News / Events
NEW CEO APPOINTED
Ophthorobotics Appoints Bernhard Günther as Chairman of the Board of Directors
– Former Novaliq’s longterm CEO and Founder strengthens Ophthorobotics’s management capabilities
Klosters, Switzerland, February 28th, 2023 — Ophthorobotics, a company pioneering the development of an automated intravitreal injections system, today announced that Bernhard Günther has been appointed as the Company’s Chairman of the board of directors of the company, concurrent with his role as CEO, replacing Marco Bundi, PhD who will remain as board member and legal advisor of Ophthorobotics.
Bernhard Günther has more than three decades of healthcare business expertise. He especially brings comprehensive experience in the development and commercialization of ophthalmology products at Novaliq, a global innovation leader in the treatment of Dry Eye Disease. Prior to joining Ophthorobotics, he worked at Novaliq for 15 years, most recently as President of Novaliq Inc. in Cambridge, USA. Before Novaliq, Bernhard Günther was CEO at Fluoron GmbH for 9 years. A company developing and commercializing proprietary intraocular staining solutions and retinal endotamponades. Previous roles in his career include Managing Director Marketing & Sales at Geuder AG, Heidelberg and Chief Executive Officer at Smart Care GmbH, Berlin.
“We are delighted to have Bernhard join our senior executive team as Chairman of the Board,” said Stephan Michels, MD, co-founder, board member and CMO of Ophthorobotics. “We are about to transition into a clinical-stage company and Bernhard ’s expertise and leadership skills will be very valuable for further advancing our robot prototype IID. I want to recognize and thank Marco for his numerous contributions to Ophthorobotics. As the companies’ legal advisor, Marco realigned the company, thus ensuring its financial stability and developmental strength. “
“I am thrilled to join Ophthorobotics at this crucial development stage,” added Bernhard Günther, Ophthorobotics’s new CEO and Chairman of the Board. “Our robotic system is designed to be the first remotely working intravitreal injection system to administer medications for the treatment of sight threatening retinal diseases, in particular age-related macula degeneration. With our lead product IID the company has demonstrated proof-of-mechanism in preclinical models and is currently developing a clinical prototype to enter human trials in 2024. I would also like to thank my predecessor as CEO, Miguel Serrano, for his 1 year of service to Ophthorobotics. “
About Ophthorobotics
Ophthorobotics is pioneering the development of a remote-controlled robotic system for intravitreal injections, specifically for the treatment of age-related macula degeneration. A prototype of ist lead product IID is currently in preclinical trials at the ETH in Zurich. Age related macula degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of blindness in industrialized countries with a blindness prevalence of 8.7%. In the past only the neovascular form of the disease was treatable. However, a new drug for the intravitreal treatment of geographic athropy (GA), a subform of dry AMD, has been recently approved by FDA and might further increase the need for intravitreal injections significantly.
For further information please contact:
Ophthorobotics AG
Bernhard Günther
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board
info@ophthorobotics.com
New CEO appointed
Zürich, June 1st, 2021 Ophthorobotics announced today the appointment of Miguel Serrano as CEO
Ophthorobotics today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Miguel Serrano as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors, effective June 1st, 2021.
He will succeed Prof. Franziska Mathis-Ullrich who served as the CEO since 2016. Serrano previously served as Corporate Vice President at Medtronic.
Miguel has held numerous global leadership roles in healthcare over the last 15 years with a strong record of accomplishments in driving commercial excellence and a proven leader with innovative business vision and the ability to bring people together through a culture of inclusiveness and integrity.
“His vision for healthcare and experience around the world will help Ophthorobotics enter its next chapter of product innovation and growth, leading the expected upcoming launches of our transformative ophthalmic robotic solutions”, said the company.
Regarding his appointment, Miguel Serrano said: "I'm honored to have been chosen to lead the company. The opportunity ahead of us is vast and I am excited to lead and develop Ophthorobotics into the leading partner for robotically- assisted ophthalmic treatments around the world.”
About Ophthorobotics
Ophthorobotics is a swiss technology company, working in close cooperation with leading ophthalmologists and robotic experts at the ETH Zürich on creating transformative treatments for the main ophthalmic diseases, leveraging robotically-assisted technology.
For further information about the company, visit www.ophthorobitcs.com or contact:
contact@ophthorobotics.com
# # #
Zürich, June 1st, 2021
Ophthorobotics will be present at the 33 German International Ophthalmologic Surgeons (DOC) Congress, which is taking place from June 17th to 19th.
Given the COVID sanitary situation, the conference will happen in an online format this year, but Ophthorobotics is proud to continue supporting DOC and be an active participant at this prestigious event.
We will take the opportunity to provide an update and share exciting news about the company.
Over Spring 2021, the company has retaken operations and accelerated the development of its transformative treatments for the main ophthalmic diseases, leveraging robotically-assisted technology.
Ophthorobotics will be on stage on June 18th at 1pm CET on live channel 1. Login can be obtained through:
http://www.doc-nuernberg.de
Roman Ratnaweera has done a magnificent job leading the development of our pre-clinical prototype. After achieving this important milestone, he has decided to travel the world for a while. We wish him only the best and safe travels.
As of October, Roland Dreyfus undertakes the challenging task of technology development and has joined Ophthorobotics on its exciting journey towards the worldwide first assistive injection system for ophthalmology.
CNN Money Anchor Amanda Kayne interviews Franziska Ullrich about the future of robotics eye injections. See the full interview.
Franziska Ullrich presents the future of robotics in the field of ophthalmology at the "Emerging Technologies in Medicine - AI and robotics" conference 2018 at the University Hospital Essen. See more.
Ophthorobotics wins the Pitching Battle at the Swiss Startup Day 2017 on the Medtech stage. Our assistive injection system for ophthalmology convinced the large jury of investors, startup coaches and experts. Big thanks to the organisers and jury for their support!
Ophthorobotics wins the Angels for Ladies Pitching Challenge. We would like to thank the jury and the organisers for the fruitful input and comments.