#7 – David Esposito, President and CEO of ONL Therapeutics

David Esposito’s Journey

David Esposito has had a 30-year career in life sciences, starting with Merck, a large Pharma company, where he held roles in sales, marketing, and commercial strategy. After 15 years with Merck, Esposito transitioned to early and mid-stage healthcare, leading a few diagnostic businesses and experiencing both successful exits and challenging bankruptcies. Currently, he is the CEO of ONL Therapeutics, a mid-stage biotech company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

ONL Therapeutics: An Overview

ONL Therapeutics is a university spin-out startup that develops therapeutics to block the FAS receptor on retinal cells, which is activated in diseases or stress states such as glaucoma, wet or dry age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment. Their lead compound, a 12 amino acid peptide delivered via intravitreal injection, has shown promising results in three phase one studies. The company is now halfway through a phase two study in retinal detachment and preparing for phase two studies in other areas.

The Evolving Landscape of Retinal Disease Treatment

The landscape of retinal disease treatment has seen significant changes in recent years. For dry age-related macular degeneration, the approval of anti-complement therapies has been a game-changer for patients who previously had no approved therapies. ONL Therapeutics is also preparing to enter this space with a phase two study. In glaucoma, the focus has traditionally been on lowering intraocular pressure, but ONL Therapeutics is changing the game with a neuroprotective agent.

The Role of AI and Machine Learning in Biotechnology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have potential applications in biotechnology, particularly in patient identification. For conditions like dry AMD, AI can help identify patients who are likely to progress faster, which can be beneficial for physicians, patients, and drug developers. However, the practical application of AI requires thoughtful integration of data, which is a challenge in healthcare.

What’s Next for ONL Therapeutics?

ONL Therapeutics is excited about the future. They are focused on completing their phase two study in retinal detachment and starting a phase two study in geographic atrophy. They are also making progress in their work in open-angle glaucoma and are actively seeking funding for their phase two studies.