James Mazzo named executive chairman of Neurotech Pharmaceuticals

Neurotech Pharmaceuticals has appointed James Mazzo as executive chairman. The former CEO of Abbott Medical Optics (AMO), he is an operating partner at the venture capital firm Versant Ventures and was recently named chairman and CEO of AcuFocus, a Versant portfolio company.

As executive chairman at Neurotech, Mazzo will work to advance the biotech company's novel technology platform through the clinical development stage toward market availability.

The company's patented core technology platform, Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT), is a genetically engineered implant that enables the continuous delivery of protein drugs directly into the vitreous. The company has demonstrated that a single living ECT implant can treat a diseased retina for two years or more, thereby eliminating the need for monthly injections.

ECT can be adapted to also generate protein drugs targeting uveitis, glaucoma and other ophthalmic indications.

Neurotech's lead ECT-based product candidates include NT503 for the treatment of wet AMD (phase 2), and Renexus (NT501) for the treatment of macular telangiectasia (pre-phase 2).