Patrick Tresserras Former CEO & founder, Avizorex Pharma (acquired by Aerie in 2019)

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Dr Robert Rothman is joined by Patrick Tresserras, former CEO & Co-founder of Avizorex Pharma which was sold to Aerie in 2019. Dr. Rothman hones in on Patrick’s unique ability to identify promising academic assets to address unmet medical needs. Patrick’s first start-up Avizorex was founded in 2013 based on a technology originated from research conducted by Professor Carlos Belmonte at the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, Spain. The science involved temperature-sensitive neurons in tear film regulation. Patrick convinced Professor Belmonte to partner with him and then went on to secure financing and assemble a team to transform Avizorex’s lead candidate AVX-012 (a selective TRPM8 agonist eye drop) from an early stage preclinical asset into a novel Dry Eye Disease product candidate.  Following positive phase 2 data, Patrick successfully structured an  acquisition deal with Aerie just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. We also learn about Patrick’s next venture, another ophthalmic startup “Innerva” that is developing INE-01, an ocular formulation of a PIEZO2 antagonist as the active ingredient for treatment of ocular surface pain. Innerva’s lead asset INE-01 being developed under IP license from University of Tennessee Research Foundation.

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