Optinose announced that Peter Miller has stepped down as Board member, and that Ramy Mahmoud, MD, MPH has been appointed as Board member. During Mr. Miller's nearly 13 years as CEO, the Company experienced significant growth. His leadership led to the successful development and out-licensing of the Company's first product, ONZETRA Xsail, becoming a public company listed on Nasdaq, and the transition from a clinical-stage company to a commercial-stage company through the successful development, FDA approval and commercialization of XHANCE.

Dr. Mahmoud, the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer since 2010, will succeed Mr. Miller as the new CEO of Optinose and as a Board member, effective immediately. Dr. Mahmoud has led both the commercial and R&D functions during his tenure at Optinose and has been instrumental to the successful development and FDA approval of all Company products, including XHANCE, during this time, and for the clinical research program supporting the potential first-ever approval of a drug product for chronic sinusitis. Prior to joining Optinose, Dr. Mahmoud spent 14 years at Johnson & Johnson where he was Chief Medical Officer and a member of the Global Management Board of the Ethicon group of companies.

He also held senior roles in the Pharmaceutical sector, serving on the management board of several operating companies and leading a range of functions in both R&D and commercial organizations. Dr. Mahmoud participated in the development, launch and/or commercialization of dozens of pharmaceutical and medical device products spanning multiple therapeutic categories. Dr. Mahmoud also served for 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Army and an additional 10 years in the Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and heading the Department of Epidemiology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers and textbook chapters, and has served as a scientific reviewer for a number of journals and textbooks. Dr. Mahmoud earned a Master of Healthcare Management and Policy degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and an M.D. from the University of Miami.