Atossa Genetics Hires Cindy Atha as Vice President of Sales and Marketing

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - May 5, 2015) - Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS) today announced that Cindy Atha has joined the Company as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective May 4, 2015. 

Steven C. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO, commented, "Ms. Atha is a highly experienced sales and marketing executive with leadership history in a series of increasingly responsible commercial management roles at Depomed, Inc. and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, both innovative biopharmaceutical companies, as well as AstraZeneca, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. We look forward to Ms. Atha's contributions as we commercialize our medical devices and laboratory services, and as we develop pharmaceutical treatments for breast health conditions."

Prior to joining Atossa, Ms. Atha was Vice President of Managed Markets for Depomed, leading a team that focused on third party reimbursement, pricing, and distribution management. While Vice President of Managed Markets and Trade at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, her team was twice recognized for "Best Marketing Programs and People" for a small manufacturer, and also achieved the 2012 DIANA Award for best new product introduction. Ms. Atha began her 24 years of pharmaceutical experience in field sales with Merck & Co. and then moved to AstraZeneca where she advanced into senior sales leadership. She has received more than 16 sales awards for exceptional individual and group performance including AstraZeneca's prestigious "Leadership Excellence Award." Ms. Atha helped bring over 15 new pharmaceutical products to market and she gained formative experience as an account executive with scientific technologies, promoting the sale of research and medical equipment to leading biotechnology companies and medical centers. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Operation of Hope, a non-profit organization that provides facial reconstructive surgeries to poor children around the world. Ms. Atha received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

On May 4, 2015, and as an inducement to cause Ms. Atha to join the Company, she was awarded an option to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, which are outside the Company's 2010 Stock Option and Incentive Plan but are subject to the terms of that plan. The stock option has an exercise price equal to $1.44 per share, the fair market value on the grant date and vests 25% at the end of the first year of employment and quarterly after that over the following three years of service. This stock option was granted as an inducement material to Ms. Atha entering into employment with the Company and is being reported in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About Atossa Genetics

Atossa Genetics Inc. is focused on improving breast health through the development of laboratory services, medical devices and therapeutics. The laboratory services are being developed by its subsidiary, The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health, Inc. The laboratory services and the Company's medical devices are being developed so they can be used as companions to therapeutics to treat various breast health conditions. For more information, please visit www.atossagenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with actions by the FDA, the outcome or timing of regulatory approvals needed by Atossa to sell its products, responses to regulatory matters, Atossa's ability to achieve its objectives and continue to manufacture and sell its products, recalls of products, the safety and efficacy of Atossa's products and services, performance of distributors, whether Atossa can launch and commercialize in the United States and foreign markets the additional tests, devices and therapeutics in its pipeline in a timely and cost effective manner, and other risks detailed from time to time in Atossa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, each as amended and supplemented from time to time. Atossa does not undertake any obligation to update any forward looking statement.