Cynthia Matossian, MD. Photo courtesy of Kasey Ivan Photography

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.—Visiox Pharma, LLC, a privately funded biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of ophthalmic drugs, announced the appointment of Cynthia Matossian, MD as chief medical officer. "Dr. Matossian is an experienced and enthusiastic eyecare leader, dedicated to providing compassionate care and advancing innovation," said Ryan Bleeks, chief executive officer. "Her clinical expertise and proven leadership, as well as her extensive medical and clinical research experience, will further strengthen our efforts and support the progress of our product pipeline."

As chief medical officer, Dr. Matossian will play a critical role in developing the medical affairs strategy for the company's near-term commercial products, as well as helping to forge strategic partnership engagements and evaluating portfolio expansion.

Dr. Matossian is the founder and past medical director of Matossian Eye Associates, which opened in 1987 with one office and two employees. Under her leadership, the practice grew to 14 doctors and over 90 employees until it was by acquired by a private equity backed business entity.

Together, in a collaborative effort among a group of eye surgeons, she developed and built a successful freestanding ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leading the way as a pioneer in ASC ownership. Dr. Matossian has authored hundreds of articles, routinely lectures, and has participated in numerous clinical trials. Her list of honors and awards include Top 100 Women in Ophthalmology Power List, President of the American College of Eye Surgeons and the New York IOL Implant Society, and president and board member for the American College of Eye Surgeons (ACES).

Visiox recently announced the submission of a New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA for lead product candidate, PDP-716 (brimonidine tartrate 0.35%), which has the potential to be the first once-daily brimonidine to enter the market for the treatment of glaucoma, according to Visiox.

Visiox plans to submit a second New Drug Application for SDN-037 (difluprednate 0.04%) to the U.S. FDA in the coming months to address an unmet need for cataract surgery. SDN-037 is a twice daily topical difluprednate corticosteroid utilizing patented TJMä (Tight Junction Modulation) proprietary formulation. The novel technology provides powerful post-surgical control of inflammation in a clear solution enabling convenient dosing with a proven active ingredient, Visiox said.