Opthea Welcomes Dr. Arshad M. Khanani as Chief Medical Advisor
Opthea Limited announced Dr. Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as its new Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Khanani, renowned in retina specialization and clinical research, brings a wealth of expertise from his tenure at Sierra Eye Associates and his academic role at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
Frederic Guerard, CEO of Opthea, expressed his excitement about Dr. Khanani's appointment. "We are delighted to have Dr. Khanani join Opthea as Chief Medical Advisor," said Guerard. He commended Dr. Khanani's extensive experience in leading clinical trials for retinal diseases and his anticipated contribution to Opthea's innovative drug, sozinibercept, aimed at treating wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
"I am honored to assume the role of Opthea’s Chief Medical Advisor, dedicated to advancing the development of sozinibercept, the pioneering treatment undergoing late-stage clinical trials aimed at enhancing vision outcomes for patients afflicted by wet AMD," Dr. Khanani stated. He emphasized the significance of the COAST and ShORe studies for sozinibercept, expressing optimism for the impactful results expected by mid-calendar 2025.
A Career Dedicated to Advancing Retinal Research
Dr. Khanani's distinguished career is marked by his leadership in over 120 clinical trials, significantly advancing retinal disease treatments. His role in the Phase 3 GATHER2 steering committee for IZERVAY™ was critical for its approval in treating geographic atrophy.
A prolific contributor to the scientific community, Dr. Khanani has over 100 scientific publications and actively participates in national and international clinical trial steering committees. He is also known for initiating the Clinical Trials at the Summit (CTS) meeting, aiming to enhance clinical trial methodologies.
Among his accolades, Dr. Khanani received the Nevada Business Magazine Healthcare Heroes Physician of the Year award in 2019 and the prestigious ASRS Presidents’ Young Investigator Award in 2021. Recently, he was invited to deliver the esteemed Ernst Bodenheimer Memorial Lecture at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in 2023.
Opthea's Path Forward with Dr. Khanani
Opthea's collaboration with Dr. Khanani is poised to accelerate the development of sozinibercept, promising a groundbreaking approach in the treatment of wet AMD. This partnership underscores Opthea's commitment to enhancing patient outcomes worldwide through innovative therapeutic solutions.
