LEXINGTON, KY and ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwired - Jun 4, 2014) - CCB Research Group is pleased to announce that Lou Malice will join its executive team as CEO to lead commercialization initiatives for the company's NFANT Technology.
"Unfortunately, between 40 to 70 percent of preterm infants experience complications in transitioning to independent oral feedings," says Malice. "NFANT Technology has the potential to substantially improve the quality of care for premature infants and get them home to their families sooner. Decreasing NICU stays not only benefits families, it could also save the U.S. healthcare system nearly $3 billion annually if we can shorten the average stay by just two days."
NFANT Technology is a medical device that transforms a normal pacifier or baby bottle into a "smart" device that assesses and assists newborns struggling to feed. CCB Research Group was issued a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for NFANT Technology in March, 2014, and the device is undergoing its second clinical trial. The company is currently in the middle of a $2.25M Series A fund raise.
Malice has more than 30 years of experience in medical device R&D, manufacturing, IT, supply chain management, quality and regulatory protocols. "Lou's experience will undoubtedly prove invaluable as NFANT Technology transitions from the clinical trial stage through FDA 510(k) approval and to market," says Tommy Cunningham, PhD, co-founder and COO of CCB Research Group.
"Lou's vision, expertise and proven ability to get medical devices to market on a large scale will help get NFANT Technology into the hands of healthcare professionals in the U.S. and around the world in an accelerated time frame."
A founding executive of EndoChoice, Inc., Malice left his COO position to pursue his passion for accelerating growth in start-up companies. EndoChoice, a leading manufacturer and distributor of products and services for GI medical professionals, began in 2008 with seven employees. Today, the company employs more than 450 people globally, received $43 million in growth capital in a deal led by Sequoia Capital, and has been recognized for four consecutive years by Inc. Magazine as one of the nation's fastest growing medical technology companies.
Prior to EndoChoice, Malice was co-CEO of a successful start-up, American Breast Care, a manufacturer and distributer of products for woman after breast surgery. He also served as executive vice president of Operations and Division president of Coloplast Corporation, a subsidiary of Coloplast AS, a $1 billion manufacturer of ostomy, continence, wound care, skin care and breast care products. Malice, a native of Atlanta, was an active guest speaker and consultant in the Atlanta medical device start-up community, where he met Cunningham at a speaker series hosted by the Global Center for Medical Innovation.
About CCB Research Group
CCB Research Group is developing NFANT Technology, a medical device that transforms a normal pacifier or baby bottle into a smart device. Developed for NICU use, NFANT Technology non-invasively measures infant tongue strength and coordination and relays that information to a database. This information may allow clinicians to better detect when an infant is ready to transition from tube feeding to feeding on their own. With an average daily cost of $3,000 for NICU care in the U.S., NFANT Technology has the potential to shorten NICU stays and deliver substantial savings while improving outcomes. www.ccbresearchgroup.com
Contact Information:
Company Contact:
Tommy Cunningham
404-692-3766