UNION CITY, Calif., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- MacuSight(TM), Inc., a developer of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of severe ocular diseases and conditions, today announced the appointment of Joel Naor, M.D., M.Sc., MBA, as the company’s chief medical officer. With broad expertise in the clinical development of therapeutics for ocular diseases and conditions, Dr. Naor will play a key role in MacuSight’s ongoing advancement of its sirolimus program, as well as the company’s overall scientific direction. MacuSight is currently developing its proprietary sirolimus product for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), as well as various additional ocular diseases and conditions.
Formerly, as a senior medical director at Allergan, Inc., Dr. Naor was a key contributor to the medical and scientific direction of the company’s two lead retina programs. In his role as the global project team leader for Allergan’s POSURDEX(R) program, Dr. Naor oversaw a multifunctional team with responsibilities that spanned clinical development, regulatory, CMC and marketing. Most recently, he served on Allergan’s global medical affairs group as a medical director, retina. Prior to his work with Allergen, Dr. Naor was a director of clinical research at QLT, Inc. where he served as a clinical lead on the global project team for Visudyne(R) (verteporfin for injection).
“Through his work at both Allergan and QLT, Joel has gained valuable experience and strategic insight related to the successful advancement of novel ocular therapeutics through clinical trials,” stated David A. Weber, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of MacuSight. “It is this expertise that makes him an ideal fit for MacuSight as we work to aggressively and successfully advance our sirolimus program through clinical development and toward the market. We are excited to have Joel as part of the team and look forward to the key contributions he will make to MacuSight and our clinical programs.”
Dr. Naor earned his M.D. from the Technion -- Israel Institute of Technology and underwent cornea and external disease training at the University of Toronto where he also obtained his M.Sc. in epidemiology. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
“I am thrilled to be joining a management team that has an impressive track record in identifying and advancing novel therapeutics in the area of ophthalmology and which is supported by a scientific advisory board of world-renowned experts,” said Dr. Naor. “Clearly, we all believe in the great promise that sirolimus holds in treating various ocular diseases and conditions and I am confident in the ability of MacuSight to realize this potential and deliver a much needed therapeutic option to patients.”
About MacuSight
MacuSight is a privately-held pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for the treatment of severe ocular diseases and conditions. The company is dedicated to preserving patients’ vision by identifying known, highly-potent and broad-acting small molecule drug compounds that may possess efficacy in treating and/or preventing diseases or conditions of the eye. As part of its unique product development philosophy, MacuSight also concentrates on the optimal delivery of these compounds into the eye. By combining its compounds with innovative delivery approaches, the company strives to optimize the efficacy, safety, convenience and cost-effectiveness of its product candidates.
The company’s lead development program is centered on advancing sirolimus (rapamycin) as a potential next-generation therapeutic for the treatment and prevention of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), a manifestation of diabetic retinopathy.
CONTACT: investors, Stephanie Diaz, +1-415-675-7400,
sdiaz@vidacommunication.com, or media, Tim Brons, +1-415-675-7402,
tbrons@vidacommunication.com, both of Vida Communication for MacuSight
Web site: http://www.macusight.com/
