(PRESS RELEASE) SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, FRANCE — Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, announced the appointment of Doug Hubatsch to lead all of the Company’s non-clinical and clinical development activities. As Chief Scientific Officer, Doug Hubatsch will be responsible for setting the research and development strategy of the Group and will be a member of the Nicox Executive Committee, reporting to Michele Garufi, Chief Executive Officer. He will be based in Nicox’s US subsidiary Nicox Ophthalmics Inc., in Durham, North Carolina.
“Doug will be responsible for implementing the future development strategy for all of our pipeline assets. He brings Nicox extensive experience in life sciences, focused on ophthalmology for the last 14 years, covering mid-late stage development, pre-marketing and commercial assets, specializing recently in glaucoma and ocular surface disease. He has successfully worked with the US FDA on a number of therapeutic products and his late-stage development and medical affairs expertise will be essential as Nicox prepares for the approval and potential launch of NCX 470. Overall, Doug’s broad scientific experience and multi-disciplinary background are an excellent fit for Nicox.” said Michele Garufi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nicox.
Doug Hubatsch joins Nicox from Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he was Global Medical Head for Ocular Surface Disease and Digital Medicines within Global Medical Affairs. He has more than 25 years’ experience in Discovery Research, Development and Medical Affairs in Novartis, Alcon, Roche and AstraZeneca and has been involved with the launch of more than 10 products through his career including Simbrinza (Alcon) for glaucoma and Xiidra (Novartis) for dry eye disease.
“The Nicox pipeline has great potential in two key areas that I have focused on recently – glaucoma and ocular surface disease, which includes blepharitis and dry eye. I look forward to using my experience to benefit the development of Nicox’s pipeline, in strong collaboration with the existing experienced and international R&D team of the company. ” said Doug Hubatsch.