Okogen Names Ophthalmology Industry Veteran Joshua Moriarty as New CEO

Okogen announced the appointment of Joshua Moriarty as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Moriarty will immediately commence the role previously held by Co-Founder Brian Strem, PhD, who will remain with the company as a director.  

“Few individuals in the ophthalmology community have the breadth of experience, expertise and relationships that Joshua brings to Okogen, having worked closely with hundreds of companies at various stages of ocular therapeutic development,” Dr. Strem said in a company news release. “He has been on the path with Okogen from the very start as one of our trusted partners and was a natural choice to lead Okogen to the next stage.”  

With 17 years in ophthalmic product development, Mr. Moriarty will lead Okogen and the further development of OKG-0502 following positive results from the interim analysis of the RUBY Trial. OKG-0502, Okogen’s lead development candidate, is a fixed-dose combination of a broad-spectrum antiviral (OKG-0301) and an ocular decongestant that addresses the associated signs and symptoms of adenoviral conjunctivitis. Prior to Okogen, Mr. Moriarty held various positions at Ora Inc., an ophthalmic clinical research and product development firm, most recently as Executive Director. He spent considerable time working alongside small to mid-size ophthalmic companies traversing the development process including strategic planning, fundraising, coordinating IND-enabling activities, and executing clinical and regulatory pathways.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of treatments to effectively suppress viruses, and adenoviral conjunctivitis is no different. An antiviral product has been one of the major unaddressed needs for the front of the eye, with practitioners currently having no available treatment in their armamentarium,” said Mr. Moriarty. “Products filling unmet medical needs have always excited me, and I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a front row seat to the successful development of several. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to lead Okogen and develop a product that will have an impact on millions of patients’ lives globally.”