OIS Podcast | Ophthalmology's leading Podcast

Exploring the FDA

In this compelling OIS podcast episode, host Dr. Rob Rothman engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Malvina Eydelman, the Director of the FDA's Office of Ophthalmic, Anesthesia, Respiratory, ENT, and Dental Devices. Delve into Malvina's unique career journey and discover how her diverse background in engineering and ophthalmology has influenced her work at the FDA.  Here's what you can expect from this episode: Malvina's Journey: Learn how Malvina went from growing up in Georgia to...

Empathy in Action

In the latest episode of the OIS podcast, host Dr. Rob Rothman delves into the transformative power of empathy with multi-Emmy award-winning actress and writer, Ellen Gould. Together, they explore the intersection of healthcare and storytelling, shedding light on the importance of patient-centered care and authentic narrative representation. Episode Highlights: Personal Journey: Ellen shares her journey living with Stargardt's disease and its profound influence on her perspective and creat...

From Ophthalmology Clinics to Business Leadership

In this episode, Dr. Jai Parekh shares his journey from ophthalmology to business leadership in healthcare. Raised in New Jersey, he initially pursued cardiology before discovering his passion for ophthalmology. Specializing in cornea and refractive surgery, he transitioned into the commercial side of the field, leveraging his clinical expertise and business acumen. Key points covered in the episode include: Transition into the commercial side of ophthalmology, leveraging clinical expertis...

Exploring the Future of Eye Care

Don't miss the latest episode of the OIS Retina Podcast, where we sit down with optometrist and ophthalmology researcher Brian Levy for an illuminating discussion on the future of eye care. In this episode, Brian takes us on a journey through his career, from his early days in vet school to his groundbreaking work at Presbyterian Medical Center, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb and currently at InflammX Therapeutics. Here are some key talking points from the episode:   🔹 Brian's transi...

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Biotech Investor Pitch Decks

Tune in to the latest episode of the Eye On Innovation podcast where Carey Powers dives into the dynamic world of biotech investor pitch decks with special guest Dr. Rob Rothman, Founding Partner of InFocus Capital Partners. Discover the top five mistakes to avoid when crafting your pitch deck and gain exclusive insights from Dr. Rothman's wealth of experience in ophthalmology and venture capital. In this episode, you'll learn: The importance of tailoring your pitch deck to specific invest...

Unlocking the Future of Presbyopia Treatment

Join us this week on the OIS podcast as host Carey Powers sits down with Dr. Paul Karpecki to explore the latest advancements in presbyopia treatment strategies. Here's what you can expect from this insightful conversation: Insider Insights: Dr. Karpecki shares insider insights gleaned from his extensive clinical experience and research in the field of presbyopia treatment. Financial Potential: Discover the potential for unprecedented financial gains in the rapidly evolving market of presb...

Revolutionizing Ophthalmic Care

In the latest episode of the OIS Podcast, host Dr. Robert Rothman engages in a captivating dialogue with Dr. Prasad Sunkara, CEO of Eyegenex. Key points discussed in the episode: Prasad's multifaceted background spanning agricultural sciences to pharmaceuticals. Eyegenex's pioneering work in gene and peptide therapies for ophthalmic conditions. The personal journey and insights driving Prasad's commitment to advancing ophthalmology. For a deep dive into this thought-provoking conversati...

Insights from Startup Leaders on Commercial Strategy and Funding

 This panel discussion on startup commercial strategy explores key elements and insights from industry leaders, Paul Bresge, Aziz Mottiwala, Todd Pinkney, Cari Stone and Adam Szaronos, offering a comprehensive view of the journey from regulatory approval to commercialization. Beth Marsh, Lead of Sales and Marketing at Apellis, sets the stage by emphasizing the importance of early consideration of commercial strategy.  Key topics covered in the discussion include: Early Commercial Strategy ...

Maximizing the Value of Your Board of Directors

OIS Podcast host Carey Powers speaks with Dr. Adrienne Graves and Dr. Barbara Wirostko on 'Maximizing the Value of Your Board of Director' live from OIS XIII. Dr. Graves and Dr. Wirostko share valuable insights on: * Building effective boards * Significance of diversity * CEO and board member communications * Navigating decision-making * Board dynamics * Strategic collaboration   This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and founders navigating the intricacies of leadership and strategic dec...

Quick Takes From Ophthalmology Start-Ups

Revolutionizing Retina Care Beyond Injections

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, host Dr. Firas Rahhal, along with expert panelists, Dr. Robert Bhisitkul, Dr. Alan Franklin and Dr. Paul Karpecki at OIS XIII, takes listeners on a deep dive into the transformative landscape of oral therapies in retina treatment, challenging the conventional approach dominated by eye injections. Tune in as they explore the groundbreaking realm of oral treatments and shed light on their novelty in retinal care. The discussions are comprehensive, covering ...

Revolutionizing Glaucoma Treatment and Innovation Insights

ViaLase, a clinical stage medical technology company located in Aliso Viejo, CA is focused on disrupting the conventional glaucoma treatment paradigm with the introduction of a truly noninvasive image-guided femtosecond laser treatment that enhances glaucoma patient care. With a leadership team that has vast experience developing, designing, manufacturing, and commercializing the first femtosecond lasers for ophthalmic surgery for refractive and cataract patients, ViaLase is now bringing th...

Ophthea's Transformative Shift, Clinical Successes, and Visionary Innovation

Opthea, an Australian based biopharmaceutical company is dedicated to transforming retinal disease treatments and elevating patients' vision and quality of life. Join Firas Rahal, MD, in a captivating episode as he engages with Opthea's Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Megan Baldwin, PhD. Explore the compelling journey from oncology to ophthalmology, unraveling strategic decisions, navigating competitive landscapes, and achieving triumphs in clinical trials. Dr. Baldwin unfolds her rem...

Building an Enterprise Under the Radar

Harrow isn’t a household name (yet), but eye care professionals have trusted its products for over a decade. The Nashville-based company produces Dexycu, an intraocular steroid; Iopidine for intraocular pressure control; and most recently, five Novartis products that Harrow acquired in December 2022. Rob Rothman, MD, caught up with Harrow founder and CEO Mark Baum to find out how he grew the company from worse than nothing—he acquired, restructured, and reorganized a company in bankruptcy ...

Approachable Regenerative Medicine

Endogena Therapeutics has developed a novel approach to regenerative medicine that’s not only scientifically compelling, but practical. Endogena’s technology unlocks the body’s own stem cells for controlled tissue repair by small molecules. Its products use a dosing schedule that could move easily into the system already in place for intravitreal injections. CEO Matthias Steger, PhD, MBA, sat down with retina specialist Firas Rahhal, MD, to discuss the Endogena approach in depth. They also...

The Bausch + Lomb Buzz, with Andrew Stewart and Yehia Hashad, MD

“You can see and feel a buzz within the company right now,” said Andrew Stewart, President, Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer, at Bausch + Lomb. Bausch + Lomb’s current momentum stems not only from new leadership, but also from recent collaborations, partnerships, and acquisitions. Stewart and Yehia Hashad, MD, Executive Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer, join host Paul Karpecki, OD, to discuss these activities. Miebo, the first-in-class dry...

C-Suite Quick Takes: OIS Goes Behind the Scenes with Four Emerging Biotech Companies

OIS Podcast host Carey Powers caught up with four ophthalmology execs and one principal investigator to talk about some of the most exciting developments in retina R&D. Her guests include: Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD, Cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of Optigo Biotherapeutics    Michael Tsipursky, MD, CEO and Cofounder of Revive Biotech Michael Singer, MD, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Texas Health Science Center, Director of Clinical Research at Medical Cente...

CEO Quick Takes

OIS Podcast host Carey Powers speaks with four CEOs from leading retina-focus companies to talk about all things innovation. Her guests include: •  Kerrie Brady, BPharm, President and CEO of OcuTerra •  Rich Small, CEO of NeuroTech Pharmaceuticals •  Kester Nahen, PhD, CEO of Notal Vision •  Brad Doerschuk, President and CEO of InFocus Clinical OcuTerra is developing OTT166, a novel small molecule designed to treat diabetic retinopathy. The product is getting attention because it can deli...

The Latest on At-Home OCT

At-home OCT enables daily monitoring of patients with neovasular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other patients that need a lot of follow-ups. With host Carey Powers, Dr. Anat Loewenstein dives into at-home OCT innovation, application, and adoption. Dr. Loewenstein is Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean at Tel Aviv Medical Center. She’s also a fellowship-trained vitreoretinal surgeon and has been heavily involved in research related to early AMD detection. Why...

Accessing Charitable Resources

Keith Valentine is the first and only visually impaired head of a national sight loss organization in the UK. As the President and CEO of Vision Foundation, London’s leading sight loss charity, Valentine guides an organization that provides services for blind and visually impaired people countrywide. He also has plans to increase the organization’s research commitment. In March 2023, Vision Foundation merged with Fight for Sight, the leading UK charity dedicated to stopping sight loss thro...

What’s New in Ocular Surface Disease?

Two recent drug approvals changed the game for ocular surface disease: Xdemvy (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25 percent (Tarsus Pharmaceuticals) for Demodex blepharitis, and Miebo (perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution) from Bausch + Lomb and Novaliq for evaporative dry eye disease.   On today’s podcast, two ocular surface disease experts talk about these and other developments related to dry eye. Our guests: Laura Periman, MD, aka “the dry eye master” and founder of Periman Eye In...

Accessing Capital and Navigating M&As

Yari Mitchell spent nearly 13 years with AcuFocus, an ophthalmic device company, before overseeing its acquisition by Bausch + Lomb. As head of Y Factor Consulting, she now helps innovators move their product from the lab to a funded company. Greg Kunst, President and CEO of Aurion Biotech, a cell therapy company, led the start-up to a $120 million raise in 2022. Both Mitchell and Kunst sat down with host Carey Powers to discuss two topics they’re more than familiar with: raising capital a...

When Is the Right Time to Form a Spin-Out? With Wesley Jackson, PhD, Valitor

Wesley Jackson, PhD, spent years conducting post-doctoral research and writing grants, all the while setting the wheels in motion to launch Valitor. Valitor is developing VLTR-557 a long-lasting anti-VEGF. The technology platform, a multivalent polymer (MVP), is integral to VLTR-557. With Firas Rahhal, MD, Dr. Jackson shares why he stuck with the science behind Valitor during his PhD studies and beyond. He also discusses why he kept his sights set on entrepreneurship while his colleagues p...

Commercializing Demedex Blepharitis

Aziz Mottiwala, Chief Commercial Officer of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, says the company looks for honest unmet needs when deciding what targets to explore. It also looks for opportunities to be the first or the best. The company may meet both objectives with TP-03, an antiparasitic agent developed to treat Demodex blepharitis, among other conditions. Mottiwala describes lotilaner, the molecule behind TP-03 and other Tarsus therapies, as a “pipeline in a molecule.” The company is evaluating fo...

From Lab Learning to Machine Learning, with Daniela Ferrara, Genentech

Daniela Ferrara, Principal Medical Director at Genentech, calls her extensive medical training in Brazil her “north star.” Yet, she was frustrated by the limitations of clinical practice.   “Having patients go blind under my watch, I realized I would never defeat blindness through practice,” she said. She turned her attention to clinical research, where her work could potentially improve the health of many rather than the few. More recently, with a focus on applying artificial intelligenc...

How Digital Innovation is Advancing Ophthalmology

Host Carey Powers caught up with two digital health experts right after the Digital Ophthalmic Society (DOS) Digital Day program at the recent ASCRS conference in San Diego, California: Ranya Habash, MD, cofounder of MetaMed, DOS board member, and CEO of LifeLong Vision SPAC; and David Rhew, Global Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Healthcare at Microsoft. On today’s podcast, the two thought leaders gave a quick recap of Digital Day before diving into how physicians can actually u...

Fueling the Innovation Engine, With Christoph Vonwiller, Johnson & Johnson Vision

Innovation happens in labs, workshops, and garages worldwide. How does it happen in a global enterprise like Johnson & Johnson? Christoph Vonwiller, President of the Asia Pacific Region for Johnson & Johnson Vision, sheds light on that topic during a conversation with host Sophia Pathai, MD, PhD. As he sees it, start-ups and academic researchers stay laser-focused on solving a specific problem. They’re agile. They fail and succeed fast. A large, innovation-focused organization like J&J br...

Credibility, Cash, and Capability: The Benefits of Strategic Partnership, with Brian Culley, Lineage Cell Therapeutics

Brian Culley, CEO of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, describes his company’s approach as “replace and restore.” In certain settings, replacing whole cells may provide restorative benefits that go beyond small molecule drugs, or even anti-VEGF therapies. Replacing dysfunctional or lost cell types with manufactured cells of the same type can restore activity. That means a potential reversal of disease progression rather than a slower road to vision loss. Lineage has taken this approach to develo...

A Fast, Fun Future, with Warren Foust and Magda Michna, PhD, Staar Surgical

For today’s episode, the newest addition to the OIS Podcast team, Carey Powers, sits down with the newest additions to the Staar Surgical team: Warren Foust, Chief Operating Officer; and Magda Michna, PhD, Chief Clinical, Regulatory, and Medical Affairs Officer. Starr has led the way in implantable lenses for over 40 years, but like many medical device companies, not many patients have heard of them. That’s changing now that Staar has doubled down on direct-to-consumer advertising. To date...

How Retina Physicians Can Use AI, With Natasa Jovic, RetinAI

Nataša Jovic has led marketing strategies for retina products since the launch of Visudyne. Approved by the FDA in 2002, Visudyne was the first commercially available therapy to treat wet AMD.   Today, Jovic applies her scientific background and retina experience to lead marketing and commercial operations for RetinAI, a software company that supports R&D initiatives. As a retina specialist, OIS podcast host Firas Rahhal, MD, wanted to know: what’s the deal with AI? How can it help me in ...

The Inspiration Behind Syfovre, with Cedric Francois

Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, is the cofounder, CEO, and president of Apellis, the company behind Syfovre, the first FDA-approved treatment for geographic atrophy. Like many, his path to the top of a successful publicly traded pharmaceutical company did not come fast or easy. He learned the hard way not to rely on “soft commitments” when funding a new venture. He also learned that good instincts and a better bottle of wine can go a long way toward persuading angel investors to open their checkb...

Taking the Road Less Traveled, With Jod Mehta, Singapore National Eye Center

Jodbhir (Jod) Mehta, PhD, is the Head of the Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Group at the  Singapore Eye Research Institute and Head of the Corneal Service and Senior Consultant in  the Refractive Service of the Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC). Dr. Mehta, a corneal and refractive surgery expert, has spent most of his career in Singapore, a small, thriving nation with one of the most successful healthcare systems in the world. But he trained in London and Birmingham, England. Dr. Meht...

The 3 Ingredients of a Successful Dry Eye Product, With Barry Linder, MD, Eyedetec Medical

When Barry Linder, MD, was an ophthalmologist with Kaiser Permanente, he saw a familiar pattern. Patients with dry eye disease usually had Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). They were advised to place a wet warm washcloth over the eyelids twice a day. They’d inevitably abandon the protocol after a few days. Thinking there had to be a better way, he developed the EyeGenie, a simple but effective eye mask that delivers continuous heat for up to 15 minutes. For patients with moderate to sever...

Meeting the Needs of Ophthalmic Surgeons, with Ed Timm, Mobius Therapeutics

If ophthalmology clinical trials were burgers, mitomycin would be the mustard at the table of every U.S. restaurant with a burger on the menu.* Using this analogy, Mitsol, developed and manufactured by Mobius Therapeutics, is the only FDA-approved mitomycin-c “mustard” formulation with an ophthalmic indication. In reality, the mitomycin story in ophthalmology is more complicated than that, says Ed Timm, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Mobius Therapeutics. Mitomycin-c is used by ophthalmolog...

Pharma’s All or None, with Gianluca Rossetti, Dompé

In pharma, it takes many failures to achieve one breakthrough. Dompé, a family-owned global biopharmaceutical company, focuses on long-term success, knowing those wins impact thousands or even millions of patients. Gianluca Rossetti, Strategic Planning & Corporate Business Development Director at Dompé, was drawn by the company’s ambition, passion, and commitment to innovation and science. Today, he uses his management consulting background to guide the company’s business strategy, lead st...

How Science Drives Decisions at Dompé, with Georgea Pasedis

Dompé, a family-owned global biopharmaceutical company with roots that date back over 150 years, built its legacy by following two principles: take calculated risks, and focus on need rather than precedent. Georgea Pasedis, PharmD, RPh, Dompé’s Senior Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs, moved into her current role by following similar principles. After earning her PharmD and practicing at the renowned Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, Dr. Psedis determined she could make a broader ...

How Bausch + Lomb Identifies Product Gaps, With Anthony Wallace 

As Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Surgical for Bausch + Lomb, Anthony Wallace is involved in virtually all things surgical. His day-to-day includes strategy, portfolio planning, R&D alignment, acquisitions, pricing and contracting, sales and marketing, and supply chain. On top of all that, he’s one of the key executives leading Bausch + Lomb’s five-year charge: double the number of patients reached from 2 million to 4 million. During a candid discussion with podcast host and re...

Ocular Surface Disease Spotlight

Today’s podcast shines the spotlight on the front of the eye, focusing new treatments and approaches to dry eye disease, blepharitis, and Sjogren's Syndrome, to name a few. Kelly Nichols, OD, PhD, dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, guides a panel of four clinical and industry experts through a robust conversation on ocular surface disease. They start by sharing their optimism around new treatments and awareness initiatives. Jeffrey Nau, PhD, president of t...

Spotlight on Myopia

Myopia has escalated to epidemic proportions with a global prevalence twice that of obesity. A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2021 found the prevalence of myopia in six-year-old children in China jumped from 5.7% between 2015 and 2019 to 21.5% in 2020.   Given myopia affects about 40% of Americans and up to 90% of the East and Southeast Asians, it’s time to pick up the pace on education, treatment, and management.   At OIS XII in San Diego, a panel of experts discussed how the ...

Practicing and Advising on Medicine

Robert Avery, MD, CEO of California Retina Consultants, balances roles as physician and researcher with a lucrative additional career: advising life sciences companies and ophthalmology focused venture capital funds.   With colleague and podcast host Firas Rahhal, MD, Dr. Avery talks about how he got into the business side of medicine. He also looks back over 30 years of retina, which includes pioneering the use of anti-VEGF agents for retinal disease. Looking forward, Dr. Avery shares hi...

Multimodal Myopia Management

CooperVision’s Global Head of Myopia Management Strategy, Rajeev Garg, made a bold move over a decade ago. After a fruitful career in R&D for Abbott and Merck, he got his MBA and transitioned to the commercial side.   It worked out well. He led global teams for Johnson & Johnson and Bausch + Lomb before joining one of the industry’s leading contact lens makers.   With ophthalmologist and venture capitalist Ehsan Sadri, MD, Rajeev shares CooperVision’s path forward for myopia innovation. Coop...

Changing the Glaucoma Monitoring Paradigm

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. The more IOP data, the better physicians can evaluate treatment impact, which is critical to preserving vision. Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH developed the eyemate® technology platform to fill that need. The implantable sensor, powered and read by a hand-held device, allows physicians to monitor IOP between visits. Implandata CEO and cofounder, Max Ostermeier, discussed the technology and the gap it ...

Metaverse Medicine

Applications of the metaverse go far beyond gaming and social media. In healthcare and life sciences, innovative physicians and researchers are exploring its potential to accomplish the following:   Enhance decentralized clinical trials Develop precision medicine therapies Improve surgical navigation e.g., to perfect a surgical route before treating the patient Enhance surgical education, training, and mentoring As part of connected care and virtual care To create medical storefronts ...

Perception, Vision, and Gaming

With extensive experience as both a medical and technology professional, Khizer Khaderi, MD, MPH, could be described as either a technology whiz who practices medicine or an ophthalmologist pursuing technology. In reality, he falls into a field all his own, combining what he knows about sports performance, vision, and advanced technology into a career that currently includes teaching, research, and leading an AI start-up (Vizzario). Dr. Khaderi is the clinical associate professor at the Bay...

New Possibilities for Corneal Disease Treatment

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD), a progressive hereditary disease that causes blurred or cloudy vision and vision loss, has no cure other than transplant of endothelial layer. David Eveleth, PhD, founder, president, and CEO of Trefoil Therapeutics, wants to change that. The company’s lead product, TTHX1114, has the potential to medically treat FECD and other corneal dystrophies without transplant. If successful, they’ll give patients an alternative to surgery as well as improve ...

Sit-downs with Eight OIS XII All-Stars

Podcast Description: More than 300 clinical thought leaders, pharma industry executives, and ophthalmology investors gathered recently in San Diego, CA, for OIS XII.  In addition to announcing pivotal new data, presenters discussed drug and device innovations, advances in clinical trials, and how to gain or maintain a competitive edge in today’s market. For this week’s OIS Podcast, surgeon Ehsan Sadri, MD, co-founder of Visionary Ventures; and Sharon Bakalash, MD, PhD, founder and CEO of S...

Expert Panel: How to Launch a Product

Identifying MDs and ODs is but one of many activities involved in developing a commercial launch strategy. To execute that launch according to targets requires strong data, effective messaging, thoughtful strategy, and luck.  According to a ZS analysis, out of 30 emerging pharma first launches from 2019 through 2021, only four met expectations. At the OIS XII panel “Maximizing OD/MD Market Potential and How to Achieve Commercial Success With a New Product,” a group of commercialization ex...

Setting the Standards in Imaging

For more than 30 years, Heidelberg Engineering has set the standard in diagnostic imaging. Best known for imaging quality and optical coherence tomography (OCT) capabilities, Heidelberg focuses on innovation, customer service, and education.   OIS Podcast host Sophia Pathai, MD, PhD, caught up with Heidelberg’s VP/head of corporate strategy Kfir Azoulay, as well as Heidelberg Engineering UK managing director Tosh Vadhia. From their respective locations in Heidelberg, Germany, and London, t...

From Leading Global R&D Teams to Funding Startups

Scott Brun, MD, began his long career in pharma R&D leadership in the late 1990s, holding key roles at Abbott and AbbVie. Had he picked up a pencil with his right hand, his career may have taken a completely different turn. Dr. Brun earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed a residency in ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. A leftie, Dr. Brun ultimately decided not to become ambidextrous. Instead, he joined Abbott as a pharm...

The Potential of Entire-Eye OCT Imaging

What if legendary ophthalmologist Don Gass, MD, had access to both optical coherence tomography (OCT) and artificial intelligence? One can only imagine the breakthroughs.   Alex Walsh, MD, CEO of Envision Diagnostics and a retina specialist at Retina-Vitreous Associates in Los Angeles and vicinity, wants to bring Gassian interpretive capabilities to everyone in eye care.    His company’s product, a binocular OCT with the potential to image the entire eye, could enable physicians and tech...