FRANKLIN, Mass., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Echo Therapeutics (OTC
Bulletin Board: ECTE) today announced that Anthony P. Furnary, M.D. has
joined its Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Furnary, a cardiothoracic surgeon
and a leading expert in post-operative insulin therapy and regarded as the
"father of tight glycemic control," serves as Associate Director of the
Albert Starr Academic Center at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in
Portland, Oregon, Director of Cardiovascular Surgical Research at Oregon
Medical Laser Center, and Director of the Portland Diabetes Project. Dr.
Furnary is the originator of the widely-adopted "Portland Protocol" which
presents a method for maintaining blood glucose levels for post-operative
patients in the hospital critical care setting through the use of
aggressive insulin therapy, effectively reducing the risks of
surgery-related death and complications following surgery in patients with
diabetes. Dr. Furnary will advise Echo on development of its Symphony(TM)
tCGM System, a novel transdermal continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM)
system. Symphony is in late-stage clinical development for use in the
diabetes home use and hospital critical care markets.
"It is an honor to welcome Dr. Furnary to Echo's Medical Advisory
Board. The wealth of knowledge and clinical expertise in tight glycemic
control that he brings to the table enhances our abilities to execute our
clinical development plan for Symphony," said Patrick T. Mooney, M.D.
Chairman and CEO of Echo. "His acceptance of this position speaks volumes
about our Company, the strength of our advisors and the effectiveness of
our tCGM technology."
"The immediate clinical need for next-generation technology like Echo's
Symphony tCGM System is well understood by physicians familiar with
emerging technologies to help achieve and maintain tight glycemic control,"
said Dr. Furnary. "I look forward to working with Echo and contributing to
the Company's success through my active role on its Medical Advisory
Board."
"We are pleased to add a physician of Dr. Furnary's stature to our
Board of recognized leaders focused on Echo's potentially paradigm-changing
tCGM technology for in-hospital and at-home continuous glucose monitoring.
His long-standing focus on tight glycemic control and leading-edge
technologies that advance protocols designed to accomplish that clinical
benefit makes his appointment a particularly synergistic fit," said Stanley
Nasraway, MD, Director of Surgical Intensive Care Units at Tufts Medical
Center and Chairman of Echo's Medical Advisory Board. "Dr. Furnary's
contributions will make a difference."
Dr. Furnary's many honors and awards include the Burroughs Wellcome
Leadership Award from the American Medical Association and the Upjohn
Achievement Award. The Wall Street Journal recognized his team's
groundbreaking research in glycemic control by naming Dr. Furnary runner-up
in the 2005 medical innovator of the year (second only to the Harvard team
that invented automated gene sequencing). He is a fellow of the American
Association for Thoracic Surgery, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, The
American College of Surgeons, The American College of Cardiology and The
American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Furnary introduced the Portland
Protocol in the early-1990's as a method for maintaining blood glucose
levels for post-operative patients through the use of aggressive insulin
therapy. Now widely-practiced worldwide, such therapy reduces the risks of
surgery-related death and post-surgical complications in patients with
diabetes. Before the Portland Protocol was implemented, patients with
diabetes faced twice the normal risk of fatal complications following
surgery, and four times the risk of major infection.
About Echo Therapeutics
Echo Therapeutics is a transdermal medical device and specialty
pharmaceuticals company. Echo's Symphony(TM) tCGM System is a non-invasive,
wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM) system for
people with diabetes and for use in hospital critical care settings. Echo
is also developing a wide range of novel transdermal reformulations of
FDA-approved pharmaceutical products using its AzoneTS(TM) drug delivery
technology.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe
historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any
forward- looking statements contained herein are based on current
expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The
factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from
current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks related to
regulatory approvals and the success of Echo's ongoing studies regarding
the efficacy of Echo's Symphony tCGM System and the success of its
research, development, and regulatory approval, marketing and distribution
plans and strategies. Furthermore, Echo's tCGM systems have not yet been
approved for sale. The regulatory approval process for its tCGM systems
involves, among other things, successfully completing pilot and pivotal
clinical trials and obtaining a premarket approval, or PMA, from the FDA.
The PMA process requires Echo to prove the safety and efficacy of its tCGM
systems to the FDA's satisfaction. This process can be expensive and
uncertain, and there is no guarantee that Echo will be able to submit a PMA
for its Symphony tCGM System or that its Symphony tCGM System will be
approved for sale by the FDA in any specific timeframe or at all. In
addition, clinical testing of Echo's products and eventual
commercialization of its products are subject to all of the risks and
uncertainties set forth in its periodic reports, including its annual
report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Echo Therapeutics,
Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Patrick T. Mooney, M.D.
Chairman & CEO
Echo Therapeutics
508-530-0329
Lilian Stern
Stern Investor Relations
212-362-1200
SOURCE Echo Therapeutics
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Related links:
http://www.sontra.com
CONTACT:
Investor Relations, Patrick T. Mooney, M.D.,
Chairman & CEO, Echo Therapeutics, +1-508-530-0329, or Lilian
Stern, Stern Investor Relations, +1-212-362-1200
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