PTV Sciences Staffs up

Jerry DeVries and Steve Whitlock, co-founders of LDR Spine USA and Spinal Restoration, have joined PTV Sciences, a healthcare-focused VC firm. They will serve as operating venture partners.

PRESS RELEASE

PTV Sciences announced today that Jerry DeVries and Steve Whitlock have joined the Fund as Operating Venture Partners.

Jerry DeVries and Steve Whitlock were most recently involved in co-founding LDR Spine USA, Inc. and Spinal Restoration.  Both executives were instrumental in completing the first FDA approved, concurrent one and two level artificial cervical disc study for LDR.

Prior to this, DeVries was the Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Centerpulse Orthopedics, Inc. which was acquired by Zimmer in 2003.  Mr. DeVries has more than 18 years experience in the medical device industry and has held executive management positions in areas such as business development, engineering, marketing and organizational development.  He has had domestic and global responsibilities in diverse areas of the healthcare industry.  Mr. DeVries was a member of the executive team responsible for the turnaround of Centerpulse Orthopedics as it rebounded from the largest product recall ever in orthopaedic devices. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an M.B.A. from Baylor University.

Steve Whitlock was formerly the Vice President of Research and Development for Centerpulse Orthopedics, Inc. which was acquired by Zimmer in 2003.  Mr. Whitlock has more than 18 years in the medical device industry and has held executive management positions in research, technology assessment, product development and product marketing that included domestic and global responsibilities in the areas of total joints, sports medicine, trauma, and orthobiologics. As a member of the Centerpulse Orthopedics product recall executive team, Mr. Whitlock directed efforts through problem identification, failure analysis, solution, and recovery. Mr. Whitlock holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and an M.B.A. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Matthew Crawford, Managing Director and cofounder of PTV Sciences comments, “Having Jerry DeVries and Steve Whitlock join our group, along with the recent addition of Rick Anderson, positions PTV Sciences as a strong team with complementary skills.  Whitlock and DeVries have a unique combination of operations skills and bring to PTV

proven track records of working in large and small companies as well as start up environments.  They will support our portfolio companies in key strategic areas such as product development, marketing, clinical, regulatory and business development.”

About PTV Sciences

PTV Sciences (www.ptvsciences.com), founded in 2003, is a leading life and materials sciences venture capital fund focused on building industry leading companies and investing in extraordinary people.  PTV Sciences has a team of investment professionals and 13 venture partners representing the leading clinicians, scientists, academic institutions and entrepreneurs.  PTV Sciences has offices in Austin and Houston, Texas.