MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPK), announces the appointment of Benjamin D. Solomon, M.D. as Managing Director of GeneDx, effective as of October 3, 2016. GeneDx, part of OPKO’s BioReference Laboratories subsidiary, specializes in genetic testing for rare hereditary disorders.

Dr. Solomon is a pediatric geneticist who focuses on the use of genetics and genomics to identify, understand and care for patients with both rare and common genetic conditions. He is a leader in integrating cutting-edge technologies to better manage health and disease. He most recently served as Chief of the Division of Medical Genomics at the Inova Translational Medicine Institute, a clinical research institute dedicated to putting genomic medicine into action.

“We are very proud to have Dr. Solomon join the OPKO Health team as the new leader of our GeneDx division, a world-class genomics laboratory. A recognized leader in his field, Dr. Solomon’s expertise in genomics and genetics will be of great value as we continue to leverage leading technologies to build and expand GeneDx’s global role in diagnostic and laboratory services. His passion for finding answers for patients and clinicians and his talent and experience in the integration of genomics into the practice of medicine will enhance the numerous and diverse communities in the U.S. and worldwide that benefit from the outstanding diagnostic services our laboratories offer,” said Gregory S. Henderson, M.D., Ph.D., President of BioReference Laboratories.

In addition to his clinical and research leadership and advocacy, Dr. Solomon has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, is co-editor of the most recent edition of the textbook Human Malformations, and is an active lecturer and educator. Dr. Solomon attended medical school at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College and completed his residency and fellowship training in pediatric medicine and clinical genetics at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health and at Children’s National Medical Center. He is board-certified in clinical genetics and pediatrics.

About OPKO Health, Inc.

OPKO Health, Inc. is a diversified healthcare company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets. Our diagnostics business includes BioReference Laboratories, the nation's third-largest clinical laboratory with a core genetic testing business and a 420-person sales force to drive growth and leverage new products, including the 4Kscore® prostate cancer test and the Claros® 1 in-office immunoassay platform. Our pharmaceutical business features RAYALDEE®, an FDA-approved treatment for SHPT in stage 3-4 CKD patients with vitamin D insufficiency, and VARUBI™ for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (oral formulation launched by partner Tesaro and IV formulation PDUFA is January 2017). Our biologics business includes hGH-CTP, a once-weekly human growth hormone injection (in Phase 3 and partnered with Pfizer), a long-acting Factor VIIa drug for hemophilia (in Phase 2a) and a long-acting oxyntomodulin for diabetes and obesity (in Phase 1). We also have production and distribution assets worldwide, multiple strategic investments and an active business development strategy. More information is available at www.opko.com.

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This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding synergies, benefits and opportunities of the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and products, the potential for Transition Therapeutics’ products and whether they will benefit patients suffering with metabolic and androgen deficiency diseases, the growth, development and strength of OPKO’s pipeline, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed and to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.

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