Ray Therapeutics Strengthens Leadership Team with Key Executive Appointments to Advance Optogenetic Vision Therapies
核心洞察
Ray Therapeutics (搜索) appointed Scott Braunstein, M.D., as Chairman of the Board, bringing over 30 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry experience to guide the company's strategic growth.
The company also named Michael Murtagh as Chief Regulatory Officer, leveraging his two decades of global regulatory expertise to support development of optogenetic gene therapies.
Ray Therapeutics (搜索) is currently evaluating RTx-015 in a Phase 1 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa (搜索) and preparing to dose the first patient in a Phase 1 trial of RTx-021 for Stargardt disease (搜索).
Ray Therapeutics (搜索), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing optogenetic gene therapies for vision restoration, has announced two key executive appointments to strengthen its leadership team as the company advances its pipeline through clinical development. The company appointed Scott Braunstein, M.D., as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Michael Murtagh as Chief Regulatory Officer, bringing decades of combined industry experience to support the development of innovative treatments for blinding diseases.
Strategic Leadership Addition
Dr. Braunstein brings over 30 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry experience to his new role as Chairman. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage company focused on rare forms of epilepsy, until its acquisition by Immedica Pharma AB. His extensive background also includes serving as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Chief Operating Officer at Pacira Pharmaceuticals (搜索), Inc., and 12 years with J.P. Morgan Asset Management (搜索) as a Managing Director, Healthcare Analyst, and Portfolio Manager of the J.P. Morgan Global Healthcare Fund.
"We are excited and privileged to welcome Scott as Chairman of the Board," said Paul Bresge, CEO & Co-Founder of Ray Therapeutics (搜索). "Scott's unique background across clinical medicine, investment management, and executive leadership in biopharma will be instrumental as we advance RTx-015 and RTx-021 through the clinic. Scott's proven track record of guiding companies through strategic growth and value creation will help us progress our mission of restoring vision for millions of people with blinding diseases."
Dr. Braunstein has been an operating partner at Aisling Capital since 2015 and currently serves on multiple boards, including Aegle Therapeutics (Chairman), AtaiBeckley (Vice Chair), Caribou Biosciences, Inc., RAPT Therapeutics, and One Biosciences. He began his career as a practicing physician at the Summit Medical Group and as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center.
Regulatory Expertise Enhancement
The company also appointed Michael Murtagh as Chief Regulatory Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience in regulatory affairs. Murtagh has led multiple Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs), Clinical Trial Applications (CTAs) and marketing applications across therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular disease, neurology and inborn errors of metabolism.
"Michael's strong background and wealth of knowledge across all aspects of regulatory affairs including late-stage clinical development will be instrumental for our lead candidate, RTx-015 for retinitis pigmentosa (搜索) as well as our earlier-stage RTx-021 programs in Stargardt Disease (搜索) and Geographic Atrophy (搜索)," said Bresge. "His appointment reflects our continued focus on building a leadership team with the expertise needed to support the development of differentiated, best-in-class optogenetic therapies for patients with vision loss."
Prior to joining Ray Therapeutics (搜索), Murtagh served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at AAVantgarde Bio (搜索), where he oversaw regulatory strategy. His experience includes senior regulatory leadership roles at Vedere Bio II, Astellas Gene Therapies (搜索) (formerly Audentes Therapeutics), and BioMarin Pharmaceutical, where he helped shape regulatory strategies for innovative gene therapy and biologic programs.
Clinical Pipeline Progress
Ray Therapeutics (搜索)' lead program, RTx-015, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial to treat retinitis pigmentosa (搜索) (RP). The company is also poised to dose the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial of RTx-021 for Stargardt disease (搜索). The optogenetic approach is designed to deliver a bioengineered, highly light-sensitive protein to targeted retinal cells to improve visual function regardless of the underlying genetic mutation.
RTx-015 targets retinal ganglion cells (搜索), while RTx-021 targets retinal bipolar cells (搜索) for Stargardt disease (搜索) and geographic atrophy (搜索). The technology represents a novel approach to treating retinal degeneration by restoring light sensitivity to damaged retinal tissue.
Addressing Significant Unmet Need
Retinitis pigmentosa (搜索) is a genetic disease in which photoreceptors (搜索) gradually degenerate, resulting in complete or nearly complete blindness for most patients. Symptoms include night blindness, reduced visual fields, and eventual loss of visual acuity, with patients typically diagnosed in the first decades of life. More than half a million people are affected by RP worldwide, and no effective treatment is currently available.
"Ray Therapeutics (搜索) has a truly unique opportunity to usher in a new generation of bioengineered optogenetic medicines for those with blinding diseases," said Dr. Braunstein. "I am impressed by the scientific rigor behind RayTx's programs and the management team's commitment to patient outcomes. I look forward to working with the executive leadership team and the Board on a variety of strategic and operational initiatives as we work to translate this promising technology into approved therapies for those living with RP and other retinal diseases."
The Berkeley, California-based company continues to advance its mission of restoring vision for patients with severe retinal degeneration through its innovative optogenetic gene therapy platform.