Clarify Medical Appoints New President & CEO

San Diego-based Clarify Medical has announced the appointment of George W. Mahaffey as president, CEO, and director. The position had been filled by Rex Bright who was named interim president and CEO in February 2018. Bright will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for the company.
 
Executive Chairman David Hale said, “Clarify has developed and is commercializing an FDA-cleared device, the Clarify Medical Home Light Therapy System, for the treatment of psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema, and is now poised for growth. The Board is very pleased with this appointment because we believe Mahaffey has the skills, experience and track record of helping build successful companies.”
 
“I look forward to joining a company that has so much opportunity and potential,” said Mahaffey. “The Clarify connected home phototherapy system uses a proven treatment modality (narrowband UVB phototherapy) and provides a significant technological advance that conveniently improves patient management by physicians via cloud and smartphone technology. I believe that my experience in commercialization and strategic corporate development can help make Clarify a leader in home phototherapy for medical skin conditions.”
 
Mahaffey has over 30 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience. In March 2011 he was named president and CEO of Lithera Inc., later renamed Neothetics, a clinical stage special pharmaceutical aesthetics company. While there, he successfully completed an IPO in November 2014. He previously served as CEO of Peplin Inc. after the dermatology company was acquired by LEO Pharma A/S in 2009, where he played an instrumental role in the transaction. Prior to the acquisition, he served as Peplin’s chief commercial officer and VP, Sales and Marketing. Mahaffey also served as Sr. VP, Sales and Marketing for Cotherix Inc. where he led the corporate commercialization and successful launch of Ventavis (iloprost), an orphan drug to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. He was heavily involved in the acquisition of CoTherix by Actelion Ltd. in 2007. Prior to CoTherix, Mahaffey worked at Scios Inc. (acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2003) where he led the launch of Natrecor (nesiritide) to treat acutely decompensated congestive heart failure. Mahaffey also worked in various marketing functions at Neurex Inc. (acquired by Elan Corp. in 1998). He began his pharmaceutical career at DuPont Pharmaceuticals where he held various sales and marketing positions. Mahaffey has a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Delaware and an MBA from the University of South Florida.