OCUP - Ocuphire Pharma Announces Appointment of Joseph Schachle M.B.A. as Chief Operating Officer | Benzinga
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Nov. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocuphire Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUP), a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing small-molecule therapies for the treatment of retinal and refractive eye disorders, today announced the appointment of Joseph (Joe) K. Schachle, M.B.A., into the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, effective today.
"Joe is a highly accomplished pharmaceutical executive, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Ocuphire as Chief Operating Officer," said Dr. George Magrath, CEO of Ocuphire. "His appointment is part of a broader strategic initiative to expand our senior team as we plan for advancement of our lead retina asset, APX3330, into registrational studies and prepare the company for success. Joe brings diverse experience, including in ophthalmology, from some of the world's leading life science companies. He has held senior roles across multiple functional areas including operations, sales and marketing. He has a strong track record in creating strategic alignment and propelling execution across different organizational structures, experience that will be valuable to Ocuphire's ongoing and future initiatives."
Joseph Schachle commented, "Joining Ocuphire at this transformational stage as the company pioneers the development of an oral therapy for diabetic retinopathy is an exciting new chapter in my career. I am very pleased to lead operations at a company that is committed to improving standards of eye care. I am eager to collaborate with my new colleagues as we prepare Ocuphire for the next stage of growth."
Mr. Schachle was most recently Chief Operating Officer of Opus Genetics, a gene therapy company focused on rare, inherited retinal diseases. In this role, he managed multiple corporate functions including human resources, finance, legal, investor relations, facilities, information technology, and commercial. He was employed at Grifols from 2013 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2021 where he held various senior positions including Head of Global Marketing Operations and Vice President of Customer Experience Enablement. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Parion Sciences. From 2001 to 2002 and 2003 to 2011, he was employed at Inspire Pharmaceuticals where he oversaw multiple partnering deals and promoted three eye care brands. Inspire was acquired by Merck in 2011, and Mr. Schachle led the integration efforts at the time of this transaction. From 2002 to 2003, he was employed at MedImmune as Director of Anti-Infective Marketing. Prior to that, from 1992 to 2001, he was employed at GSK where he held various marketing roles across respiratory, CNS, oncology and HIV. Mr. Schachle received an MBA from Old Dominion University, VA, and a BBA in Marketing from James Madison University, VA.
About Ocuphire Pharma
Ocuphire Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage ophthalmic ...