(PRESS RELEASE) SEATTLE, BOSTON AND TOKYO — Aurion Biotech, whose mission is to cure blindness by developing a differentiated platform of advanced therapies to treat ocular diseases, today announced the company’s medical advisory board, composed of the world’s most eminent ophthalmologists. The board will collaborate with the company’s executive team in clinical development, and is chaired by Edward Holland, M.D., who was recently appointed as Aurion Biotech’s chief medical advisor.
“The doctors on this board are among the best in our field,” said Dr. Holland. “Their expertise, commitment to, and enthusiasm for Aurion Biotech’s cell therapy speak volumes about the transformational potential of this treatment to cure blindness resulting from corneal endothelial disease. I welcome their contributions. It’s a privilege to work closely with each of them.” The company’s first candidate in development is a cell therapy for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction, invented by leading ophthalmic surgeon and research scientist Professor Shigeru Kinoshita and his distinguished colleagues at Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine (KPUM) in Japan.
“I’ve had the good fortune to catalyze innovations in ophthalmology for many years, and I’m confident that Aurion Biotech has all the key ingredients for success,” said Richard Lindstrom, M.D., Aurion Biotech board member and medical advisor, and founder and attending surgeon of Minnesota Eye Consultants. “I’m delighted to welcome this team of outstanding corneal surgeons to Aurion Biotech. Their brilliance, energy, and relentless focus on delivering exceptional patient care will be essential as we prepare to move into trials in the U.S. and beyond.”
In addition to Dr. Holland and Dr. Lindstrom, the following physicians have been named to Aurion Biotech’s medical advisory board:
- John Berdahl, M.D. – Vance Thompson Vision – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Eric Donnenfeld, M.D. – Ophthalmic Consultants of LI & CT – Fairfield, Connecticut
- Marjan Farid, M.D. – Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, UC Irvine Health – Orange County, California
- Nicole Fram, M.D. – Stein Eye Institute, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine – Los Angeles, California
- Matthew Giegengack, M.D. – Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Greensboro, North Carolina
- Jose Güell, M.D. – Instituto de Microcirurgía Ocular – Barcelona, Spain
- Terry Kim, M.D. – Duke University Eye Center – Durham, North Carolina
- Shigeru Kinoshita, M.D. and professor, Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine – Kyoto, Japan
- Elizabeth Yeu, M.D. – Virginia Eye Consultants – Norfolk, Virginia
“We are extremely fortunate, not only because our medical advisors are some of the most talented corneal specialists in ophthalmology, but they are also deeply involved in the work we are doing,” said Greg Kunst, chief executive officer of Aurion Biotech. “Their insights and experience will make us a better company, and ultimately ensure that we deliver a better treatment to patients.”
Aurion Biotech is currently preparing for an IND submission for clinical trials in the United States.