WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of product candidates using its proprietary mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology, today announced the appointment of Andrew I. Koven to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Koven will serve as a Class I director and serve on the Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance committees of the Board of Directors.

“Andrew’s experience in senior leadership roles, success in business development, and extensive legal expertise within the biotech and pharmaceutical industry will be an asset in providing guidance and strategy to our company as we advance potential new treatments for eye diseases,” said Mark Iwicki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kala Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Koven has served as President and Chief Business Officer at Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. since 2016 and held the same position in 2015 at POZEN Inc., where he was instrumental in negotiating a merger with Tribute Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. to create Aralez Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining POZEN, Mr. Koven was Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he was responsible for legal functions, government affairs and technical operations until it was sold to Endo Pharmaceuticals in 2015. Prior to that , he held roles as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Legal Officer at Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he oversaw all matters related to legal, quality and compliance, corporate development and licensing and technical operations until it was acquired by Merck in 2011. From 2007-2010, Mr. Koven served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Sepracor Inc., where he was responsible for the company’s legal and government affairs departments and Corporate Secretarial function until its sale to Dainippon Sumitomo. He served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Kos Pharmaceuticals Inc. from 2003-2007 until the company was acquired by Abbott Laboratories. Before joining Kos Pharmaceuticals, he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Lavipharm Corporation from 2000 to 2003 and Assistant General Counsel at Warner-Lambert Company from 1993 to 2000. Mr. Koven holds a Master of Law Degree from Columbia University School of Law and an LL.B. Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University.

“I am honored to join the Board of Directors at this exciting and transformative time in Kala’s history,” said Mr. Koven. “I am very much looking forward to working with the company on its continued mission to develop innovative and important therapies for patients with eye diseases.”

About Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Kala is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics using its proprietary mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology, with an initial focus on the treatment of eye diseases. Kala has applied the MPP technology to create a corticosteroid designed for ocular applications, resulting in two product candidates in Phase 3 clinical development, KPI-121 1.0% for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and KPI-121 0.25% for the temporary relief of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties including statements regarding the development and regulatory status of the company's product candidates, including KPI-121 1.0% for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ocular surgery and KPI-121 0.25% for the temporary relief of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the "Risk Factors" section, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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