Oxurion NV appoints Grace Chang, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer

Oxurion NV appoints Grace Chang, M.D., Ph.D.
as Chief Medical Officer

Key appointment as Oxurion progresses the clinical development of
THR-149 and THR-687 building innovative Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) therapy franchise

Leuven, Belgium , 03 August 2020 – 08.00 CET – Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels: OXUR), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of next-generation therapies to treat diabetic eye disease, with a focus on diabetic macular edema,  today announces the appointment of Grace Chang, M.D., Ph.D. as the company’s Chief Medical Officer, effective August 1, 2020.

Dr. Chang is a board-certified ophthalmologist and practicing vitreoretinal surgeon with deep expertise in ophthalmic drug research and development. She will be responsible for leading the Company’s clinical programs for both THR-687 and THR-149 as Oxurion looks to build a world-leading diabetic macular edema (DME) franchise that could provide much improved therapeutic solutions for all DME patients.

Dr. Chang joins Oxurion from Notal Vision Inc, where she held the position of CMO and was responsible for the scientific and clinical strategy, clinical development and medical affairs programs. She is currently an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Service at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA.

Prior to this, Dr. Chang held several high-level clinical and strategic roles at Alcon Laboratories, a former subsidiary of Novartis, following a faculty appointment at the University of Washington.

Dr. Chang completed her ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, MA. Additionally, Dr. Chang earned her M.D. from Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

“I am thrilled to be joining Oxurion at such an important point in the company’s development and I look forward to leading the clinical trials of THR-149 and THR-687, two novel molecules targeting DME with modes of action different from anti-VEGFs.” said Dr. Grace Chang. “DME is a leading cause of adult visual loss in developed countries, and new approaches are urgently needed for patients including those who do not respond optimally to anti-VEGF therapy. As a practicing vitreoretinal surgeon, I am excited about THR-687 and THR-149 and their potential to satisfy the needs of all patients with DME.”