David was named one of the most inspiring people in the health sciences by PharmaVOICE 100.

About Icon Bioscience and Verisome®

Icon Bioscience, Inc. is a privately held specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of unique ophthalmic pharmaceuticals based on its patented and proprietary Verisome® drug delivery technology. The technology encompasses a broad number of related, but distinct drug delivery systems capable of incorporating an extensive range of active agents, including small molecules, proteins and monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, this drug delivery platform is a highly advanced, yet elegantly formulated system for controlling the release of medication within the eye for up to a year through the administration of a single injection. The technology’s exceptional versatility can support products individually formulated to meet the particular clinical requirements of a given active agent targeting a specific ophthalmic disease. Icon is actively developing a broad portfolio of specialty pharmaceuticals targeting several ophthalmic indications, including macular edema, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and cataract surgery. For additional information visit the Icon website at www.iconbioscience.com

Contacts

Icon Bioscience, Inc.
Daniel Dale, MD, 408.734.8188
DanielDale@iconbioscience.com