Asana Medical, Inc. Names Dr. Christine V. Sapan CEO, Adds University of Miami's Sergio M. Gonzalez to Its Board of Directors

MIAMI LAKES, FL--(Marketwired - Mar 2, 2016) -  Asana Medical, Inc., ("Asana," the "Company"), an emerging life science company focused on the development and commercialization of its innovative tissue engineered therapy to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease ("IBD"), is pleased to announce that Dr. Christine V. Sapan has been named Chief Executive Officer of Asana Medical, Inc. Dr. Sapan, previously Asana's President, will continue guiding the Company in the development of its first-in-class, tissue engineered treatment for IBD, a disease affecting as many as 1.6 million Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide. 

Dr. Sapan will lead Asana's efforts to fund and commercialize its IBD therapy, ECMH™, a hydrogel. The initial disease target will be Ulcerative Colitis; ECMH is delivered to a patient's diseased colon where it forms a protective barrier and scaffold for natural tissue recovery to occur. 

Extracellular matrix ("ECM") has demonstrated effectiveness in esophageal repair, hernia grafts, pericardial closures, and burn and wound treatments. Several of these applications have been successfully marketed for more than a decade, demonstrating a substantial record of safety and efficacy. Asana is the first company to investigate ECM for IBD, and based on its animal testing, the Company believes that it could be a promising solution.

In addition to Dr. Sapan's promotion, Asana takes great pride in announcing that Sergio M. Gonzalez has been named to the Company's Board of Directors. Since 2001, Mr. Gonzalez has served as the University of Miami's Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs. In this capacity, he oversees all development, communications, community relations, government affairs, and alumni relations. He is responsible for all facets of the University's advancement operations and played a key role in the University's capital campaigns, collectively raising over $3 billion.

Prior to his appointment at the University of Miami, Mr. Gonzalez served as Chief of Staff to the Miami-Dade County Executive Mayor. Previously, he served as Director of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee and Director of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. Mr. Gonzalez has served on a number of community and corporate boards including The Miami Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, TotalBank, Orange Bowl Committee, Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Breakthrough Miami, Buoniconti Fund, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), where he served as Vice Chair of the Commission on Philanthropy and member of the Presidential Search Committee.

Mr. Gonzalez is on the board of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) -- the largest national Hispanic advocacy and civil rights organization. He is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and has received numerous recognitions including the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's Bill Colson Award, the Miami-Dade Planned Giving Council's Professional Advisor of the Year Award, Iron Arrow (the highest honor attainable at the University of Miami), and South Florida Business Leader Movers & Shakers. In 2010, he was honored as one of the 12 Good Men of South Florida by the Ronald McDonald House Charities and in June of 2013, he was awarded with the Citizens Board Distinguished Service Award. 

Mr. Gonzalez received his Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1985 and his Juris Doctor Degree from Columbia University in 1988. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Florida and District of Columbia Bars.

"We are honored to have Sergio join our Board of Directors. His experience in securing capital, recognition in the community and multiple board activities make him a valuable addition to the Asana team," Dr. Sapan stated.

"I am happy to join the great leadership group at Asana which, as a South Florida-based company, is engaged in the important work of finding a treatment for an illness that affects millions of people," stated Mr. Gonzalez.

ABOUT ASANA MEDICAL, INC.
Asana Medical, Inc. is an emerging life science company developing tissue engineered therapies for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The Company's lead therapy, a novel application of a proven technology, will be a first-in-class therapy for patients suffering from Ulcerative Colitis. This therapy will be positioned to compete in a multi-billion dollar market dominated by biologic and drug therapies that can have significant side effects. Additionally, 20-30% of patients do not benefit from these therapies and have no alternative except colon removal surgery. Asana has an experienced management team, strong patent protection, world-class advisors in business and medicine, and compelling preclinical proof-of-concept data. For more information, visit www.asanamedical.com.

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