News

OPTOS WELCOMES NEW CHAIRMAN

14 Dec 2009

Medical device & biotechnology expert, Dr. Peter Fellner, becomes Chairman of Optos from 1 January 2010

LONDON, UK, 14 December 2009 - Optos plc (LSE:OPTS), a leading medical retinal imaging company, today announced that Dr. John Padfield will retire from his position as Chairman of the Board on 31 December 2009 and will cease to be a Director at that time. Dr. Padfield will be succeeded as Chairman by Dr. Peter Fellner who will join the Board on 1 January 2010.

Dr. Padfield was appointed to the Board in November 2005 and became Chairman in January 2006 prior to the flotation of the Company on the London Stock Exchange in February 2006. Since then Optos has established itself as the leader in ultra-wide field imaging of the retina and has continued to develop its business in the US and Europe with revenues of $97.2m for the year ending 30 September 2009.

Dr. Padfield will be succeeded as Chairman by Dr. Peter Fellner who will join the Board on 1 January 2010. Dr. Fellner is currently Chairman of the medical devices company Consort Medical plc, and of the biotechnology companies Vernalis plc and Astex Therapeutics Ltd. He is also a non-executive director of the global biopharmaceutical company UCB SA and the European bioscience companies Evotec AG and Biotie Therapies Corp. Previously Dr. Fellner was CEO and then Chairman of Celltech Group plc, and oversaw its growth and development into the largest UK biotechnology company, and a FTSE 100 constituent, before its sale for £1.53 billion in 2004. More recently he also served as Chairman of Acambis plc and Premier Research Group plc, until they were each acquired during 2008.

Commenting Dr. Padfield said: "During the past couple of years the Board has been highly active in assembling a strong management team to fulfil the potential of the Company's world-leading technology and optomap® imaging.

 The appointment of Roy Davis as CEO in 2008 has successfully provided a new focus for Optos. Roy has created a new strategy for the Company that requires execution and expansion over the coming years. Now is the time for a new Chairman to provide the leadership to the Board during this next phase and I am delighted that Peter Fellner will be taking on this role. Optos will benefit from Peter's extensive experience of public companies in the healthcare field. I wish him, Roy and all the Optos team continued success."

Dr. Fellner added: "I am very pleased to be joining Optos, which I believe possesses outstanding technology and exceptional potential for further value creation. John Padfield and his Board colleagues have created a robust platform for future growth, and engaged an excellent management team. I very much look forward to joining them in the New Year."

Enquiries
Ben Atwell / Mo Noonan
Tel: 020 7831 3113 

About Optos Plc

Optos plc is a leading retinal imaging company. Our vision is to be recognised as the leading provider of retinal diagnostics through leveraging our unique wide-field imaging technology. Both eye and non-eye diseases often first exhibit in the periphery of the retina. These are very difficult to detect clinically with conventional examination equipment and techniques. Optos' devices produce ultra wide-field, high-resolution images of approximately 82% of the retina, something no other device is capable of doing in any one image. The images provide optometrists and ophthalmologists with enhanced clinical information which facilitates the early detection, management and treatment of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina such as retinal detachments and tears, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as hypertension and certain cancers. Optos has a range of medical devices that support different customer segments and patient levels: the P200 device is concentrated on wellness screening carried out by optometrists and ophthalmologists in primary care; the P200C device is designed to meet the need for more exacting clinical imaging capabilities and standards in secondary care within the ophthalmology market and at optometric practices that are clinically managing a patient base with advanced ocular disease; and the P200MA device supports retinal specialists, working primarily with a diabetic patient base, in the medical care market through an advanced medical angiography procedure. Optos' technology provides an unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience for the practitioner and patient resulting in more targeted treatment regimes and improved patient outcomes. 75% of all blindness can be treated or prevented if diagnosed early enough and our Optos technology supports this objective.

For more information please visit our website http://www.optos.com/