Leadership
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Mr. Iwicki has more than 25 years of experience leading all aspects of R&D and commercialization in the biopharmaceutical industry. He has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors since September 2015. He also served as our President from August 2017 to December 2021 and as Executive Chairman of our board of directors from April 2015 to September 2015. Mr. Iwicki was previously the CEO of Civitas Therapeutics which was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics. Prior to Civitas, Mr. Iwicki served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Blend Therapeutics and President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. He was also President and Chief Operating Officer at Sepracor, which was acquired in 2009. Prior to that, he was Business Unit Head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and managed the Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Arthritis, Bone, Gastrointestinal, HRT, Infectious Diseases and Urology therapeutic areas. Previously, Mr. Iwicki held management positions at Merck and Astra Merck. He currently serves on the boards of Merus N.V., Akero Therapeutics, Inc., and Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and previously served on the boards of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., Nimbus Therapeutics, Inc. and Pulmatrix Inc. Mr. Iwicki holds a B.S. from Ball State University and an M.B.A. from Loyola University.
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Mr. Bazemore is a biopharmaceutical executive with 25 years of experience spanning from ultra-rare orphan diseases to large primary care conditions. Prior to joining KALA BIO, Todd served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Santhera Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc. since September 2016, where he was instrumental in building the U.S. operations to support the company’s regulatory and commercial strategy. Prior to joining Santhera U.S., Todd served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Dyax Corp., where he was responsible for global commercial strategy and oversight of all commercial functions. Dyax was acquired by Shire Plc in January of 2016. Prior to joining Dyax, Todd was at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (previously Sepracor Inc., prior to its acquisition by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd), where he served in several roles of increasing responsibility including Vice President, Managed Markets, Vice President of Sales, and Vice President of Respiratory Business Unit. He began his career in sales at MURO Pharmaceuticals. Todd has a Bachelor’s of Science in Health from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
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Dr. Brazzell has served as our Chief Medical Officer since February 2013. He has also served as a Principal of Acuity Advisors, LLC, an ophthalmic consulting company, from January 2014 to July 2018. Dr. Brazzell served as Chief Medical Officer of Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, from January 2012 until December 2015. Dr. Brazzell also held several executive positions at Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Inspire, a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on ophthalmic products, including Executive Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs from 2010 to 2011, Executive Vice President and Head of Ophthalmology Business from 2009 to 2010, and Senior Vice President of Ophthalmic Research and Development from 2004 to 2008. Prior to joining Inspire, Dr. Brazzell served as Global Head of Clinical R&D and Senior Vice President, U.S. R&D, of Novartis Ophthalmics AG from 2000 to 2004. Dr. Brazzell also served as Vice President, R&D at Ciba Vision Ophthalmics, Inc. and as Associate Director, R&D, at Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Dr. Brazzell received a B.S. in Pharmacy and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky.
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Darius Kharabi has served as our Chief Business Officer since November 2021. Mr. Kharabi was co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Combangio Inc., a clinical stage ophthalmology mesenchymal stem cell secretome company that we acquired in November 2021. He is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Lagunita Biosciences, LLC, an early-stage medical investment company. He helped to create and served in board and executive leadership positions in multiple Lagunita portfolio companies, including xCella Biosciences, acquired by Ligand, Kedalion Therapeutics, acquired by Novartis AG, and Combangio. Prior to Lagunita, he served as Vice President, Corporate Development and International Sales at OrthAlign, a commercial stage orthopedic surgery navigation company, where his responsibilities included the launch of the KneeAlign® total knee arthroplasty navigation product line in the United States and global markets. Mr. Kharabi started his career as a biotechnology licensing attorney at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, PC. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Georgetown University and his J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford University.
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Ms. Reumuth has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2017, Senior Vice President, Finance from February 2017 to July 2017, our Vice President, Finance from December 2014 to February 2017, our Senior Director, Finance from February 2014 to December 2014, as our Corporate Controller from February 2014 to July 2017 and Treasurer since February 2014. Prior to joining us, Ms. Reumuth acted as an independent financial consultant from November 2012 to January 2014 and, prior to that, served as Corporate Controller for Enobia Pharma Corp., or Enobia, a global biopharmaceutical company acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from May 2011 to June 2012. Prior to Enobia, Ms. Reumuth served as Director of Finance at Verenium Corporation, or Verenium, a biotechnology company, from December 2007 to March 2011. From 2001 to 2007, Ms. Reumuth held a variety of finance and accounting positions at Genzyme Corporation, or Genzyme, (now a Sanofi Company), and ILEX Oncology, Inc., or ILEX (acquired by Genzyme). Prior to ILEX, she was an auditor at Ernst & Young LLP. She currently serves on the board of Olink Holding AB. Ms. Reumuth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
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MARK IWICKI
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Iwicki has more than 25 years of experience leading all aspects of R&D and commercialization in the biopharmaceutical industry. He has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors since September 2015. He also served as our President from August 2017 to December 2021 and as Executive Chairman of our board of directors from April 2015 to September 2015. Mr. Iwicki was previously the CEO of Civitas Therapeutics which was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics. Prior to Civitas, Mr. Iwicki served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Blend Therapeutics and President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. He was also President and Chief Operating Officer at Sepracor, which was acquired in 2009. Prior to that, he was Business Unit Head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and managed the Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Arthritis, Bone, Gastrointestinal, HRT, Infectious Diseases and Urology therapeutic areas. Previously, Mr. Iwicki held management positions at Merck and Astra Merck. He currently serves on the boards of Merus N.V., Akero Therapeutics, Inc., and Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and previously served on the boards of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., Nimbus Therapeutics, Inc. and Pulmatrix Inc. Mr. Iwicki holds a B.S. from Ball State University and an M.B.A. from Loyola University.
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ANDREW I. KOVEN
Board Member
Andrew I. Koven has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2017 and as our Lead Independent Director since December 2018. Mr. Koven was, until his retirement in January 2019, the President and Chief Business Officer of Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc., or Aralez, a public specialty pharmaceutical company, and served in that role with the company’s predecessor, Pozen Inc., or Pozen, commencing in June 2015. Prior to joining Pozen, Mr. Koven served as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a public specialty biopharmaceutical company, from February 2012 until January 2015, when it was acquired by Endo International plc. Mr. Koven served as President and Chief Administrative Officer and a member of the board of directors of Neurologix, Inc., a company focused on the development of multiple innovative gene therapy development programs, from September 2011 to November 2011. Before Neurologix, Mr. Koven served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Legal Officer of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public specialty pharmaceutical company, from July 2010 until May 2011 when it was acquired by Merck & Co., Inc. Previously, Mr. Koven served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Sepracor Inc. (now Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Sunovion), a public specialty pharmaceutical company, from March 2007 until February 2010 when it was acquired by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Prior to joining Sepracor Inc., Mr. Koven served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public specialty pharmaceutical company, from August 2003 until its acquisition by Abbott Laboratories (now AbbVie) in December 2006. Mr. Koven began his career in the pharmaceutical industry first as an Assistant General Counsel and then as Associate General Counsel at Warner-Lambert Company from 1993 to 2000, followed by his role as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Lavipharm Corporation from 2000 to 2003. Mr. Koven also currently serves on the board of NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-traded company, and has served as its chairperson since January 2022. From 1986 to 1992 he was a corporate associate at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel in New York. From 1992 to 1993 he served as Counsel, Corporate and Investment Division, at The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. Mr. Koven holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) Degree from Columbia University School of Law and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University.
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HOWARD B. ROSEN
Board Member
Howard B. Rosen has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2014. Since 2008, Mr. Rosen has served as a consultant to several companies in the biotechnology industry. He has served at Stanford University as an adjunct professor in Chemical Engineering since 2021 and as a lecturer in Management since 2011, and he previously served as a lecturer in Chemical Engineering from 2009 until 2021. Mr. Rosen served as Chief Executive Officer of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or AcelRx, a public specialty pharmaceutical company developing products for pain relief, from April 2016 to March 2017, and Interim Chief Executive Officer from April 2015 to March 2016. Mr. Rosen also served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Pearl Therapeutics, Inc. from June 2010 to March 2011. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Rosen was Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 2003 until 2004, Mr. Rosen was President of ALZA Corporation, a pharmaceutical and medical systems company that merged in 2001 with Johnson & Johnson, a global healthcare company. Prior to that, from 1994 until 2003, Mr. Rosen held various positions at ALZA Corporation. Mr. Rosen is a member of the board of directors of AcelRx and also served on the board of directors of Alcobra, Ltd., a public pharmaceutical company, until November 2017. Mr. Rosen is also currently a member of the board of directors of private companies, including Firecycte Therapeutics, Inc., Hammerton, Inc., Hopewell Therapeutics, Inc. and Entrega, Inc., and was a member of the board of directors of Metera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2018 to 2020 and Aria Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2020 to 2023. Mr. Rosen holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar and a Henry Ford II Scholar. We believe that Mr. Rosen’s experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including his specific experience with the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, qualifies him to serve as a member of our board of directors.
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GREGORY PERRY
Board Member
Gregory D. Perry has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2018. Mr. Perry served as Chief Financial Officer for Finch Therapeutics Group, Inc., a public therapeutics company focused on the microbiome, from June 2018 to April 30, 2022. Previously, he served as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Novelion Therapeutics Inc., or Novelion, a public biopharmaceutical company, from November 2016 to December 2017. Prior to this, Mr. Perry was Chief Financial Officer of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, from July 2015 until its merger with Novelion in November 2016. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial and Business Officer of Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc., a public company, from January 2014 to June 2015. Before joining Eleven Biotherapeutics, Mr. Perry served as the Interim Chief Financial Officer of InVivo Therapeutics, a public biotechnology company, from September 2013 to December 2013, and prior to that he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ImmunoGen, Inc., a public biotechnology company, from 2009 until he was promoted in 2011 to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a role he held until 2013. Before that, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Elixir Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Perry previously was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Transkaryotic Therapies. He has also held various financial leadership roles within PerkinElmer Inc., Domantis Ltd., Honeywell and General Electric. Since May 2016, Mr. Perry has served on the board of directors of Merus N.V., a public clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, including as Chair of its Audit Committee. From December 2011 to February 2016, Mr. Perry served on the board of directors of Ocata Therapeutics, a public biotechnology company, including as Chair of its Audit Committee and a member of its Compensation Committee, until it was acquired by Astellas Pharma Inc. Mr. Perry received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Amherst College.
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C. DANIEL MYERS
Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, MediPrint Opthalmics, Inc.C. Daniel Myers has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2021. Mr. Myers served as the Chief Executive Officer of MediPrint Ophthalmics, Inc. (formerly Leo Lens Pharma), a private eye-care company, from April 2020 to April 2022. Previously, Mr. Myers co-founded Alimera Sciences, Inc., or Alimera, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2003 until January 2019. Before co-founding Alimera, Mr. Myers was an initial employee of Novartis Ophthalmics (formerly CIBA Vision Ophthalmics), a pharmaceutical company, and served as its Vice President of sales and marketing from 1991 to 1997 and as President from 1997 to 2003. Mr. Myers has served as a director of Alimera since 2003 and has served as chairman of its board of directors since January 2019. In addition, Mr. Myers served on the board of directors of Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, from 2009 to 2012. Mr. Myers holds a B.S. in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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MARK S. BLUMENKRANZ, MD
Board Member
Mark S. Blumenkranz, M.D., MMS, has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2021. Dr. Blumenkranz has served as the HJ Smead Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University since March 2019, the Co-Director of its Ophthalmic Innovation Program since 2016, and he previously served as Department Chair from 1997 until 2015. Dr. Blumenkranz played a leading role in the planning, fundraising and construction of the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University and served as its Director from its opening in September 2010 through June 2015. Dr. Blumenkranz previously served on the board of directors of Oculex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Allergan, Inc. in 2003, Macusight, an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company, acquired by Santen in 2010, Peak Surgical, Inc., an innovator in pulsed plasma mediated electro-surgery that was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. in 2011, and OptiMedica Corp. which was acquired by Abbott Medical Optics in 2013. In 2006, he co-founded Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc., and served as chairman of its board of directors through 2016. In 2011, he co-founded Oculeve, Inc., and served on its board directors through its acquisition by Allergan in August 2015. He was a founder and served on the board of directors of Verana Health, Inc., a digital medicine and health analytics company, from 2009 until 2020. He was the founding Chairman of Kedalion Therapeutics, an ophthalmic drug delivery company and served as its chief executive officer from September 2019 until June 2022, when it was acquired by Novartis AG. He also served on the board of directors of One Medical from 2019 until its acquisition by Amazon in February 2023. He currently serves as director at BVI Visitec, a global ophthalmic surgical company, and Iveric Bio, Inc., a publicly traded ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company. Since October 2015, Dr. Blumenkranz has served as Managing Partner of Lagunita Biosciences LLC, an early-stage medical investment company, that is our current 5% beneficial stockholder. Since May 2015, Mr. Blumenkranz has also served as the Managing Partner of Garland Investments, Inc. Dr. Blumenkranz holds an A.B. in Biology, Master’s Degree in Biochemical Pharmacology, and M.D. from Brown University. He completed his internship and ophthalmic residency at Stanford and subsequently the Executive Program at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
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MARJAN FARID, MD
Board Member
Marjan Farid, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2022. Since 2007, Dr. Farid has served as Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Director of Cornea, Refractive & Cataract Surgery, and Vice Chair of Ophthalmic Faculty at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine. Her clinical practice is divided between patient care, teaching, and research. Dr. Farid’s research interests focus on corneal surgery, specifically the use of the femtosecond laser for corneal transplantation. Dr. Farid is also the founder of the Severe Ocular Surface Disease Center at the University of California Irvine, where she performs limbal stem cell transplants, as well as artificial corneal transplantation, for the treatment of patients with severe ocular surface disease. Dr. Farid also serves as the Chair of the Corneal Clinic Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Farid received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California - Los Angeles and M.D. from the University of California - San Diego.
