Dallas-based Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc. appointed Vicente Anido Jr., Ph.D., as a strategic adviser to its board and management.
Nanoscope is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is focused on developing gene therapies for retinal degenerative diseases with the aim of restoring sight.
In a statement, Nanoscope CEO and co-founder Sulagna Bhattacharya expressed her enthusiasm over Anido’s appointment and the value that he brings to the company. “His deep experience and accomplishments in building and commercializing profitable ophthalmic companies will provide valuable guidance to support our clinical and corporate strategy,” she said.
Anido’s appointment is expected to help Nanoscope further its clinical and corporate strategies, particularly as the company advances its platform of optogenetic therapies for restoring vision in individuals with inherited retinal degenerative diseases, according to the company.
The path to commercialization
Anido brings with him a wealth of experience in the field of ophthalmology with more than three decades of experience as an ophthalmic leader. Nanoscope said he will assist in the company’s path toward the potential commercialization of MCO-010.
“Nanoscope’s Multi-Characteristic Opsin optogenetic monotherapy, MCO-010, is a novel approach to treat inherited retinal diseases and I am eager to help the company navigate through advanced clinical development and towards commercialization,” Anido said in a statement. “MCO-010 demonstrates a compelling clinical profile with meaningful market opportunities. I look forward to working with the team in developing a successful clinical and corporate strategy to bring this potential sight-restoring technology to patients.”
Most recently, Anido was CEO and chairman at Aerie Pharmaceuticals. Before that, Anido led several companies including a role as the CEP at ISTA Pharmaceuticals, which was sold to Bausch & Lomb for $500 million in 2012.
Anido holds a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and masters and bachelor of science degrees in pharmacy from West Virginia University.
Developing sight-restoring therapies
Nanoscope Therapeutics said it is developing gene-agnostic, sight-restoring optogenetic therapies for the millions of patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases, for which no cure exists.
Its lead asset, MCO-010, is in RESTORE Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trials in the U.S. for retinitis pigmentosa with top-line data expected in the first quarter of this year.
It also has fully enrolled a Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients. MCO-010 has received FDA Fast Track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both RP and Stargardt. It said that preclinical assets include non-viral laser-delivered MCO-020 gene therapy for geographic atrophy.
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