Ocugen, Inc. Announces New Appointments to Retina Scientific Advisory Board & Executive Leadership Team
Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on gene therapies for blindness diseases, has announced significant additions to its leadership structure. The company has expanded its Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with three renowned retinal surgeons: Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, Dr. Peter K Kaiser, and Dr. Arshad M. Khanani, joining existing members under the leadership of SAB chair Dr. Lejla Vajzovic.
Additionally, Ocugen has strengthened its executive team with two key appointments: Dr. Vijay Tammara as Chief Development Officer, bringing over 32 years of global regulatory leadership and experience with nine Marketing Authorization approvals, and Abhi Gupta as Executive Vice President of Commercial and Business Development, with extensive experience in gene therapy commercialization and a track record at companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
These appointments align with Ocugen's strategic goal of pursuing three Biologics License Applications (BLAs) in the next three years.
Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN), un'azienda biotecnologica specializzata in terapie geniche per le malattie della cecità, ha annunciato importanti novità nella sua struttura dirigenziale. La società ha ampliato il suo Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) con l'ingresso di tre rinomati chirurghi retinici: il Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, il Dr. Peter K Kaiser e il Dr. Arshad M. Khanani, che si uniscono ai membri esistenti sotto la guida del presidente del SAB, Dr. Lejla Vajzovic.
Inoltre, Ocugen ha rafforzato il suo team esecutivo con due nomine chiave: Dr. Vijay Tammara come Chief Development Officer, con oltre 32 anni di esperienza nella leadership regolatoria globale e nove approvazioni di Marketing Authorization, e Abhi Gupta come Executive Vice President of Commercial and Business Development, con una vasta esperienza nella commercializzazione di terapie geniche e un solido curriculum in aziende come Pfizer e Johnson & Johnson.
Queste nomine sono in linea con l'obiettivo strategico di Ocugen di presentare tre Biologics License Applications (BLA) nei prossimi tre anni.
Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN), una compañía biotecnológica centrada en terapias génicas para enfermedades que causan ceguera, ha anunciado importantes incorporaciones a su estructura de liderazgo. La empresa ha ampliado su Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) con tres renombrados cirujanos de retina: el Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, el Dr. Peter K Kaiser y el Dr. Arshad M. Khanani, quienes se unen a los miembros existentes bajo la dirección del presidente del SAB, el Dr. Lejla Vajzovic.
Además, Ocugen ha fortalecido su equipo ejecutivo con dos nombramientos clave: Dr. Vijay Tammara como Chief Development Officer, aportando más de 32 años de experiencia en liderazgo regulatorio global y con nueve aprobaciones de Marketing Authorization, y Abhi Gupta como Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de Comercialización y Desarrollo de Negocios, con amplia experiencia en la comercialización de terapias génicas y un historial en empresas como Pfizer y Johnson & Johnson.
Estos nombramientos están alineados con el objetivo estratégico de Ocugen de presentar tres solicitudes de licencia biológica (BLA) en los próximos tres años.
Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN)은 실명 질환을 위한 유전자 치료에 집중하는 생명공학 회사로, 리더십 구조에 중요한 보강을 발표했습니다. 회사는 망막 과학 자문 위원회(Retina Scientific Advisory Board, SAB)에 세 명의 저명한 망막 외과의사인 Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, Dr. Peter K Kaiser, Dr. Arshad M. Khanani를 기존 멤버들과 함께 SAB 의장 Dr. Lejla Vajzovic의 지도 하에 영입했습니다.
또한 Ocugen은 두 명의 핵심 임원 임명을 통해 경영진을 강화했습니다: Dr. Vijay Tammara는 32년 이상의 글로벌 규제 리더십 경험과 9건의 마케팅 승인 실적을 가진 최고개발책임자(Chief Development Officer)로, Abhi Gupta는 화이자(Pfizer)와 존슨앤드존슨(Johnson & Johnson) 등에서 유전자 치료 상업화 경험이 풍부한 상업 및 사업 개발 담당 수석 부사장(Executive Vice President of Commercial and Business Development)으로 임명되었습니다.
이 임명들은 Ocugen이 향후 3년 내에 3건의 생물학적 제제 허가 신청서(BLA)를 추진한다는 전략적 목표와 일치합니다.
Ocugen (NASDAQ : OCGN), une société de biotechnologie spécialisée dans les thérapies géniques pour les maladies de la cécité, a annoncé des ajouts importants à sa structure de direction. L'entreprise a élargi son Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) avec trois chirurgiens rétiniens renommés : le Dr Jeffrey S. Heier, le Dr Peter K Kaiser et le Dr Arshad M. Khanani, qui rejoignent les membres existants sous la direction du président du SAB, le Dr Lejla Vajzovic.
De plus, Ocugen a renforcé son équipe de direction avec deux nominations clés : Dr Vijay Tammara en tant que Chief Development Officer, apportant plus de 32 ans d'expérience en leadership réglementaire mondial et neuf approbations d'autorisations de mise sur le marché, et Abhi Gupta en tant que Vice-Président Exécutif du Commercial et du Développement des Affaires, avec une vaste expérience dans la commercialisation des thérapies géniques et un parcours chez Pfizer et Johnson & Johnson.
Ces nominations s'inscrivent dans l'objectif stratégique d'Ocugen de déposer trois demandes d'autorisation de mise sur le marché de produits biologiques (BLA) au cours des trois prochaines années.
Ocugen (NASDAQ: OCGN), ein Biotechnologieunternehmen, das sich auf Gentherapien für Erblindungskrankheiten spezialisiert hat, hat bedeutende Erweiterungen in seiner Führungsstruktur bekannt gegeben. Das Unternehmen hat seinen Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) um drei renommierte Netzhautchirurgen erweitert: Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, Dr. Peter K Kaiser und Dr. Arshad M. Khanani schließen sich den bestehenden Mitgliedern unter der Leitung des SAB-Vorsitzenden Dr. Lejla Vajzovic an.
Zusätzlich hat Ocugen sein Führungsteam mit zwei Schlüsselernennungen verstärkt: Dr. Vijay Tammara als Chief Development Officer, der über 32 Jahre globale regulatorische Führungserfahrung und neun Zulassungen für Marktzulassungen mitbringt, sowie Abhi Gupta als Executive Vice President für Vertrieb und Geschäftsentwicklung, mit umfassender Erfahrung in der Kommerzialisierung von Gentherapien und einer Erfolgsbilanz bei Unternehmen wie Pfizer und Johnson & Johnson.
Diese Ernennungen stehen im Einklang mit Ocugens strategischem Ziel, in den nächsten drei Jahren drei Biologics License Applications (BLAs) einzureichen.
- Strategic strengthening of scientific expertise with addition of three renowned retinal surgeons to SAB
- Appointment of experienced CDO with track record of 9 Marketing Authorization approvals
- Addition of EVP with extensive gene therapy commercialization experience from major pharma companies
- Clear strategic roadmap with goal of three BLAs in next three years
- None.
MALVERN, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocugen, Inc. (Ocugen or the Company) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a pioneering biotechnology leader in gene therapies for blindness diseases, today announced updates to its Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and Executive Leadership Team to enhance external guidance from key opinion leaders and strengthen the Company’s internal expertise in critical functions and as it pursues its goal of three BLAs in the next three years.
“As our novel modifier gene therapy programs continue to progress and demonstrate positive data in the clinic, it is now more important than ever to solidify an optimized Retina SAB reflecting the absolute best guidance in this space as we move closer to commercialization,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Ocugen. “Additionally, it’s imperative that we ensure our leadership team includes top talent to most effectively execute our corporate strategy.”
Three renowned retinal surgeons who are at the forefront of research and cutting-edge advancements for retinal disease are joining the Retina SAB to help the Company bring meaningful, innovative therapeutic options for patients living with serious retina diseases.
New SAB members include:
Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, Director of the Vitreoretinal Service, and Director of Retina Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston. Dr. Heier is one of the leading retinal clinical researchers in the country for new treatments in exudative and non-exudative macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, venous occlusive disease, vitreoretinal surgical techniques and instrumentation, and diagnostic imaging of the retina. Dr. Heier has contributed extensively to the ophthalmic literature, having authored or co-authored many of the landmark publications in the retinal literature, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, and numerous other journals.
Peter K Kaiser, MD, Chaney Family Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic and Professor of Ophthalmology Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. Dr. Kaiser is the director of the Center for Ocular Research and Evaluation (CORE) and is a major contributor to medical literature having authored seven textbooks, 30 book chapters, and more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is Associate Editor of International Ophthalmology Clinics and serves on the editorial boards of American Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina, Retina Today, and Ocular Surgery News.
Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS, Managing Partner, Director of Clinical Research, and Director of Fellowship at Sierra Eye Associates and Clinical Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. In 2021, Dr. Khanani founded the Clinical Trials at the Summit meeting to foster discussion on clinical trial design and data. Dr. Khanani has been recognized among the top 10 researchers globally on The Ophthalmologist Power List 2025 and has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Macula Society’s Lawrence J. Singerman Medal in 2025 and the American Society of Retina Specialists Presidential Award.
Drs. Heier, Kaiser, and Khanani join SAB chair, Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS, Director of the Duke Surgical Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program and Professor of Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, and Biomedical Engineering with Tenure at Duke University Eye Center; and existing SAB members David S. Boyer, MD, Senior Partner at Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California/Keck School of Medicine, and Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Chief of the Retina Service at Wills Eye Hospital, and founder and former director of the Wills Eye Clinical Retina Research Unit.
To optimize Ocugen’s R&D and clinical efforts and build upon positive momentum pursuing strategic partnerships and developing commercial strategy, the Company has made notable leadership appointments.
Vijay Tammara, PhD, has joined Ocugen in the newly created position of Chief Development Officer and brings over 32 years of global regulatory leadership with deep expertise in biotechnology, biosimilars, 505(b)(2), and complex regulatory submissions. Dr. Tammara has made significant contributions to the approval of nine Marketing Authorizations (MAs)—Biologics License Applications and New Drug Applications (NDAs), two biosimilar MAs in emerging markets, three Abbreviated New Drug Applications, 12 Orphan Drug Designations, seven Qualified Infectious Drug Product Designations, and filed over 62 investigational NDAs with clearance in the first review cycle with no clinical holds. He has successfully led regulatory strategy and operations across the U.S., EU, Latin America, and Asia—including Japan, China, and South Korea. Prior to joining Ocugen, he held senior advisory and leadership roles at the FDA and life sciences companies including Sanofi, Wyeth/Pfizer, and Merck, in addition to leading his own consulting firm.
Abhi Gupta, MBA, has been named Executive Vice President, Commercial and Business Development, following the retirement of Mike Shine. Abhi has more than 20 years of experience across commercial strategy, gene therapy, and corporate development in the biopharmaceutical industry. He has led commercialization planning for transformative rAAV gene therapies and played a pivotal role in building Pfizer’s
Ocugen is honored to partner with this distinguished group of advisors and delighted to welcome Dr. Tammara and Mr. Gupta as the Company sharpens its patient-centric focus to potentially deliver paradigm-changing gene therapies.
About Ocugen, Inc.
Ocugen, Inc. is a pioneering biotechnology leader in gene therapies for blindness diseases. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to address significant unmet medical need for large patient populations through our gene-agnostic approach. Unlike traditional gene therapies and gene editing, Ocugen’s modifier gene therapies address the entire disease—complex diseases that are potentially caused by imbalances in multiple gene networks. Currently we have programs in development for inherited retinal diseases and blindness diseases affecting millions across the globe, including retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and geographic atrophy—late stage dry age-related macular degeneration. Discover more at www.ocugen.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.
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Contact:
Tiffany Hamilton
AVP, Head of Communications
Tiffany.Hamilton@ocugen.com
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