Business in Brief
The latest industry news, appointments and acquisitions – in 65 words or less
- Oculis SA has appointed Sylvia Cheung as Chief Financial Officer. Cheung will be based in the newly established Oculis US office, succeeding Páll Ragnar Jóhannesson, who is now Chief Strategy Officer. This is the second significant hiring in recent months, following Grace Chang’s appointment as Chief Medical Officer in August.
- Oxurion has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2 study evaluating THR-149 for the treatment of DME. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor for those who respond suboptimally to anti-VEGF therapy. Patrik De Haes, Oxurion CEO, said, “The start of this trial is a major step in our plans to build a DME franchise for specific, complementary target patient groups.”
- Two sight-saving charities are set to merge on January 1, 2021. Clearly and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness will combine to form a network of over 150 members working in international eye health and leading global advocacy for the sight sector. The organizations say the move marks the “next exciting phase in the battle to deliver vision for everyone.”
- Israeli AI and eye-tracking technology start-up NovaSight closes US$8 million Series A financing in a quest to combat vision disorders worldwide. The new funds will be used to develop future eye care products and advance clinical trials for the company’s amblyopia treatment device, supporting its path to FDA clearance.
- In the US, ImprimisRx has executed a commercial alliance agreement with EyePoint Pharmaceuticals for joint promotion of DEXYCU, the FDA-approved intracameral steroid for postoperative inflammation. The drug will now be marketed as a prioritized product within ImprimisRx’s portfolio.
- Michael Chiang has been selected as the new director of the prestigious National Eye Institute. Chiang currently holds the position of Knowles Professor of Ophthalmology and Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology at Oregon Health and Science University, where he also serves as associate director of the OHSU Casey Eye Institute.
I’ve always loved telling stories. So much so, I decided to make a job of it. I finished a Masters in Magazine Journalism and spent three years working as a creative copywriter before itchy feet sent me (back)packing. It took seven months and 13 countries, but I’m now happily settled on The Ophthalmologist, where I’m busy getting stuck into all things eyeballs.
