OCUL - Ocular Therapeutix™ Announces Board of Directors and Leadership Updates | Benzinga
Industry Leader and Retina Expert, Pravin U. Dugel, MD, Becomes Executive Chair
Jeffrey S. Heier, MD to become Chief Scientific Officer, Peter K. Kaiser, MD to be Medical Director, and Sanjay Nayak, MBBS, PhD to become Chief Strategy Officer
Addition of Strategic and Clinical Experts Puts Ocular on Track to be a Leader in Retina Care
Expanded Team Anticipated to Accelerate Momentum in AXPAXLI™ Phase 3 Wet AMD Programs
BEDFORD, Mass., Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUL, "Ocular")), a biopharmaceutical company committed to enhancing people's vision and quality of life through the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye, today announced Board of Directors and leadership updates with the addition of Pravin U. Dugel, MD as Executive Chairman and the additions of Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, Peter K. Kaiser, MD, and Sanjay Nayak, MBBS, PhD to the Ocular management team as Chief Scientific Officer, Medical Director, and Chief Strategy Officer, respectively. The addition of these four acknowledged strategic and clinical experts puts the Company on track to be a leader in retina care for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions.
The Company also announced that Charles Warden has transitioned from Chairman of the Board to Lead Independent Director. To enable full transitions to their new operating roles, Dr. Heier has resigned from his positions with the Company as a Board Director and Advisor – Retina, and Dr. Kaiser has resigned from his position as Chief Medical Advisor – Retina of the Company. In addition, Peter Jarrett, PhD, has begun the new role of Chief Technical Officer. Rabia Gurses Ozden, MD, will continue in her role as Chief Medical Officer.
"We are bringing together the ‘Retina Dream Team' to position Ocular at the forefront of retina care, further energizing the momentum behind the AXPAXLI™ Phase 3 wet AMD program. We believe our expanded leadership team will enable us to potentially accelerate the pace of our clinical program for AXPAXLI™," said Antony Mattessich, CEO of Ocular Therapeutix. "With our renewed focus on retinal disease, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dugel as Executive Chairman. He is a visionary executive who brings a history of successful company building and organizational development that we believe will help us make Ocular a leader in retina care. On behalf of everyone on the management team, I look forward to working closely with Dr. Dugel. We believe that his track record of advancing novel products for retinal disease, along with his extensive network and long-standing relationships across the field of retinal disease, have the potential to substantially accelerate our mission to develop and commercialize products to enhance people's vision and quality of life."
"In addition, we believe that Drs. Heier and Kaiser's decision to join the management team in operating roles is an incredible asset for the Company," commented Mr. Mattessich. "Each of these globally recognized retina specialists bring a deep understanding of the AXPAXLI™ program, Ocular's pipeline and the ELUTYX™ proprietary formulation technology. We believe their experience as study chairman or lead investigators in numerous pivotal trials of approved products for wet AMD and other ophthalmic indications will help the Company optimize the enrollment of the AXPAXLI™ Phase 3 pivotal trials and enhance the probability of success. Dr. Nayak further strengthens our team, bringing a unique market perspective in retinal disease and ophthalmology from his deep expertise as a strategy consultant and healthcare investor."
Dr. Dugel said, "I am honored to join Ocular's accomplished and talented Board as we advance the development of AXPAXLI™ and re-define the Company as the leader in retina care. I have dedicated my life to the development of novel therapies for retina diseases, and I believe that AXPAXLI™ has the opportunity to substantially transform the care of patients with wet AMD and hopefully other retinal diseases. In my role as Executive Chairman, I look forward to working with Antony and the management team to successfully complete the AXPAXLI™ Phase 3 program and define and innovate the next steps in the Company's strategic development."
Dr. Heier commented, "Through my prior roles as Board Director and Advisor – Retina, I have observed the steady development of a strong clinical database for AXPAXLI™, starting with earliest studies. With the Phase 3 program underway, I am thrilled to be part of the Team." Dr. Kaiser noted further, "I joined Ocular as a Chief Medical Advisor – Retina because I believed AXPAXLI™ and the ELUTYX™ platform could be a ‘game-changer' in the care of retinal disease. From my experience as a retina specialist, I know that patients are hoping for improved therapies. I am thrilled to be part of the Ocular Team as we advance the Phase 3 AXPAXLI™ program." Dr. Nayak added, "I am excited about this amazing opportunity to join Ocular, along with this group of esteemed retinal experts and industry champions. Together with the entire Ocular team, we are hoping to address the single biggest unmet need for our patients: a safe, effective, and truly durable therapy for retinal and ophthalmic indications. I am grateful to Antony and Pravin for letting me play a significant role in what we expect will be a transformative time for the Company."
Mr. Mattessich concluded by sharing, "On behalf of the Ocular team, I am so grateful to Charles Warden for his prior work as Board Chairman and his guidance regarding the Company's organizational development and strategic focus. As Ocular moves forward, I am very pleased that Charles will continue his work with the Company as Lead Independent Director."
About Dr. Dugel, Executive Chairman of the Board, Ocular Therapeutix
Pravin U. Dugel, MD has held previous leadership roles including President of IVERIC Bio, Inc., Managing Partner, Retinal Consultants of Arizona and the Retinal Research Institute; Clinical Professor, USC Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University ...