Reza Zadno, PhD.
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WALTHAM, Mass.—Avedro Inc., a leader in corneal remodeling, has named medical device entrepreneur and health care senior executive Reza Zadno, PhD, as chief executive officer. Zadno succeeds David Muller, who stepped down as chief executive in November 2015.

Previously, Zadno was the founder, president and chief executive of Visiogen (acquired by Abbott), and chairman at Transcend Medical (acquired by Alcon) and Oraya Therapeutics (acquired by Zeiss). He also has been an advisor to InterWest Partners and Novartis Venture Fund, and he brings to Avedro “deep expertise in ophthalmology as well as other life science sectors,” according to the company’s announcement.

“We are very pleased to have Reza join Avedro’s senior executive team as chief executive officer,” said Gil Kliman, MD, managing director at InterWest Partners and a member of the Avedro board of directors. “His entrepreneurial skills and proven leadership will help assure the successful commercialization of our recently FDA approved cross-linking device and drugs in the United States, and speed our clinical development of PiXL, a first-in-category, non-surgical procedure for the correction of myopia.”

Zadno said he has closely observed Avedro making “tremendous strides in bringing corneal cross-linking to market.” He added, “I’m honored to join this team of talented professionals and look forward to working with them to deliver products that dramatically improve the lives of patients with keratoconus around the world and to advance non-surgical technology to help reduce the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses.”

Zadno joins an accomplished executive team, which includes Rajesh K. Rajpal, MD. Rajpal joined Avedro as chief medical officer earlier this year and provides strategic direction overseeing medical affairs, regulatory and clinical efforts worldwide, the company said.

Avedro, a privately held pharmaceutical and medical device company, markets several products in the U.S., including Photrexa Viscous, Photrexa and KXL, for the treatment of progressive keratoconus.