CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL), a leader in advanced cell therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Hopper as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Hopper formerly served as Senior Medical Director, Orthopedic Clinical Development for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for establishing and executing the company’s strategy for Orthopedic clinical development. Prior to joining Ferring Pharmaceuticals, he served in a number of senior medical roles including Vice President, Global Medical Director for Stryker Corporation. Dr. Hopper also has significant medical device regulatory experience having served as a Senior Medical Officer for the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Dr. Hopper graduated with a M.B. Ch.B. from Birmingham University Medical School UK, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and attained an M.B.A. at Keele University UK.
"Jon’s experience and expertise in orthopedics, wound care, and combination biologic device products are an ideal fit with Vericel’s current business and strategic focus,” said Nick Colangelo, president and chief executive officer of Vericel. "Jon will play a key role in the execution of our life cycle management initiatives as well as our efforts to expand our product portfolio by accessing assets complementary to our existing business.”
About Vericel Corporation
Vericel is a leader in advanced cell therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. The company markets two cell therapy products in the United States. MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel® (cultured epidermal autografts) is a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of patients with deep dermal or full thickness burns greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.vcel.com.
