NovaBridge’s Visara Subsidiary Appoints Distinguished Ophthalmology Leaders as Chief Medical Officer and Scientific Advisory Board Chair to Drive VIS-101 Forward

Core Insights - NovaBridge Biosciences announced the appointment of Dr. Cadmus C. Rich as Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Carlos Quezada-Ruiz as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for its subsidiary Visara, Inc. [1][2][3] Company Developments - The appointments of Dr. Rich and Dr. Quezada-Ruiz highlight Visara's commitment to developing innovative ophthalmic therapies, particularly the VIS-101 program targeting wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) [2][5][12] - Dr. Rich aims to accelerate the development of new ophthalmology treatments and is focused on completing the Phase 2 study of VIS-101 [2][12] - Dr. Quezada-Ruiz brings extensive experience in retinal therapies and emphasizes the need for more durable treatment options for retinal diseases [2][10] Product Pipeline - VIS-101 is a bifunctional biologic targeting VEGF-A and ANG-2, with potential applications in wet AMD, diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) [5][12][17] - The drug is expected to be Phase 3-ready in 2026, following the completion of its current Phase 2 study [5][12] Leadership Expertise - Dr. Rich has a strong background in ophthalmology and drug development, having previously held leadership roles in various biopharmaceutical companies [4][6][7] - Dr. Quezada-Ruiz has significant experience in the global development of retinal therapies and has held senior positions at major pharmaceutical companies [8][9][10] Strategic Vision - The appointments are part of NovaBridge's strategic transformation into a global biotech platform, showcasing its ability to attract top-tier talent in the industry [3][5] - The company aims to deliver value to shareholders through its innovative "hub-and-spoke" strategy [3]