Adrienne Graves, Ph.D. returns, this time on The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS podcast. As a trailblazer of the industry, Dr. Graves shares her insights and lessons learned as a CEO and board member of several companies. She also discusses getting treatment to areas around the world that need it the most, how AI will affect and continue to impact eyecare and healthcare at large, and utilizing ophthalmic data for systemic disease diagnosis and management. 

In this episode of the OIS podcast, learn about:  

• Getting affordable and accessible ophthalmological therapies across the world 
• The differences between being a CEO and a board member 
• The impact of AI on eyecare and how it applies to practices 
• The next hot topic of ophthalmology 

RESOURCES:  

Dr. Rob Rothman: https://ois.net/robert-rothman-md/ 
Dr. Jai Parekh: https://ois.net/jai-g-parekh-md-mba/  

Adrienne Graves, Ph.D.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennegraves  

Theresa Heah, M.D., MBA, co-founder, vice-chair, and CEO of Eyexora, speaks with host Carey Powers at this year’s Ophthalmology Innovation Summit about her company’s fresh approach to building an ophthalmology company that centralizes R&D, clinical, regulatory, and commercial expertise into a “one-stop shop.” Heah delves into the advantages of the hub and spoke model and how it will help overcome the gaps in the eye care landscape, as well as their plans to expand to the UK. 

In this episode of the OIS podcast, learn about:  

· Eyexora’s mission as a unique hub and spoke company dedicated to accelerating clinical innovation 

·  The barriers in the ophthalmology field and how Eyexora’s approach will help overcome them 

·  The advantages of building relationships on a global scale 

·  Milestones and scientific areas to look out for in 2026 

RESOURCES:  

Carey Powers: https://ois.net/carey-powers/  

Theresa Heah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaheah  

Eyexora: https://eyexora.com/ 

In this edition of The Rob & Jai Show, Paul Smith, President & COO of Orasis Pharmaceuticals, joins Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh for a compelling conversation on his career path and the commercialization of Qlosi™—a novel, FDA-approved, low-dose pilocarpine eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia.

With more than two decades of experience across Alcon, Novartis, and now Orasis, Smith reflects on his unique career trajectory from tech startups to ophthalmic leadership, the importance of cross-functional experience, and how a shared vision with founder & CEO Elad Kedar led him to the helm of a company now reshaping the presbyopia landscape.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Qlosi™ was formulated at the lowest approved concentration of pilocarpine to prioritize safety, tolerability, and functional vision.
• How Orasis is differentiating its launch by learning from past category efforts and focusing on real-world expectations and patient needs.
• The company’s go-to-market strategy, including a hybrid access model and the role of optometry in driving adoption.
• Why Paul believes innovation in eye care thrives on collaboration, humility, and continuous learning.
• What makes presbyopia such a powerful entry point into the broader continuum of vision care.

With a clear mission, strong leadership, and a product designed with patients in mind, Orasis is setting a new standard in treating one of the most common unmet needs in eye care.

Don’t miss this thoughtful and inspiring discussion—subscribe to the OIS Podcast today to stay ahead of what’s next in ophthalmic innovation!

It started with a call. 

First, a call from Abbott led Christian Roesky to an industry role after completing his chemistry PhD in Germany. Next, came the call that would shape Roesky’s career—from Alcon, where he discovered eye care was his “everyday joy and passion.”

The most pivotal call, however, came from Novaliq founder Bernhard Günther, who convinced Roesky to take his emerging startup to the next level. 

As managing director and CEO, Roesky has led Novaliq through development of a novel pipeline. Most notably, NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane), a therapy designed to treat dry eye disease caused by Meibomian gland dysfunction, has delivered what OIS Podcast host Paul Karpecki, OD, calls the “most impressive dry eye Phase III data I’ve ever seen.”

In a single study, NOV03 met its two primary endpoints: total corneal fluorescein staining and visual analog scale dryness score at day 57. Its novel mode of action lies in EyeSol, a water-free solution that overcomes many of the limitations of existing therapies. The product protects evaporation for hours and has the ability to penetrate the Meibomian gland, possibly improving its function. 

Novaliq plans to submit data for Food and Drug Administration approval by July. Bausch + Lomb will manufacture and distribute the product in the US. 

Novaliq also plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in July for the  anti-inflammatory CyclASol.

Listen to the podcast today to hear more about: 

• The potential of a water-free therapy for dry eye disease.
• Why Novaliq decided to license NOV03 to Bausch + Lomb.
• How CyclASol, which contains cyclosporine, differs from existing products.
• What’s next for Novaliq after a hectic 2022.
• How Roesky broke the family tradition of academic chemistry.

Click “play” to listen.

Jill Hopkins, MD, didn’t plan to end up in a global leadership position at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. But she got there in 2021, when Novartis recruited her to serve as its SVP and global head of the ophthalmology development unit. 

Dr. Hopkins moved from academia to the clinic to industry, not by muscling her way in, but by exploring opportunities that sparked her interest and fueled her passion. At each steppingstone, she had a hand in some exciting developments. 

At Novartis, she leads drug development for its mid- to late-stage portfolio, including both anterior- and posterior-segment therapeutics. She brings a depth of experience to the role that includes science, medicine, and academia, with stints at large companies and small startups.

After 10 collective years at University or Toronto and University of Southern California, Dr. Hopkins moved to Retina Vitreous Associates. There, she worked alongside OIS Podcast host Firas Rahhal, MD, running the electroretinography lab and working on ciliary-derived neurotrophic factor clinical trials.

Opportunities to join Genentech, UNITY Biotechnology, and then Roche followed, with each experience building on the other. At the latter, she was involved in the development of both Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Susvimo, the port delivery system with ranibizumab, before Novartis came calling. 

Listen to the podcast today to hear Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Rahhal discuss:

• How Dr. Hopkins’ time in academia, the clinic, and industry allowed her to become a well-rounded professional.
• Her involvement in Susvimo from clinical trials through to commercial launch. 
• What will endure among the numerous therapies and delivery systems in development for the posterior segment.  
• How the industry can rise above the high bar set by current anti-VEGF therapies. 
• How artificial intelligence can and will help clinicians define and measure outcomes.
• The outlook for regenerative medicine for the posterior segment.

Click “play” to listen.

William “Bill” Freeman, MD, has been at the forefront of intraocular drug delivery for more than 30 years, and he’s done so while also treating patients and teaching the next generation of eye surgeons. 

From sunny University of California San Diego, where he serves as distinguished professor, vice chair of ophthalmology, and director of the Jacobs Retina Center, Dr. Freeman pioneered new techniques and technologies now common in the field. 

In the early 1990s, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, he developed a surgical technique to repair detached retinas, a common complication of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis he was seeing in so many HIV/AIDS patients. He also found that he could repeatedly inject drugs into the eye with little-to-no systemic side effects. 

Dr. Freeman’s research not only pioneered a new way to treat CMV retinitis; it also led to a method of ocular drug delivery that’s now the standard of care: intravitreal injections.

With the support of ongoing National Institutes of Health funding, Dr. Freeman continues to look at new ways to deliver drugs. Through Spinnaker Biosciences, which he cofounded with fellow UCSD professor, Michael Sailor, PhD, Dr. Freeman is exploring nanopores as the method of a customized, long-lasting treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration.

The other company he cofounded, Nanovision Biosciences, focuses in part on developing an implantable nanotechnology device for patients with degenerative retinal disorders.

With retina specialist (and mentee) Firas Rahhal, MD, Dr. Freeman discusses his career in academics, his relentless pursuit of innovations, and why San Diego is ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Listen to the podcast to hear Dr. Freeman and Dr. Rahhal discuss: 

• Dr. Freeman’s early career goals, including why he chose to specialize in uveitis and why academia is a good fit for him.
• What it takes to do well in academics. (Hint: Location matters.) 
• How his work with HIV/AIDS patients led to developments that are now the standard of care.  
• The state of Spinnaker Biosciences and the science behind nanoporous silicon, which is key to its long-lasting delivery system. 
• His thoughts on polymers used in ocular drug delivery. 
• The global medical, and scientific contributions that have emerged from Dr. Freeman’s retina fellows. 

Click “play” to listen.

New World Medical, maker of the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve, continues to innovate and maintain a steady pipeline without the cachet that comes with big-name partnerships.

CEO Bilal Khan spoke with OIS podcast host Rob Rothman, MD, about assuming the lead role at New World Medical from founder Dr. A. Mateen Ahmed—Bilal’s father-in-law.

While Dr. Ahmed and Bilal can “geek out” about glaucoma devices at the dinner table, it wasn’t that way 12 years ago. Bilal joined New World Medical in 2008 after working in finance and as an actuary. His lack of a medical background served him well, however, as it forced him to deflect responsibility rather than wear all the hats.

His core focus these days is to carry out the mission established by Dr. Ahmed: preserve and enhance vision by delivering innovation to benefit humanity through safe and effective medical devices. That mission involves five components:

• Empowering surgeons
• Expand access to care
• Treat employees well
• Donate 10% of profits to charity
• Support employees to go on mission trips

That five-ingredient recipe has led to three FDA approvals over the past three years. In addition to the popular Ahmed valve, the company’s product line includes the KDB Glide for excisional goniotomy, the Ahmed ClearPath drainage devices, and most recently, the Streamline Surgical System, a single-use device for goniotomies.

Listen to the podcast to hear Bilal and Rob talk about:

• The newly launched Streamline system

• How New World Medical has managed to stay private, and whether it will stay that way moving forward

• The company’s commercial strategy and why it’s focused on glaucoma surgical

• How Bilal balances market opportunity and mission—maintaining the company’s charitable focus while meeting the needs of shareholders

• Why there’s little competition in the glaucoma valve space

[Listen to the Podcast]

Multiple reports have shown that only about 11% of Phase I clinical trials make it through to regulatory approval. Business, says retina expert Pravin Dugel, MD, president of Iveric Bio, follows a similar trajectory. Success comes only after multiple failures. 

Dr. Dugel has enjoyed success as a retina surgeon, as a principal investigator, and as president of a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for retinal disease. He became a leader in his field partly due to his fearless risk-taking and his ability to learn from the times when those risks didn’t pan out. 

An immigrant refugee from Nepal who fled to Austria with his family, Dr. Dugel followed his brother to a boarding school in England, finished high school and college in New York, and moved to the opposite coast to complete medical school, a residency, and a fellowship in southern California.

Taking a calculated risk based on what seemed like a promising market, Dr. Dugel moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to build his clinical practice, Retina Consultants of Arizona. Though it took years of trial and error, he succeeded in founding one of the most innovative retina practices in the country. He has also served as principal investigator in more than 100 clinical trials, including known products such as NeoVista and Beovu.

With host Firas Rahhal, MD, Dr. Dugel talks about what he and other investigators learned from the NeoVista clinical trials that would inform future protocols. He also discusses the science behind Zimura (avacincaptad pegol), Iveric Bio’s therapy for geographic atrophy, a part of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

Zimura received a special protocol assessment (SPA) from the Food and Drug Administration, which may help expedite approvals. Trial results from Zimura’s GATHER2 studies are expected in the second half of 2022.

Listen to the Podcast to find out:

• The MOA behind Zimura  and why it may have an impact on intermediate macular degeneration and wet AMD. 
• How Dr. Dugel expanded his career from traditional academic practice to research physician to biopharma entrepreneur, and the one quality that helped him along the way.
• What went wrong with NeoVista and Beovu and what the industry can learn from these studies.

Click “play” to listen.

 NovaSight is tackling one of the biggest unmet needs in ophthalmology: pediatric amblyopia, otherwise known as “lazy eye.” It’s the leading cause of vision loss in children. And despite innovations in virtually every other eye condition, the most common amblyopia treatment has remained the eye patch.

NovaSight’s CureSight is a binocular treatment that lets kids do their favorite on-screen activities—movies, YouTube videos, homework—while the device’s eye-tracking technology and three-dimensional image processing algorithms go to work. NovaSight recently presented positive top-line data and expects to receive Food and Drug Administration clearance in Q3. 

NovaSight’s CEO, Ran Yam, spoke with OIS Podcast host Rob Rothman, MD, about NovaSight and how it’s meeting unmet needs in children. 

NovaSight emerged in 2016 after an engineer approached Ran with an idea for using a virtual reality headset to treat strabismus. They were introduced to Michael Belkin of Belkin Lasers, who encouraged the partners to focus on pediatric uses. They agreed. Ran then assumed the role of CEO, started fundraising, and guided the company through a successful Series A round. 

NovaSight now has one product on the market—EyeSwift, a diagnostic device—and another on the way. Both use optical image sensors, a pair of ActiveSight glasses, and a cloud-based monitoring system. The company is currently raising $15 million to $20 million to fund development of the second generation of EyeSwift and to research CureSight for myopia prevention. 

Listen to the podcast for an in-depth look at: 

• Pivotal study results for CureSight as an amblyopia treatment device.

• How physicians use CureSight and EyeSwift, including how they can monitor activity between visits.

• What’s different about EyeSwift 2.0.

• How CureSight addresses myopia prevention.

• How an engineer with an idea connected with Ran and Belkin to launch a successful start-up.

Click “play” to listen.

Patrick Tresserras Former CEO & founder, Avizorex Pharma (acquired by Aerie in 2019)

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Dr Robert Rothman is joined by Patrick Tresserras, former CEO & Co-founder of Avizorex Pharma which was sold to Aerie in 2019. Dr. Rothman hones in on Patrick’s unique ability to identify promising academic assets to address unmet medical needs. Patrick’s first start-up Avizorex was founded in 2013 based on a technology originated from research conducted by Professor Carlos Belmonte at the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, Spain. The science involved temperature-sensitive neurons in tear film regulation. Patrick convinced Professor Belmonte to partner with him and then went on to secure financing and assemble a team to transform Avizorex’s lead candidate AVX-012 (a selective TRPM8 agonist eye drop) from an early stage preclinical asset into a novel Dry Eye Disease product candidate.  Following positive phase 2 data, Patrick successfully structured an  acquisition deal with Aerie just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. We also learn about Patrick’s next venture, another ophthalmic startup “Innerva” that is developing INE-01, an ocular formulation of a PIEZO2 antagonist as the active ingredient for treatment of ocular surface pain. Innerva’s lead asset INE-01 being developed under IP license from University of Tennessee Research Foundation.

Listen in…

Long before pharmaceutical and medical device sales reps make their pitches to physicians, ophthalmic drug and device developers run their products through years of clinical trials. Most of the time, they turn to third-party vendors to get them across the finish line. One of the most important partners in that process are clinical research organizations (CROs), which manage all aspects of clinical trials from discovery through to regulatory approval and commercialization.

With offices in southern California and India, CBCC Global, a CRO with ophthalmology expertise, provides a range of services to help drug and device companies take their products to the next level. Under the leadership of CEO Manoj Vyas, CBCC has expanded its U.S. and India markets and plans to strengthen its presence in Europe. Already well-versed in Phase I – IV clinical trials, CBCC plans to further diversify to offer preclinical support.

CBCC also champions innovation through strategic relationships: it recently entered into a joint agreement with StepWise Medical, a health technology start-up accelerator that focuses on ophthalmology and optometry.

With host Ehsan Sadri, MD, Manoj and Sanjeev Ganatra, CBCC’s Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, discuss what’s next for CBCC and why they appreciate the close-knit ophthalmology community. They also discuss what they gained from having a few good mentors to guide them — not unlike how they now guide operations for their clients’ innovations today.

Listen to the podcast today to discover:

• What brought both Manoj and Sanjeev to CBCC and how mentorship helped move their careers forward.
• The road ahead for CBCC and its “sweet spot:” ophthalmology drugs and medical devices.
• The advantage of having U.S. offices near Orange County, CA, which boasts an impressive ophthalmology ecosystem.
• Steps to take early and often to stand apart in a competitive industry.

[Listen Now]

Richel Liu, left a secure post as CEO of a comprehensive IT group to start a VC with a focus on early-stage ophthalmology and optometry companies. She’s now one of a growing number of successful women entrepreneurs in China,  a country that’s home to two-thirds of the richest women in the world.

The move from IT CEO to eye care VC isn’t as dramatic of a detour as it sounds. To Liu, ophthalmology is a multidisciplinary therapeutic area—it involves not only medical device and clinical practice, but also advanced technology, the latter of which she knew well. She also saw the potential, as eye care applies to people of all ages, from the perfectly healthy to those with chronic conditions, she explains.

With host Rob Rothman, MD, a practicing ophthalmologist and managing partner of VC firm InFocus Capital Partners, Richel shares how she transitioned from the top of the corporate ladder to running her own business. She also discusses the goals of her VC, Rimonci Capital, and why she believes its work will help improve eye health for people everywhere.

Listen to the podcast today to find out:

• How she did it—From a student in engineering and economics, to enterprise CEO, to VC founder with an eye toward ophthalmic devices, Richel took risks that many individuals shy away from.
  
  
• The regulatory hurdles involved in getting a drug or device approved for use in China.
  
  
• The funds that comprise Rimonci Capital, including a business fund, an incubator fund, and a general fund for early-stage startups in ophthalmology and optometry.
  
  
• What “stifled” Richel about leading a large company in China.

[Listen Now]

As president and CEO of LENTECHS, a clinical-stage ophthalmic device company on the verge of commercializing a new contact lens, Robin Sears applies the core competencies he learned while moving through the ranks at Johnson & Johnson and Allergan.

As told to podcast host Paul Karpecki, OD, when Robin heard about the presbyopia lens developed by Melissa Bailey, OD, PhD, and Joe Barr, OD, he saw a tremendous opportunity to reshape the market. He started fundraising and turned a novel invention into a business.

Because of the demand for a presbyopia lens, that business may soon take off. LENTECHS research showed 74% of presbyopes who wear glasses want a contact lens solution. Why aren’t they using one now? Visual compromise. Current lenses don’t resolve near, mid, and far vision well enough for this growing population.

The LENTECHS lens, called APIOC™, is based on a new type of contact lens-wearing experience. The lens is suspended behind the upper eyelid, which allows the eye to move freely behind the stable contact lens. It’s like wearing progressives, but without the glasses. After successful clinical trials, the company is currently staging for commercial launch in late 2022.

Listen to this podcast to discover:

• The LENTECHS MOA: How APIOC works with the eye’s anatomy rather than on the eye’s anatomy.
• How Robin helped build Allergan’s then-new dry eye product, Restasis, into a billion-dollar drop. While there, he also led multiple teams to achieve billions in sales.
• The common traits needed to lead startup, continuing success, and turnaround opportunities.
• The full story on LENTECHS’s rise from concept to company.
• What Robin learned from his earliest mentors: his father, a dairy farmer; and an MBA professor who literally wrote the book on taking biotechnology research from the bench to industry.

In this edition of the OIS Podcast, a powerhouse panel of investment, banking, and biotech leaders offers unfiltered insights on the current and future state of the ophthalmic industry. Featuring Andrew Gitkin (Leerink Partners), Cameron Taylor (Bank of America), Susan Orr, PhD (Claris Bio), and Anupam Dalal, MD (Acuta Capital), and Dr. Pravin Dugel, Chairman and CEO of Ocular Therapeutix, this session explores how macroeconomic and political shifts—such as RFK Jr.'s FDA rhetoric and rising interest rates—are influencing capital markets, regulatory confidence, and biotech strategy.
 
With humor, candor, and deep expertise, the panel discusses:
 
🔹The real impact of market volatility and regulatory speculation on investment in early-stage biotech.
🔹Why high-quality innovation still commands attention, even in uncertain times.
🔹How strategic interest in ophthalmology is evolving, and why later-stage assets may be getting more attention.
🔹Why board functionality may be the most underappreciated variable in getting a deal done.
🔹Trends in wet AMD, GA, and the wide-open opportunities in dry AMD and geographic atrophy.

If you’re a startup navigating today’s market, an investor looking for the next big breakthrough, or a strategist planning your pipeline, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss.
 
Don’t miss this compelling conversation. Subscribe to the OIS Podcast today and stay connected to the future of ophthalmology.

One of the most influential women in ophthalmology today, Adrienne Graves, PhD has exceled in nearly every aspect of the industry, from research to industry to nonprofits.

While many know Dr. Graves from her executive experience—which includes eight years as CEO of Santen and board positions with over a dozen ophthalmology companies—she got her start as a scientist.

Her work in visual neuroscience got the attention of Alcon, where she was hired to set up the company’s first Retinal Electrophysiology Lab. “It was the best decision of my life,” she tells podcast host Rob Rothman, MD (even though she did have to move from Paris, France, to Fort Worth, Texas). With support from her manager, Dr. Graves moved on and up through R&D to eventually become Alcon’s Director of International Ophthalmology.

After closing her chapter with Santen, Dr. Graves went on to guide other companies and cofound Glaucoma 360, an annual gala and conference produced by Glaucoma Research Foundation. The hybrid 2022 event kicks off on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

Tune in to the conversation between Drs. Graves and Rothman to discover:

• What inspired Dr. Graves to choose visual science early in her career and how that initial spark keeps her going today.
• The details on the venture philanthropy fund started by Foundation for Fighting Blindness.
• More about the broad portfolio of professional opportunities that comprise Dr. Graves’s career.
• Why it’s exciting times for biopharma company Iveric Bio, where she serves as Chairman of the Board.

Retina specialists have limited imaging and surgical tools to visualize the back of the eye. While technology has improved, the need for incredible precision is paramount. [MOU1] PulseMedica’s 3D imaging and surgical platform has the potential to deliver extreme accuracy through advanced imaging technology, AI-based decision assistance, and femtosecond laser pulses. (For those who don’t study lasers, a femtosecond is one millionth of one billionth of a second.)

PulseMedica CEO Nir Katchinskiy, Ph.D., focused on these super-precise laser pulses during his doctoral studies. In the process, built a system that images the eye in 3D, in real time, and delivers laser treatment with incredible precision. For now, the company is focused on imaging to treat dry AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and floaters, among other possible applications.

With business partner Lahav Gil, an entrepreneur with a 30-plus year career in medtech, Katchinskiy discusses his innovation and the challenge of expanding his focus from solely research and design to device development, business, and leadership.

Listen to the conversation with Ehsan Sadri, MD to hear:

• What motivated Gil to join PulseMedica and the qualities that make Katchinskiy an ideal CEO.
  
  
• How Katchinskiy developed device that allows physicians to image the eye in 3D in real time and deliver finite laser pulses to treat eye disease.
  
  
• The scoop behind their newly appointed Chief Technology Officer, Geoffroy Rivet-Sabourin.
  
  
• The go-to-market pathway for PulseMedica: is it dry AMD? Floaters? Diabetic Retinopathy?

Daniel Chao, MD, PhD, spent a lot of years in the lab studying the nervous system of zebra fish and worms. No surprise, after earning his PhD in neuroscience, he wanted to move on.

Ophthalmology reeled him in. After a residency and a fellowship in the field, he moved into a multifaceted research career that includes academia, biotech, and industry.

As Senior Director of Translational and Experimental Medicine and Retina Clinical Lead for Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Chao designs and executes first-in-human and Phase II proof-of-concept studies for J&J’s assets. He’s also involved in developing biomarkers to help accelerate clinical trials and meeting with external partners.

He knows where they’re coming from. In 2019, he spun out technology he developed at UC San Diego into what is now Visgenx and became one of its scientific cofounders. Visgenx therapeutics are based on ELOVL2 gene expression, which is tied to aging in the retina and other tissues.

Companies like Visgenx, take note: Janssen Retina is interested in both internal development as well as acquisition or partnerships as a route to innovative treatments.

Listen to the conversation with Firas Rahal, MD to discover:

• The tech transfer and other pieces involved in taking Visgenx from scientific concept to funded startup.
• The mechanisms behind Visgenx’s lead product.
• His thoughts on retina gene therapy and the top three challenges to wider-spread adoption.
• How he transitioned from academic researcher to Johnson & Johnson.
• The “hustle” involved in an academic research career.

A new generation of drug delivery technology is emerging, with new refillable, absorbable, and dissolvable drug delivery systems making their way through clinical trials and into the market. Large pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and device startups alike are all developing innovative alternatives to intravitreal injection.

These systems are important for improving compliance and, as a result, patient outcomes. The ability to extend treatment duration also alleviates some of the patient and physician burden that comes with regular injections.

To explore the latest advances in the ocular drug delivery space and their impact on patients and clinics, OIS brought together an A team of medical, venture capital, and industry experts.

Listen to this podcast to hear our panel discuss: 

• Do longer-lasting therapies, injectables, and resorbables represent a new bar for existing technologies?
• What’s in development at Bausch + Lomb, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, and Allergan/Abbvie?
• How will these new delivery systems change the dynamics in the clinic?
• What should companies starting to commercialize keep in mind to ensure success?

• More about Brian’s journey from the bench to business, and from bioengineering to ophthalmology.
• A deep dive into Kiora’s three programs and how they meet unmet needs in eye care.
• The story behind the rebrand from EyeGate Pharma to Kiora Pharmaceuticals. What’s in a name?

A college detour away from medical school and into scientific research worked to the advantage of Lori-Ann Christie. Her career has evolved from academic researcher to pharmaceutical industry scientist and director to venture capital fund principal, with each role building on the one before.

Christie recently joined Visionary Venture Fund, a capital firm that focuses on ophthalmology devices and pharmaceuticals. She assumed her investment-based role after seven years at Allergan, now part of AbbVie. Through all Allergan’s internal developments, Christie stepped up, asked questions, and learned from her mistakes. When Allergan integrated into AbbVie, she moved into a director role and got to experience all that comes after her work in the lab.

With host Ehsan Sadri, MD, Christie talks about her career trajectory, what she’s learned along the way, and what’s on the horizon.

Listen to the podcast today to discover:

• The difference between academic and pharmaceutical industry research and why scientific rigor matters.
• Her experience as part of Allergan’s diligence team.
• Why the eye is a great vehicle for experiments.
• Her take on emerging scientific and technologic advances that have the most potential.

The annual tradition of the Ophthalmology Innovation Year in Review continues for 2021with data on, NEI funding, venture deals, public offerings, M&A transactions, FDA approvals and phase 3 data. This time OIS Co-founder, Craig Simak switches seats with three of our podcast hosts: Firas Rahhal, MD; Robert Rothman, MD and Ehsan Sadri, MD. The three wisemen who also happen to be MDs and VCs, reflect on some of the more notable events from the “OIS Year in Review” (link) presentation while providing commentary and insights on what the data means for industry, physicians, investors and even patients. Be sure to listen in to the last podcast for the year and download the full report.     

Even the most experienced physicians encounter patients with conditions they can’t solve after multiple questions, tests, and treatments. Diana Driscoll, OD, has not only treated some of these patients successfully, she’s been one of them.

On a trip to Costa Rica, Dr. Driscoll contracted a virus. Through 10 years of disability, she saw over 50 doctors, but still had no answer. Her son, who also contracted the virus, was bedridden for three years.

Ultimately Dr. Driscoll was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), an autonomic nervous system condition that causes symptoms ranging from lightheadedness to serious digestive issues to dilated pupils.

She started her research into POTS by looking in the eye. What she found was a disruption to neurotransmitters caused by an immune response. After investigating further, she developed several nutritional supplements, including the patented Parasym Plus, which not only resolve nervous system function, but also resolve dry eye in many cases.

Dr. Driscoll is now the founder and President of Genetic Disease Investigators and the Clinical Director of POTS Care, the only clinic in the world dedicated to treating the underlying medical causes of POTS. She’s also the founder of TJ Nutrition, Dr. Driscoll’s supplement company.

OIS podcast host Paul Karpecki, OD, a dry eye expert who has run advanced dry eye clinics for over 20 years, has encountered patients with unsolvable symptoms. He leads a conversation with Dr. Driscoll that covers her journey, solving the unsolvable, and bringing a product to market that has helped bedridden patients get up and walk. As an ophthalmic bonus her products safely support normal tear production.

Listen to the podcast today to hear:

• How Diana identifies patients that may be experiencing vagus nerve disruption and what doctors should know about Parasym Plus.
• An in-depth discussion on the connection between immunity, neurology and dry eye disease.
• Her advice for physicians and emerging entrepreneurs who want to bring a product to market.
• How she plans to get the word out about her businesses and the medical need behind them.

When you’re an entrepreneur building out a company, it’s not enough to hire people with expertise you don’t have. As Brent Jones, Chief Operating Officer of I-MED Pharma, says in this week’s podcast, you have to ask questions and listen to what your experts have to say.

I-MED Pharma, a Montreal, Quebec-based company that offers a complete portfolio of dry eye disease products, is the latest stop for Jones in a career that includes sales leadership roles at Grieshaber, Alcon Laboratories, Santen, ISTA Pharmaceuticals and Bausch + Lomb.

He’ll apply everything he’s learned over the past 30 years to help I-MED enter the U.S. market in early 2022. The company’s blended portfolio includes the entire dry eye continuum—diagnostics, drops (including BAK free), ointments, plugs, nutrition and an intense regulated pulsed light (IRPL) device used to treat dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction.

I-MED’s holistic product line allows for what Jones calls a consultative approach. He’s developing a sales force with deep product expertise, as well as implementation specialists, to provide information for physicians, training for their staff, and maintenance to I-MED devices when needed.

Join the conversation with podcast host Ehsan Sadri, MD, of Visionary Eye Institute to learn:

• How Jones pivoted throughout his career between start-ups and large corporations.
• How I-MED Pharma plans to tackle the fragmented, competitive U.S. dry eye market with a physician-centered approach.
• Full details on the I-MED product line.
• Jones’s advice for emerging eye care entrepreneurs.

OIS podcast host Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, caught up with OcuTerra Therapeutics CEO and CMO, Kerrie Brady and David Tanzer, MD, to discuss OcuTerra’s novel small molecule integrin inhibitor. Preclinical data impressed David enough to resign from his CMO role at Novartis to help develop OTT166, a topical agent that meets a clear unmet need for patients with moderately severe to severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR).

The standard of care for patients with DR is to simply watch and wait. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are an option when complications occur, but those introduce significant patient burden.

Phase I data for OTT166 looks good, and patients can administer the drops at home.

With $35 million in Series B financing secured, OcuTerra will move into Phase II clinical trials early next year, with the goal of dosing 200 patients for the study.

Listen to the podcast today to hear Kerrie and David take a deep dive into the MOA of the OTT166 compound and the objectives for the Phase II study. You’ll also discover:

• The science behind the fluorination technology that enables OTT166.
• The story of how both Kerrie and David transitioned from medicine to industry. Kerrie entered the pharma and biotech industries after completing a PharmD program. Today she’s an “unrepentant entrepreneur.” David practiced as an ophthalmologist for 20 years before moving into executive roles at Abbott Medical Optics, Novartis, and now OcuTerra.
• David’s advice for physicians with industry aspirations, and Kerrie’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this episode of The Rob & Jai Show, Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Re-Vana Therapeutics, joins Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh to explore the next-generation of sustained drug delivery in ophthalmology. With millions of intravitreal injections administered annually for retinal diseases like AMD, the need for longer-lasting, more effective treatments has never been greater.

O’Rourke explains how Re-Vana’s proprietary hydrogel-based technologies are setting a new standard for biodegradable, sustained-release drug implants—offering six to twelve months of therapeutic coverage without the need for surgery. The discussion covers:

🔹How Re-Vana’s EyeLief™ and OcuLief™ technologies work to deliver biologics efficiently over extended periods.
🔹Why reducing injection frequency is critical for patient compliance, physician workflow, and overall treatment success.
🔹 The company’s clinical and investment strategy, including a $70M Series B raise to advance its lead asset, a six-month biodegradable fluocinolone acetonide implant.
🔹 The role of strategic partnerships in accelerating innovation, as major pharma companies seek delivery solutions for their retinal therapeutics.
🔹 The global impact of sustained-release biologics, and how Re-Vana is positioning itself as a leader in both the U.S. and European markets.

With a team of seasoned industry experts, strong investor backing, and an unwavering commitment to innovation, Re-Vana Therapeutics is redefining how we approach retinal disease treatment.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation—subscribe to the OIS podcast today and stay ahead of the curve in ophthalmic innovation!

Even the most groundbreaking device won’t go far if doctors can’t easily implement that device into their practice.

MacuLogix co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Gregory Jackson, Ph.D., developed a novel instrument, AdaptDx, that could detect early-stage AMD by measuring dark adaptation speed. But it took a major design overhaul and the addition of an artificial intelligence-based testing agent named Theia for eye care doctors incorporate that device into their practices.

The current version, AdaptDx Pro, has performed over a million diagnostic tests to date. The company’s success stems from its customer-service focus and the commitment to deliver a product that’s “faster, better, smarter, cheaper,” says CEO Bill McPhee.

With host Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, McPhee chronicles the evolution of AdaptDx, which shrank from a 45-pound desktop instrument to a one-pound headset with a virtual assistant. They also discuss how he helped MacuLogix overcome its commercialization challenges and the lessons he learned along the way.

Listen to the podcast to discover:

• Dr. Jackson’s research, which led to the discovery of dark adaptation as a biomarker for AMD progression as well as the development of the AdaptDx prototype.
• How the physician shortage led to a subscription model and a multilingual Theia
• The marketing message that resonates with early adopters and early majority (they’re not the same).
• What led McPhee to become a six-time startup CEO.

Hit “Play” to Listen.

Adrienne Graves, PhD, former CEO of Santen, opened this panel discussion by reiterating a sentiment expressed by surgeons, innovators, and investors: we’re in the middle of a glaucoma renaissance. The release of new devices, instruments, and pharmaceuticals has led to improvements in surgical procedures and other treatment options that promise to improve the lives of glaucoma patients.

For this week’s discussion, originally recorded for the OIS Glaucoma Innovation Showcase, Dr. Graves corralled four ophthalmology leaders to discuss what’s new and what’s next in glaucoma innovation, how their companies stay resilient through the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and more.

A glimpse: Jay Katz, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Glaukos, shared the latest news on the iDose® TR sustained-release travoprost implant and the iStent Infinite, an investigational device designed to reduce IOP in open-angle glaucoma patients.

New World Medical, which focuses on glaucoma surgical devices, has three products launched and two in the pipeline. Santen,  developer of everything from drops to surgical solutions, is exploring new MOAs and preparing for Phase III clinical trials for PRESERFLO, a microshunt currently available in Europe and under FDA review. Allergan, part of AbbVie for a little over a year, has gotten DURYSTA, its biodegradable implant, into the hands of 2,000 physicians to date according to Ramin Valian.

Listen to the full episode to hear the panel address the following:

• What would you like your company to focus on for glaucoma?
• How has COVID-19 affected your product development, marketing, and physician interactions?
• How are your companies part of the glaucoma solution?

The podcast lineup includes:

Adrienne Graves, PhD, former CEO of Santen (moderator)

Jay Katz, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Glaukos

Bilal Khan, CEO of New World Medical

Omar Sadruddin, MD, Senior Medical Director of Santen

Ramin Valian, Vice President, Glaucoma, Surgical, Retina & Eye Care Portfolio-U.S., at Allergan, an AbbVie Company

Hit “Play” to Listen.

Many early-stage medical device start-ups seek acquisition to secure the financial and operational resources they need to obtain regulatory approval and secure market access.

Michael Gertner, MD, founder and CEO of Olympic Ophthalmics, took the more difficult path: he developed and began commercialization of iTEAR®100 himself.

His non-invasive neurostimulation device treats all types of dry eye disease, and he wanted to make certain it got into the hands of as many patients as possible — not ignored by a large acquiring eye care company.

To do so, Dr. Gertner assembled a small but mighty team of investors and in 2017 launched Olympic Ophthalmics. iTEAR 100 received FDA clearance under the De Novo path in May 2000. It’s based on technology similar to what’s been used successfully in cardiology, orthopedics, pain management and other therapeutic areas: electrical pulses stimulate the external nasal nerve, which prompts tear production.

Dr. Gertner and team are currently running a post-market study in patients with previously undiagnosed dry eye, using iTEAR 100 as a first-line treatment. The second generation of the device, which he says will be submitted to the FDA “shortly,” connects to a smartphone app, which allows for easier prescription management.

Listen to the podcast today to hear Dr. Gertner and host Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO, talk in depth about iTEAR 100, its path to clearance, and why he shifted his career from general surgeon to eye care innovator.

Ground they cover includes:

• The hurdles Olympic Ophthalmics faced when obtaining market access, including a 30-day prescription restriction and COVID-19-related supply chain issues.
• Dr. Gertner’s career trajectory, which took him from medicine to medical devices (he is the first inventor on over 200 patents).
• How Allergan’s TruTear device, which it discontinued in 2020, influenced his work.
• His advice for other entrepreneurs on funding and moving through the regulatory process.

Throughout his career, Ramin Valian, Vice President of International Glaucoma, Reimbursement Pipeline, for Allergan, has stayed by the side of his mentors.

Fresh out of college, where he earned degrees in Middle Eastern studies and Russian, he shifted his goals from working at the U.S. Department of State to joining his older sister at Roche. After learning the pharmaceutical industry ropes as a sales representative, he followed his supervisor, industry leader Joseph Schultz, to Johnson & Johnson and then Allergan.

Holding various leadership roles over the past 15-plus years, Ramin has helped launch every one of Allergan’s glaucoma products. With host Ehsan Sadri, MD, Ramin discusses his tenure at Allergan, the acquisition by AbbVie, and his ability to adapt to change.

When you listen to this podcast, you’ll also hear Ramin’s take on:

• The new frontier for presbyopia: the latest on AGN-190584, AbbVie/Allergan’s drop.
• The AbbVie/Allergan innovation pipeline, including a collaboration with REGENXBIO for gene therapy in the retina space.
• The four pieces of advice he gives to entrepreneurs and mentees.
• How he’s navigated a long career through mergers, buyouts, and other external pressures.

You’ve got a game-changing product. They want to back innovators like you. What’s the secret to a happy marriage? More importantly, how to you get a first date?

Recorded during OIS Retina@ASRS in San Antonio, Texas, five pharma and finance leaders discuss their current areas of interest, how to secure crucial series A funding, and what’s on the verge of disruption.

Tune in today to discover:

• What’s hot in retina: Dr. Guerard believes multiple compounds can co-exist in the market. A researcher with a great science-backed idea may only need five to ten percent of the market share to build a valuable company. Think niche markets like uveitis; a delivery model for anti-VEGF therapies that lowers patient burden, and gene therapies with clear targets and strong preclinical studies.
  
  
• Advice for early-stage companies: It takes more than great technology to secure funding. Entrepreneurs must have a well-planned roadmap and a solid team, Menzo says. What should that roadmap include? Tune in.
  
  
• Advice for later-stage companies: Dr. Guerard discusses the area where most startups fall short, while Dr. Rahhal advises on how to move to the next inflection point.

Other topics covered:

• How and when to go public? SPAC or reverse merger or IPO?
• Corporate partnerships: how do you use regional partnerships as funding vehicles and to successfully navigate complex regulatory and reimbursement environments?
• What’s the next disruptor in retina?

The podcast lineup includes:

• Emmett T. Cunningham Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, senior managing director at Blackstone Life Sciences (moderator)
• Fred Guerard, PharmD, CEO of Graybug Vision
• Tsuyoshi (Josh) Chiwata, director of venture management for Santen Ventures
• Andrew Liu, vice president of global corporate development for Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceutical Group
• Jason Menzo chief operating officer for Foundation Fighting Blindness
• Firas M. Rahhal, MD, a partner at ExSight Ventures, senior partner at Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group in Los Angeles, and associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine

Hit “Play” to Listen.

If you want to predict eye surgery’s future, ask someone who pioneered the techniques used today.

For this week’s podcast, Firas Rahhal, MD spoke with OIS Lifetime Innovator Award recipient Stanley Chang, MD, at the recent ASRS meeting about how the techniques he pioneered in the 1980s and 1990s have come full circle. 

Dr. Chang was the first to use perfluoropropane gas in the management of retinal detachments caused by scar tissue proliferation (PVR) on the retina. In the 1980s, he used SF6 and C3F8 gasses in vitreoretinal surgery. At the time, he wanted to find a longer-lasting gas. Today, drug developers want longer-lasting anti-VEGF therapies.

The next cycle of innovation may bring a new gene therapy, drug delivery device, or compound that provides even longer-lasting benefits. To brings those therapies to market, however, Dr. Chang emphasizes that physician-researchers need strong scientific and corporate teams.

Listen to this week’s podcast to hear Dr. Chang discuss:

• What drove the process for the use of perfluoropropane gasses and perfluorocarbon liquids used in retinal surgery.
• What he views as the future of eye treatment, and why he hopes patient benefit will prevail over dollar volume.
• The next step for tamponades used in retinal detachment surgery.
  
  

LinkedIn: Dr. Stanley Chang pioneered the use of gas injection for vitreoretinal surgery. Listen to our latest podcast to hear Dr. Chang’s thoughts on retinal surgery’s past, present, and future.

Twitter: Listen to the latest OIS podcast to hear industry pioneer Dr. Stanley Chang discuss retinal surgery’s past, present, and future. Listen Now:

How many patients have chronic dry eye symptoms that persist after you’ve tried every available therapy? They may have an imbalance between the peripheral visual tracking system and central fixation. 

Jeffrey Krall, OD, an optometrist in Mitchell, South Dakota, discovered the connection between this imbalance and the collection of symptoms associated with digital vision syndrome (DVS). He developed neurolens to test, diagnose, and treat those symptoms.  

A life-long tinkerer who comes from a long lineage of optometrists and ophthalmologists, Dr. Krall realized that many patients’ headaches, neck strain, and dry eye symptoms stemmed from an overworked trigeminal nerve. The constant effort exerted by the extraocular muscles to correct eye misalignment stimulates the nerve, leading to pain and strain. 

OIS Podcast host Paul Karpecki, OD, speaks with Dr. Krall about his experience designing a lens that could correct eye misalignment. Though new to ophthalmic innovation, support from a few eye care and neurology experts helped him move forward, despite skeptics. Early clinical data has removed much of their doubt: In one study 83% of neurolens wearers reported improvement in DVS symptoms. 

Listen to the podcast today to discover: 

• The organic evolution of Neurolens, including the support he received from eye care leaders such as Vance Thompson and neurologists Andy Corley (now neurolens chairman of the board). 
• The technology behind Neurolens that allows it to measure 10,000 data points to identify and resolve misalignment. 
• What Dr. Krall has found as a trigger for myopia and a possible solution. 
• The Krall family history, which takes place primarily in Mitchell, South Dakota, and involves four generations of optometrists/ophthalmologists and close family bonds.

Baruch (Barry) Kupperman, MD, PhD, works as a consultant, professor, and benchtop scientist, but finds the most meaning in the dozens of patients he treats each week.

With research interests in dry AMD and drug delivery, Dr. Kupperman held multiple roles in University of California Irvine’s Department of Ophthalmology before becoming the Roger F. Steinert Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology School of Medicine in 2017. Although he spends more time in leadership meetings these days, Dr. Kupperman still devotes time to the pursuit of science and medicine.

OIS host Firas Rahhal, MD catches up with Dr. Kupperman after a rare two days off to discuss his career path, the current and future state of drug delivery, and what keeps him awake at night. 

Dr. Kupperman also discusses his residency and first fellowship (he completed three), which involved treating AIDS patients with retinitis. Administering eye injections to patients weekly — even seeing patients at home when they were too sick to visit the clinic — motivated him to help establish a drug delivery unit at UC Irvine to research more convenient ways to deliver treatments.

Listen to the podcast today to discover:

• More about Dr. Kupperman’s background, his work with AIDS patients, and his purposeful detour into neuroscience.
• The evolution of drug development and delivery to date and his views on the current state of drug delivery into the retina. He also names the three most promising long-term developments in ophthalmic research.
• The breadth of innovation happening in Orange County and UC Irvine’s influence in furthering that innovation. The university’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute spun off several companies, including Glaukos, which developed the first Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) device, iStent, which is now FDA-cleared and commercially available. UC Irvine is also behind stem cell companies and many others.

You’ve got a great idea. Now what?

It takes years of trial and error to move an ophthalmology product from concept to commercialization. But when you believe your technology could “change the future of cataract surgery,” you’ve got the motivation you need to keep moving forward. 

After nearly a dozen prototypes, Lexington, Kentucky-based Gary Wortz, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Omega Ophthalmics, has a product that’s producing strong data in early research. 

The Gemini Refractive Capsule reduces variables in the predictive effect of intraocular intraocular lens implants. The technology fits inside the natural capsular bag once the surgeon removes the cortex. The lens capsule, Dr. Wortz says, is the safest place to implant a medical device because the area has no nerve endings or blood vessels. The technology helps reduce posterior capsular opacification and stunts fibrosis.

To date, Dr. Wortz says Omega Ophthalmics has about 100 devices implanted that are well tolerated. The company is currently evaluating next steps.

Tune in now to listen to the conversation between colleague and friend Paul Karpecki, MD, and Dr. Wortz. You’ll discover:

·         The implementation process for the Omega Gemini Refractive Capsule and the advantages of using “the most important real estate in the body.”

·         How Gary balances his medical practice, entrepreneurial endeavors, family life, and personal time. Hint: learn the art of “no.”

·         What he learned through nurturing a product to fruition: from the idea, through the “messy middle,” to commercialization.

·         How Omega Ophthalmics raised funds without venture capital.

Damon Burrows isn’t a scientist. And he didn’t start IACTA Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage drug development company, because he believed his discovery could change the world.

He founded IACTA because he was free. Free from his role as general counsel at Scilex Pharmaceuticals. And free to bring life-changing ophthalmic therapies to market.

When Scilex merged with Sorrento in 2019, he and a team of executives from Allergan, where he previously served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel, moved away from Big Pharma to focus on innovation. Early on, IACTA partnered with Ora Clinical, which gave it depth of reach in asset identification, while the powerhouse executive team he selected helped move those assets forward.

As IACTA emerges out of stealth mode with positive early data on its lead product, host Rob Rothman, MD, caught up with Damon to discuss his career evolution, the ocular drug market potential, and IACTA’s promising clinical programs.

The newest addition to the IACTA family, IC 800, an ocular pro-wound-healing analgesic, is already causing a stir in the eye care community. The drug system is based on DENKI®s (Dual Enkephalinase inhibitors), which aim to protect pain-inhibiting enkephalins from degradation. When enkephalins concentration increases, a physiological analgesic effect occurs.

IACTA’s dry eye franchise, IC 265, is moving forward via a partnership with Hong Kong-based Zhaoke Ophthalmology Pharmaceutical Ltd. The company starts enrolling for U.S. and multiregional clinical trials soon.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about:

• The details behind the IC 265 platform what makes it a tolerable anti-inflammatory.
• The mechanism of action behind IC 800, in development with Pharmaleads, and the formulation progress made to date.
• How Damon’s legal career led him to general counsel roles at Roche, Allergan, and Scilex.
• The sage advice Damon received from a colleague that prompted him to assemble a top-drawer leadership team.

In this episode of The Rob & Jai Show, Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh host a captivating conversation with Andrew Stewart and Anthony Wallace—two leaders who are among the most experienced and admired executives in ophthalmology. Andrew Stewart, with over 25 years of pharmaceutical leadership across Bausch + Lomb, AbbVie, and Allergan, shares how his global business acumen shapes innovation in eye care. Anthony Wallace, a 26-year healthcare veteran with leadership roles at Novartis, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline, reflects on leading Bausch + Lomb’s U.S. Surgical business and his passion for patient-centered solutions. Both leaders bring a wealth of knowledge, relatable stories, and a shared commitment to advancing ophthalmic care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
🔹How Andrew Stewart and Anthony Wallace’s extensive pharmaceutical backgrounds influence their leadership in ophthalmology.
🔹Key trends shaping the future of pharmaceutical and surgical innovations in eye care.
🔹Insights into fostering strong organizational cultures that prioritize patient outcomes.
🔹Strategies for navigating the complexities of global ophthalmology markets.
🔹Personal reflections on leadership, mentorship, and maintaining passion for patient impact.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation with two leaders whose expertise, warmth, and dedication continue to shape the future of ophthalmology. Subscribe to the OIS podcast today and stay ahead of the curve in eye care innovation!

France-based Théa Laboratories may be only 27 years old, but its legacy goes back 150 years. It reaches back to the 1870s, when ophthalmologist Paul Chibret became fascinated with trachoma. He would later help found the French Society of Ophthalmology. Five generations of Chibret doctors and entrepreneurs later, the Chibret family’s passion for eye care has led to the development of one of Europe’s leading eye-care companies. 

Now led by chairman Jean-Frédéric Chibret, MBA, the company remains independent, family owned, and 100% ophthalmology focused. While honoring those company values, Jean-Frédéric stays focused on growth. Revenue has increased from €150 million in 2008 to €600 million in 2020. The majority of that—75%—has taken place outside France. 

Théa’s next goal: commercialization in the United States.

Listen to Jean-Frédéric’s “fireside chat” with Emmetrope founder Joseph Sullivan to discover:

● Théa’s objectives for the next few years in both existing and new markets.

● The progress Théa Open Innovation has made implementing licensing agreements and capital investments with early stage partners. The subsidiary has already signed agreements that help advance treatments for myopia, wet and dry age-related macular degeneration and macular edema.

●  How Théa became a leader in Europe and how it plans to continue to use its business formula to tap into the U.S. market.

With its high concentration of talented engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, it’s no surprise innovation is thriving in Israel. Home to a growing number of biotech and engineering firms, Israel has established a thriving ecosystem for ophthalmology startups.

This week’s podcast shines a spotlight on that ecosystem, as host Suzana Nahum Zilberberg, Vice Chair of Bio-Light Life Sciences and co-founder of healthcare advisory firm iL.factor, settles in for a series of six-minute chats with six Israel-based innovators.

Tune in to hear emerging technology founders, industry leaders, and savvy investors discuss emerging trends, product advancements, and business developments in eye care.

The lineup includes:

Zack Dvey-Aharon, PhD, cofounder and CEO of AEYE Health, and Kester Nahen, CEO of Notal Vision. The two early startup founders discuss how disruptive technology can help clinic-based eyecare overcome its limitations. They also give sage advice for other entrepreneurs.

Anat Loewenstein, MD, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center; Professor of Ophthalmology, Incumbent of the Sydney A. Fox Chair in Ophthalmology, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University in Israel, and Ron Schneider, CEO and cofounder of Beyeonics Surgical. The key opinion leaders discuss the advantages of translating defense technologies to medicine, and the key to a successful transition.

Nahum Ferera, CEO and cofounder of EyeYon Medical, and Michal Geva, Managing Partner and cofounder of Triventures. Geva, the first woman to found and manage a VC in Israel, discusses the opportunities and challenges in Israel’s ecosystem. Ferera recently completed a successful first round and discusses how he made it happen—with the help of a global team.

Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (DORC) is a world-leading retinal surgical instrument developer. Even so, CEO Pierre Billardon recognizes the company has a fair percentage of United States market share to obtain.

To take the private equity-backed company through its next growth phase — the goal is to double its equity in three to five years — Pierre listened to DORC’s surgeon customers, strengthened its team, and improved DORC’s internal and external communication.

While innovation remains a key driver for DORC, Pierre remains focused on developing practical solutions. One key example: DORC’s disposable flat vitrectomy lens, a favorite device of host Firas Rahal, MD. 

In this episode, Dr. Rahal speaks with Pierre about the technology behind TissueBlue, the only FDA-approved selective stain for the ILM, and why it’s superior to using ICG off label for ILM staining.

You’ll also discover: 

·         How Pierre’s success at HumanOptics, manufacturer of the CustomFlex artificial iris, has informed his position at DORC. CustomFlex is the first ophthalmic device to receive FDA Breakthrough Device designation.

·         The engineering behind the EVA Phaco-Vitrectomy system and how it brings LED “light to the eye.”

·         How Pierre plans to obtain and maintain market share in a competitive landscape and his vision for the future.

·         Why he considers his current leadership role the “job of his dreams.”

Listen Now !

Donald Korb’s myopia hasn’t affected his renowned ability to observe and to see what’s next.  

The renowned researcher, inventor and thought leader in both optometry and ophthalmology is known for discovering and naming Meibomian Gland Dysfunction(MGD), now recognized worldwide as the primary cause of dry eye, and giant papillary conjunctivitis(GPC), a complication from contact lens wear. 

Those discoveries—not to mention all the other ocular-related conditions he named—changed the face of ophthalmology and optometry. But the most personally satisfying accomplishment was his first breakthrough: creating the first membrane hydrophilic contact lens. 

From there, he said to host Paul Karpecki, OD, his life took off like the lead character in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: whatever he imagined came to reality. 

Listen to this week’s podcast for Dr. Karpecki’s in-depth conversation with Dr. Korb. In it, they discuss: 

• How a visit with Polaroid led him to ocular photography and contact lens development. 
• The animal that inspired the first soft contact lens. 
• What it takes (and what it doesn’t take) to be a great inventor. 
• Why treatment by design is the way forward for eye care.  

Eric Schlumpf, president and CEO of Stuart Therapeutics, took a winding path to launch his South Florida-based eye care company. 

Along the way, he met academic researchers studying a family of collagen mimetic peptides that appeared to have a powerful reparative effect on many human conditions, including several in ophthalmology. Eric and his leadership team have moved in one focused direction ever since. 

In April 2021—about a month after receiving an $11 million Series A round of capital investment—Stuart Therapeutics got the green light from the FDA to begin Phase II clinical trials for ST-100, a topical drop designed to treat dry eye disease. The company is also researching indications for glaucoma and dry AMD.

The product’s key API: that collagen peptide family Eric discovered, now patented as PolyCol™. In corneal wound models in mice, researchers found PolyCol™ produced complete healing to corneal tissues in 24 hours or less. 

The MOA is applicable across a wide range of ocular surface indications, from dry eye disease to corneal erosions and recurrent erosions.

In this episode, host Rob Rothman, MD, speaks with Eric from his steamy home base to discuss the Stuart Therapeutics pipeline and the circuitous path that led him there—from electrical engineering to C-Suite roles in the waste management and telecommunications to growing early-stage start-ups.

Listen to this episode to take a deep dive into PolyCol’s unique MOA and find out how a PolyCol-based product differs from other dry eye therapeutics. You’ll also discover: 

• How Eric found the PolyCol™ family of collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs), how Stuart Therapeutics obtained patent protection, and how the company expanded its IP portfolio.
• How the FDA has responded to preclinical and clinical trial data so far.
• More about Eric’s unique journey to leading an ophthalmic drug development company and the common thread in his diverse resume. 

The secret to the successful working relationship between Eric and his cofounder, Chief Medical Officer Robert Baratta, MD, and how they collaborate in an intense, competitive environment.

Visus Therapeutics has more than doubled its team in the past two years, including the appointment of six senior leaders in June. CEO Ben Bergo grew that team as the company’s lead product, brimochol, a prescription eye drop designed to correct near vision loss caused by presbyopia, approached data readouts in Phase II clinical trials. 

As Visus prepares to move into Phase III studies later this year, OIS Podcast host Ehsan Sadri, MD, caught up with Ben to talk business and brimochol.

Of the former, Ben shared how his career has progressed from spinning out technologies for Harvard, to leading M&A transactions for Planet Innovation, to founding a company dedicated to eye health.

Of the latter, Ben details brimochol’s strong performance at eight and 12 hours. The product uses a combination of two APIs: 2.75% carbachol and .1% brimonidine tartrate, with 100 ppm BAK. Visus also has a preservative-free formulation in development that does not include BAK.

Listen to the podcast today to discover: 

• How brimochol’s API combo achieves such durable response.
• The market potential for presbyopia treatment and how telemedicine can help grow that market.
• Other products planned for the Visus pipeline, including wound healing leads in preclinical studies.
• More about Ben’s career trajectory, which took him from sunny Melbourne, Australia, to less-sunny Seattle, Washington. He also gives advice for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders.

If it hasn’t happened yet, just wait: the day will come when you have to use a larger font on the computer or hold the phone farther away to read a message. That frustrating condition, presbyopia, is a $3-5 billion market with limited non-surgical treatment options. LENZ Therapeutics is one company on a path to change that.

In this podcast, president and CEO Eef Schimmelpennink speaks with host Ehsan Sadri, MD, about the progress of the company’s lead program, aceclidine. The drop is designed to restore loss of near vision without triggering ciliary muscles, and it produced promising Phase II data.

As the company moves toward Phase III clinical trials, fresh off emerging from stealth mode with a $47 million Series A financing from Versant Ventures and RA Capital Management, Schimmelpennink reveals his larger picture for LENZ — without reaching for the reading glasses. 

Listen to the podcast to discover: 

• Schimmelpennink’s views on the influence on compounding pharmacies for presbyopia treatments.
• The impact of Allergan’s miotics on this space.
• The potential benefits of these treatments for optometrists and ophthalmologists.
• What attracted Schimmelpennink to Presbyopia Therapies (now LENZ Therapeutics).
• What’s next for LENZ in the presbyopia market and beyond.

Jeannette Bankes, President and General Manager for the Global Surgical Franchise at Alcon, learned early in her career that she had an interest not only in the complexity of vaccine and pharmaceutical development, but also in the business that drove that development. Her combination of scientific passion and business expertise led Jeannette to become one of the first women with a scientist-technical background to hold a GM role at Boston Scientific, and to lead what is now a $5 billion-per-year surgical franchise within the world’s largest eyecare device company.

Take a listen as Jeannette discusses with host Rob Rothman, MD, why she transitioned from the pharmaceutical industry to the medical device industry and how she developed the business acumen to succeed as a GM. She also shares what’s on the horizon for Alcon and why the company values their strategic partners.

Pres Play and you will also learn:

• What a company like Alcon looks for in early- and late-stage innovation partners.
• How Alcon maintains its dominance despite fierce competition.
• How Alcon plans to utilize digital health and data science to improve phacoemulsification (phaco).

The unsolved ophthalmic problems that Alcon plans to focus on over the next 10 years.

Legendary retinal surgeon and innovator Steve Charles, MD, has a long list of accomplishments. He’s performed more than 40,000 vitreoretinal surgeries, lectured in more than 50 countries, and operated in 25 of those countries. He’s also authored 150-plus medical articles and the go-to text, Vitreous Microsurgery, which is coming out in its sixth edition (with a complete rewrite of every chapter). Dr. Charles speaks five languages, has degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering, and was a fellow at the National Institutes of Health. He also has, at last count, 106 issued or pending patents. 

Dr. Charles has been in practice for 46 years and has no plans for retirement. He continues to perform more than 700 vitrectomies during his 52-week work year. He hasn’t been on vacation in 25 years, spends his nights, weekends, and holidays studying engineering or stem cell biology, doesn’t have a house, a wife, or pets, but instead he has jobs and that’s the way he prefers it. 

Click “play” and listen in on a fascinating discussion about:

• How Dr. Charles’ background in engineering became the foundation for solving problems by building better medical and surgical devices. 

• How his relationship with industry began and why he chose to formalize an exclusive consulting agreement with Alcon over the past 30 years. 

• The many techniques and technologies that he has developed that have been adopted by thousands of surgeons around the world. 

• Where he thinks there’s room to improve in techniques and technology today.

Paul Ryb was a very successful investment banker when he suddenly lost his central vision at age 37, due to dry AMD. 

In this unique episode of the OIS Podcast, Ryb tells our host Rob Rothman, MD, that the sudden change presented a big problem for him because of his fast-paced life. He said, “I had a lot of risk profile responsibilities, and it was life changing for me in not just my professional career but also my private investment career.”

Upon being seen by a top eyecare professional at Moorfields Hospital, he was told nothing could be done for the condition, which he found surprising and distressing.

However, Ryb then made contact with a charitable organization, Blind in Business, which he says began the next chapter of his life. “They had solutions for what I basically term affectionately as the ability to live and succeed with sight loss,” Ryb said. “And that kind of positive energy is exactly what I needed to hear at that moment.”

That positivity led him back into sports, where he had succeeded to the point of becoming world champion of Visually Impaired Tennis. But more importantly he learned how to conquer challenges in his career using technologies for the visually impaired.

And now, Ryb has chosen to use his investment banking skills to help fund and develop ophthalmic innovations.

Click play to hear Paul Ryb talk about waking up with vision loss, his path to overcoming the challenges, and how he plans to use his experience with adversity to improve future technologies in this area.

In this OIS Podcast episode, host Dr. Robert Rothman sits down with Daphne Haim-Langford, PhD, Founder & CEO of Tarsier Pharma, and Ashley Kline, Chief Commercial Officer, to discuss their groundbreaking approach to uveitis treatment.

Tarsier’s lead candidate, TRS01, is a first-in-class bio-inspired therapy designed to control inflammation without raising intraocular pressure, a major complication of steroid treatments. With a unique mechanism of action that modulates macrophages and reduces inflammation, this novel drug has the potential to redefine uveitis and glaucoma care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🔹 How Tarsier’s bio-inspired molecule is changing the game in ophthalmology.

🔹 Why steroids, despite being the standard of care, can be problematic for uveitis patients.

🔹 The challenges of scaling manufacturing and securing regulatory approval for novel ophthalmic treatments.

🔹 Insights from Ashley Kline on the commercial strategy for launching Tarsier’s therapy.

🔹 How Dr. Rothman sees this innovation reshaping ophthalmology and glaucoma treatment.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Tarsier Pharma is working to bring a safer, more effective treatment to market! Subscribe to the OIS Podcast today!

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Gleeson tells our host Paul Karpecki, OD that early on he wanted to be an architect. Although he didn’t continue in that direction, Mark describes parallels between being an architect and developing pharmaceuticals. 

“Pharmaceutical and drug development are very similar to architecture in that you have to think long term, you have to understand what the customer needs are, what the environment is going to be like both from a regulatory as well as a payer perspective. Then you put the plans in place and go through the process to make sure everyone does their job, and ultimately have a sign off and approval.”

Gleeson also talks about making big career moves and gives insight into drug development challenges and opportunities. 

Dr. Karpecki asks about AZR-MD-001, Azura’s lead product candidate, for use in meibomian gland dysfunction. Gleeson explains that the company is looking at MGD from a unique perspective, as a condition that should be treated like a skin disease. AZR-MD-001is a keratolytic, which he says is a very interesting class of compounds that has been utilized in dermatology for a long time.

Click play to hear Mark Gleeson talk about drug development and his company’s unique approach to treating MGD!

Thomas Ruggia, President & CEO of Samsara Vision, has used his experiences as a a lifelong athlete to create a path to success. Part of that experience comes from playing football in college and now as an Ironman triathlete. 

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Ruggia tells our host Ehsan Sadri, MD, that having “vision for what great looks like” and a “relentless work ethic” are top priority of a good entrepreneur, which he got from his football days. 

Family was another major influence in Ruggia’s life. “As the brother of a special needs person you learn to have a deep degree of compassion but also a sense of purpose”.

Ruggia also talks about his excitement at the prospect of rolling out the next generation of Samsara Vision’s implantable miniature telescope, the SING IMT. 

Click play to hear Tom Ruggia’s fascinating story about growing up a self-proclaimed “Jersey guy” and how sports led to a career in eye care!

Euan Thomson, CEO of Zeiss Meditec, Inc., is passionate about using large-scale collaborations and large-scale sharing of data, with machine learning, to extract insights he says “will really move the needle on healthcare.”

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Thomson and our host Ranya Habash, MD, discuss how the Covid pandemic accelerated the use of telemedicine and remote collaboration, and the trends that may continue going forward. 

Thomson says artificial intelligence is very logical for use in ophthalmology, due to the number of images used, but also because there is “less of a barrier to entry” for AI here than in some other fields. He also says telehealth will have a role with remote testing and monitoring. 

Thomson said Zeiss sees digital technologies as the future, both from a device and platform standpoint, and said, “When I think about digital it really is the ability to connect from anywhere, operate in a different way, streamline your workflow, and then ultimately when you do have data at scale and you can figure out new insights from that data, we start to improve patient care in some really big ways.”

Click play to hear Euan Thomson talk about how digital technologies and large-scale sharing of data will bring big changes to healthcare.