Opthea Hires New Chief Medical Advisor

Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS. Image Credit: Opthea Limited

Opthea Limited, a clinical-stage biopharma company that creates novel therapies for the treatment of retinal diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has appointed Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as its chief medical advisor. He currently serves as a managing partner, director of clinical research, and director of fellowship at Sierra Eye Associates, and clinical associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

Khanani founded the clinical research department at Sierra Eye Associates over 10 years ago. Given his plethora of knowledge, he has been the principal investigator for more than 120 clinical trials, with many of those trials being top enrollers in the United States across various Phase I-III trials.

More recently, he chaired the Phase II GATHER2 steering committee for IZERVA (an avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), which helped contribute to the drug’s approval for geographic atrophy.

"I am honored to assume the role of Opthea’s chief medical advisor, dedicated to advancing the development of sozinibercept, the pioneering treatment undergoing late-stage clinical trials aimed at enhancing vision outcomes for patients afflicted by wet AMD," commented Khanani. "This juncture marks a pivotal moment for Opthea and the sozinibercept program, with the recent completion of enrollment for the COAST study, expectations to complete enrollment in the ShORe study in calendar Q2 2024, and anticipated topline data disclosure from both pivotal trials by mid-year calendar 2025.

“With my extensive involvement in guiding numerous recently approved treatment modalities, I am steadfast in my commitment to supporting Opthea in promptly concluding the pivotal trials and ushering sozinibercept towards enhancing vision outcomes for patients worldwide."

Reference

Opthea Appoints Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, as Chief Medical Advisor. GlobeNewswire. News release. February 19, 2024. Accessed February 20, 2024. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/02/19/2831459/0/en/Opthea-Appoints-Arshad-M-Khanani-MD-MA-FASRS-as-Chief-Medical-Advisor.html