Aspira Women’s Health Announces Dr. Jody Berry as New Chief Scientific Officer
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspira Women’s Health Inc. (“Aspira” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: AWH), a bio-analytical company focused on the development and commercialization of women’s health diagnostic tools for gynecologic diseases, today announced it has named Jody Berry, Ph.D. as its new Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Ryan Phan, who stepped down as the Company’s Chief Scientific and Operating Officer, remains as an advisor through the end of the year to help with the transition and provide scientific and operational advice related to ongoing product development programs.
Dr. Berry is a seasoned scientific leader with over two decades of commercial, government and academic experience. A recognized international expert in immunoassay development, antibody technology, and infectious diseases, he brings a proven track record of innovation and scientific achievement in both small and large companies.
“We warmly welcome Jody to our executive team. Jody is a dynamic leader with decades of experience launching disruptive products and building effective research and development teams,” said Nicole Sandford, Chief Executive Officer of Aspira. “Jody joins us at a key inflection point as we finalize plans to launch an OvaWatch longitudinal monitoring application and our first-of-its-kind EndoCheck test by the end of the year.”
Dr. Berry added, “I am excited to join a team of professionals focused on improving the lives of women through the development of cutting-edge diagnostic tools. I see tremendous market potential for Aspira’s products, and I look forward to leading the R&D team through two exciting launches this year.”
Dr. Jody Berry joins Aspira from OraSure Technologies Inc., where he served as Chief Science Officer responsible for all innovation and product development including the breakthrough discovery of the first integrated swab test for COVID-19. Prior to that, Dr. Berry led immunochemistry research and development for Grifols Diagnostic Solutions, where he was responsible for the design of molecular and tissue culture laboratories and facilities for protein engineering, the development of a companion diagnostic for solid carcinomas using designer novel immune checkpoint inhibitor molecules and immunoassays for blood borne pathogens. He has also served in senior scientific and executive leadership roles for BD Biosciences and Cangene Corporation. Prior to beginning of his prestigious corporate career, he served as Head of Monoclonal Antibody and Bioforensics Response at the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. Berry has served as visiting or adjunct professor at Lehigh University, University of Western Michigan, and University of Manitoba. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Knudsen Memorial Publication Award from the American Biological Safety Association, the Government of Canada Public Service Commendation Award for post 9/11, CIHR HIV/AIDS Postdoctoral Fellowships, and the Apotex Fermentation Inc. Research Award for Doctoral Research in Molecular Biology. Dr. Berry is author or co-author on over 100 peer-reviewed published journal articles, abstracts, scientific posters, and monographs. Dr. Berry earned his Bachelor of Science with honors from the Department of Microbiology, and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Manitoba, Department of Medical Microbiology. His immunobiology studies on Chlamydia trachomatis, the leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and involuntary infertility in women, helped to outline protective host responses and to understand type immunity. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular Biology where he was the first to create immune antibody libraries to HIV from cervical B cells collected from HIV-1 exposed, but uninfected subjects in Kenya.
About Aspira Women’s Health Inc.
Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is transforming women’s gynecological health with the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative testing options for women of all races and ethnicities, starting with ovarian cancer.
Our ovarian cancer risk assessment portfolio is marketed to healthcare providers as OvaSuiteSM which includes OvaWatchSM, a non-invasive, blood-based test intended for use in the initial clinical assessment of ovarian cancer risk in women with benign or indeterminate adnexal masses for which surgical intervention may be either premature or unnecessary. With a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%, OvaWatch allows physicians to confidently rule out ovarian cancer malignancy and choose the appropriate clinical management for the right patient at the right time. Ova1Plus® combines our FDA-cleared products, Ova1® and Overa®, to detect risk of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses planned for surgery.
EndoCheckSM, Aspira’s first-of-its-kind non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis, is currently in development. Visit our website for more information at www.aspirawh.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential effects of widespread use of OvaWatch and the availability of OvaWatch in New York. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “may,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “plans,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “will,” “potential,” “projects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Aspira’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and as supplemented in Aspira’s 10-Q filings for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. These risks include, but are not limited to: our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to comply with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; impacts resulting from potential changes to coverage of Ova1 through our Medicare Administrative Carrier for Ova1; impacts resulting from or relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken to contain it; anticipated use of capital and its effects; our ability to increase the volume of our product sales; failures by third-party payers to reimburse for our products and services or changes to reimbursement rates; our ability to continue developing existing technologies and to develop, protect and promote our proprietary technologies; plans to develop and perform laboratory developed tests; our ability to comply with Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regulations that relate to our products and to obtain any FDA clearance or approval required to develop and commercialize medical devices; our ability to develop and commercialize additional diagnostic products and achieve market acceptance with respect to these products; our ability to compete successfully; our ability to obtain any regulatory approval required for our future diagnostic products; or our suppliers’ ability to comply with FDA requirements for production, marketing and post-market monitoring of our products; our ability to maintain sufficient or acceptable supplies of immunoassay kits from our suppliers; in the event that we succeed in commercializing our products outside the United States, the political, economic and other conditions affecting other countries; changes in healthcare policy; our ability to comply with the additional laws and regulations that apply to us in connection with the operation of Aspira Labs; our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards; our ability to use intellectual property; our ability to successfully defend our proprietary technology against third parties; our ability to obtain licenses in the event a third party successfully asserts proprietary rights; the liquidity and trading volume of our common stock; the concentration of ownership of our common stock; our ability to retain key employees; our ability to secure additional capital on acceptable terms to execute our business plan; business interruptions; the effectiveness and availability of our information systems; our ability to integrate and achieve anticipated results from any acquisitions or strategic alliances; future litigation against us, including infringement of intellectual property and product liability exposure; and additional costs that may be required to make further improvements to our laboratory operations. The events and circumstances reflected in Aspira’s forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Aspira expressly disclaims any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Relations Contact:
Monique Kosse
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Tel: 212-915-3820
monique@lifesciadvisors.com
