Outlook Therapeutics (NASDAQ:OTLK) Inc, a pre-commercial biopharmaceutical company working to develop the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in retinal indications, said it has appointed Julia A Haller, MD, to the company's board of directors.
"As one of the world's most accomplished professionals in ophthalmic education, research, and clinical ophthalmic practice, she will add tremendous value and insight to Outlook Therapeutics," Randy Thurman, executive chair of Outlook said in a statement.
Haller is ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Hospital and professor and chair of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.
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The company said Haller is a "trailblazing" retina surgeon-scientist and leader who has innovated translational advances against blindness that arises from many retinal diseases. She also combines her deep medical and scientific expertise with efforts to address healthcare disparities and gender inequality.
A board-certified ophthalmologist, Haller began her career at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and as a faculty member of the University. Subsequently she moved to Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, where she was appointed ophthalmologist-in-chief and William Tasman, MD Endowed Chair as well as professor and chair of Ophthalmology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.
Haller said she is delighted with the therapeutic potential of ONS-5010 and the strategic approach Outlook Therapeutics has taken in advancing this drug candidate.
ONS-5010 is an investigational ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab under development to be administered as an intravitreal injection for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal diseases.
“I believe ONS-5010 has the potential, when approved, to meet the need for broader patient access to on-label treatment for wet AMD and other retinal diseases, and to mitigate the risks to patients associated with the use of off-label repackaged intravenous bevacizumab from compounding pharmacies,” Haller said.
Commenting on Haller's appointment, Outlook Therapeutics CEO C Russell Trenary said: "We could not ask for a more accomplished and respected ophthalmologist and scientist to join our board of directors.
"We welcome Dr Haller and look forward to her contributions as we move ONS-5010 towards commercialization and patient care. She joins the board at a pivotal and exciting time at Outlook Therapeutics. Dr Haller's expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to develop therapies that preserve the vision of patients worldwide."
New Jersey-based Outlook Therapeutics is a pre-commercial biopharmaceutical company working to develop and launch ONS-5010/ LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg), an investigational therapy, as the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in retinal indications. If approved, Outlook Therapeutics expects to commercialize it as the first and only FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for use in treating retinal diseases in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and other markets.
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