SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visus Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multi-targeted treatments for the eye, today announced the appointment of Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D., to the Company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Donnenfeld brings more than 30 years of clinical experience as an internationally recognized expert and pioneer in refractive, cornea and cataract surgery and is one of the leading refractive and cataract surgeons in the United States.
“I am thrilled to welcome Eric to the Visus Board,” said Ben Bergo, co-founder and chief executive officer at Visus Therapeutics. “Eric brings tremendous leadership experience, not only as a world-renowned anterior segment specialist, but also in business management and innovation. He is the founding partner in OCLI Vision, one of the leading ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States, and he has been involved in numerous clinical stage companies. We look forward to Eric’s many contributions as Visus advances and expands on its pipeline of innovative ophthalmic products.”
“Over the last two decades, I have had the honor of working closely with Eric on some of the most successful and challenging development programs in eyecare,” said Rhett Schiffman, M.D., M.S., M.H.S.A., co-founder, chief medical officer and head of research and development at Visus Therapeutics. “He is the premier clinician scientist and has played a key role in the clinical development of many of the most important therapies for the front of the eye. As Visus looks to change the way the leading causes of visual disability are treated, we look forward to Eric’s guidance.”
“I am very much looking forward to working closely with Ben and Rhett, the Board and leadership team, as Visus pioneers many exciting new investigational drug candidates, including what may be a best-in-class topical treatment of presbyopia—BRIMOCHOL PF,” said Dr. Donnenfeld. “Beyond that, Visus’ recently announced lens modulation program offers the real possibility of a non-surgical therapy that has the potential to treat cataracts and presbyopia, improving the quality of life of millions of people around the world. I am really excited to help Visus bring these and other potentially transformative treatments to our patients.”
About Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D.
Dr. Donnenfeld is the founding partner of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and Ophthalmic Consultants of Connecticut. He has authored more than 210 papers on the cornea, external disease, cataracts, and refractive surgery, 500 scientific articles, and 50 books and book chapters on a range of subjects pertaining to corneal transplants, cataract care, and laser vision correction.
Dr. Donnenfeld is on the editorial board of nine journals and has participated in over 40 FDA studies. He is one of the first 5 people in the world to perform both laser vision correction and laser cataract surgery. Dr. Donnenfeld is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has received its Honor Award, Senior Honor Award, Life Achievement Honor Award, and Secretariat Award. He is past President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, President-elect of the International Intraocular Implant Society, and Editor in Chief of EyeWorld. He was named #1 on Newsweek’s America’s Best Eye Doctors list in 2022 and 2021. In addition, Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today recognized Dr. Donnenfeld as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Ophthalmologists in the United States; The Ophthalmologist named Dr. Donnenfeld to their Power List in 2022, 2020 and 2018; and he was also selected as Ophthalmology Management’s 25 Leaders in Innovation.
About Visus Therapeutics
With offices in Seattle, Wash., and Irvine, Calif., Visus Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multi-targeted treatments for the eye. The company is developing novel, pupil-modulating therapeutics designed to correct the loss of near vision associated with presbyopia. In parallel, Visus Therapeutics is focused on advancing its pipeline of early-stage ophthalmic drug candidates with applications in corneal wound healing, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. For more information, visit: www.visustx.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
