Aviceda Therapeutics, a private, clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing next-generation immunomodulators incorporating its proprietary High Affinity Ligands of Siglecs nanotechnology platform with an aim to alleviate chronic, non-resolving inflammation, announced the appointment of Jeffrey Nau, Ph.D., M.M.S., as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Dr. Nau will also join the Aviceda Board of Directors.
Dr. Nau is an accomplished biopharma executive with over two decades of experience leading and expanding biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kalaris Therapeutics, he was instrumental in shaping the company’s operational and strategic vision and shepherding the company through a merger agreement with Allovir, Inc. During Dr. Nau’s tenure as CEO of Oyster Point Pharma, he successfully guided the company through its initial public offering in 2019, secured over $300 million in funding, and ultimately oversaw its acquisition by Viatris in 2023. Under his leadership, Oyster Point launched TYRVAYA®, the first and only FDA-approved nasal spray for the treatment of dry eye disease, and expanded its pipeline with the development of an investigational Enriched Tear Film (ETF™) Gene Therapy program.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Nau held leadership roles at several pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies, including Genentech (Roche), where he played a key role in the development and launch of multiple indications for Lucentis®, a therapy that transformed the treatment of blindness and generated peak sales of approximately $4 billion globally. Additionally, while at Ophthotech (later Iveric Bio), he was involved in the early development of Izervay®, a prescription eye injection used to treat geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Also Read: QIAGEN Launches QIAprep& Kit to Boost Malaria Research
David Guyer, M.D., Board Chair of Aviceda, commented: “Dr. Nau is a proven growth architect with a track record of scaling companies and steering them through critical value-inflection points, including successful financings, commercial launches, and strategic M&A. His operational expertise across these key areas makes him the ideal leader to drive Aviceda’s next phase of growth. In addition, with his deep experience in ophthalmology, he will be invaluable as we advance AVD-104 into pivotal trials for geographic atrophy.”
Dr. Nau holds a Ph.D. in Public Health and Epidemiology from Walden University, a Master of Medical Science from Drexel University College of Medicine, and a B.S. in Biology from Stony Brook University. He is an inventor on multiple patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Nau added, “I am honored to join Aviceda and look forward to working with this talented team to advance our pipeline, forge strategic partnerships, and deliver breakthrough therapies that have the potential to change the treatment of geographic atrophy and other serious diseases.”
Source: Businesswire