Dean Burns Named President and CEO of Ocumetics

Ocumetics Technology has appointed ophthalmic executive Dean Burns as President and CEO. Mr. Burns, whoj will also join the Ocumetics board of directors, was previously a consultant for Ocumetics, assisting with regulatory and marketing endeavours. Mr. Burns replaces Dr. Mark Lee, who resigned on June 30, 2023.

“We are pleased to have Dean move from a consulting capacity to join our team on a full-time basis in a leadership role,” Dr. Garth Webb, Chairman of the Board of Ocumetics, said in a company news release. “Dean will draw on his 27 years of experience navigating the regulatory process and product commercialization with Alcon Vision to lead Ocumetics as we commence clinical trials."

Mr. Burns is recently retired from Alcon Vision, where he was a Senior Director of Cataract Instrumentation and Advanced Consumable Technology, a $750 million business of Alcon. At Alcon, Mr. Burns managed technologies in four therapeutic categories: Cataract, Refractive, Retinal and Pharmaceutical. Mr. Burns’ 27-year career with Alcon brings a diverse health care experience to Ocumetics. Mr. Burns’ accomplishments include over 15 FDA product approvals and five business development and licensing acquisition projects totaling $2.3 billion.

“I am thrilled to join Ocumetics on a full-time basis,” said Mr. Burns. “Over the past year, in my consulting capacity, I have seen first-hand the market potential of the Ocumetics lens technology. The potential for this technology is incredible and I look forward to leading the process to bring it to market. My 90-day priorities include meeting with shareholders, engaging new investors, and raising capital to fund our phase 1 clinical trials.” 

Ocumetics has developed an expandable intraocular lens that fits within the capsular bag following extracapsular cataract extraction. It is designed to allow the eyes natural muscle activity to shift focus from distance to near, potentially eliminating the need for corrective lenses.