WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lyra Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines designed to precisely target ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases, today announced the appointment of Ann Merrifield to its Board of Directors. Ms. Merrifield is an accomplished leader in the life science industry with more than 30 years of experience primarily focused on building commercial biotechnology businesses.

“We are fortunate to welcome Ann Merrifield, a true industry veteran, to our Board of Directors,” said Maria Palasis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Lyra Therapeutics. “We look forward to benefiting from Ann’s experience leading the commercial transition of high-growth biotechnology companies. Ann’s understanding of complex, long-acting, physician-administered products will be an asset as we navigate the development and commercialization of our lead product candidate, LYR-210, through clinical development for chronic rhinosinusitis, a debilitating nasal inflammatory disease.”

“I am delighted to join Lyra’s Board of Directors and look forward to working alongside this experienced management team as it pioneers innovative treatments for ear, nose and throat diseases,” said Ms. Merrifield. “It’s an exciting and pivotal time to contribute to the growth plans for Lyra, as the company seeks to advance its lead product candidate and build its pipeline.”

Ann Merrifield is an experienced business leader with proven capability in developing high-growth, global biotechnology businesses, including physician-administered drugs and biologics, diagnostic services, and therapeutic devices. She has deep experience building effective organizations and developing strategies for profitable growth through sales and marketing optimization, strategic transactions, and pipeline development. She currently serves as a director for a portfolio of public and private companies in the life sciences sector. Previously, she spent an 18-year career at Genzyme Corporation, a diversified global biotechnology company. While at Genzyme, Ann served as President, Genzyme Biosurgery, where she led global business strategy and operations and the turnaround of its lead product Synvisc, an injectable, long-acting treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain. She also served as President, Genzyme Genetics, playing a key role in developing a start-up genetic diagnostics business and bringing it to profitability. Following Genzyme, she served as CEO of PathoGenetix, developer of an automated system for rapid identification and typing of pathogenic bacterial strains. Earlier in her career, Ann was a Partner at Bain and Company and an Investment Officer at Aetna Life & Casualty. Ann is a graduate of the University of Maine and the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

About Lyra Therapeutics

Lyra Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines designed to precisely target ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases, offering an alternative to conventional treatments or surgeries. The company’s lead drug candidate, LYR-210, offers a novel approach for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by directing anti-inflammatory medicine deep into sinonasal tissues for up to six months of therapy from a single treatment. With proprietary expertise in drug development and materials science, Lyra is applying its transmucosal therapeutic system – comprised of drug administered through a polymeric matrix – with the goal of enabling therapeutic action at the site of inflammation in the sinonasal passages. Lyra Therapeutics is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.lyratherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn.