Opthea Launches Medical Advisory Board with Global Retina Experts
Opthea announced the formation of its Medical Advisory Board (MAB), comprised of ten distinguished thought leaders in the field of retina from across the globe.
The board includes experts from the United States, Argentina, Australia, China, France, Germany, and Israel, aiming to provide strategic guidance to Opthea on addressing unmet medical needs in retinal diseases and informing the company’s development efforts, particularly focusing on the sozinibercept clinical program in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Chaired by Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, Chief Medical Advisor of Opthea, the MAB will play a crucial role in shaping Opthea's strategic direction and advancing its pipeline. Frederic Guerard, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer of Opthea, expressed gratitude for the support of these renowned experts, highlighting their potential to contribute significant scientific insights and clinical perspectives to enhance Opthea's therapeutic innovations.
"Our vision is to help people with retinal diseases achieve better vision through bold therapeutic innovations," stated Guerard in a company press release. "The formation of Opthea’s new Medical Advisory Board underscores our commitment to transforming the landscape of global retinal care."
The formation of the MAB coincides with Opthea's preparations for the phase 3 topline data read-out from its pivotal trials of sozinibercept in wet AMD. These trials, named COAST and ShORE, are expected to deliver results in early Q2 and mid-calendar year 2025, respectively. Opthea continues to advance its efforts towards Biologics License Application (BLA) submissions and market preparations.
Members of Opthea’s Medical Advisory Board:
● David S. Boyer, MD - Senior Partner at Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Los Angeles, California.
● Andrew Chang, AM, MBBS (Hons), PhD FRANZCO, FRACS - Head of Ophthalmology at Sydney Eye Hospital, Australia.
● Frank G. Holz, MD, FEBO, FARVO - Chairman of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn, Germany.
● Anat Loewenstein, MD, MHA - Director of Ophthalmology at Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel.
● Dante Pieramici, MD - Managing Partner at California Retina Consultants, USA.
● Carl Regillo, MD - Director of the Retina Service Unit at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, USA.
● Patricio G. Schlottmann, MD - Ophthalmology Director at Medical University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
● Tien Y Wong, MD, PhD - Chair Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
● Eric Souied, MD, PhD - Head of Ophthalmology Department at Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil, France.
Each member brings extensive experience in clinical practice and research, focusing on various aspects of retinal diseases, including AMD and diabetic retinopathy, among others. Their collective expertise is expected to guide Opthea in its mission to advance novel therapies and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
