Harrow Appoints Amir H. Shojaei as Chief Scientific Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Harrow (HROW) has appointed Amir H. Shojaei, PharmD, PhD as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Shojaei brings 28 years of life sciences experience, specializing in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercialization of biopharmaceutical products. He previously served as CSO at AsclepiX Therapeutics and held executive roles at TherOptix , Novartis, and Shire Pharmaceuticals.

Notable achievements include his instrumental role in the FDA approval of Xiidra® at Shire Pharmaceuticals in 2013, the first product approved for both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Dr. Shojaei succeeds Dennis E. Saadeh, who is retiring after nearly a decade of service to Harrow.

Positive

• Appointment of experienced CSO with 28 years in life sciences
• New CSO's track record includes FDA approval of successful dry eye treatment Xiidra®
• Strategic expertise in both anterior and posterior segment ophthalmic indications

Negative

• Departure of long-term CSO Dennis Saadeh who developed company's core compounded products

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Harrow (Nasdaq: HROW), a leading North American eyecare pharmaceutical company, today announced that Amir H. Shojaei, PharmD, PhD, has joined Harrow as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). With a remarkable career spanning 28 years in life sciences, Dr. Shojaei brings deep expertise in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and the commercialization of biopharmaceutical and biologic products, including groundbreaking work in anterior and posterior segment ophthalmic indications.

Dr. Shojaei most recently served as CSO and Executive Vice President of Clinical Development at AsclepiX Therapeutics, where he spearheaded the development of innovative therapies for neovascular retinal disorders. Prior to that, he held senior executive roles at leading pharmaceutical companies, including CEO of TherOptix Corporation, where he advanced a novel drug-eluting contact lens platform, and in various leadership roles at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Shire Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Takeda). In 2013, while at Shire Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Shojaei was instrumental in the clinical development and the eventual FDA approval of Xiidra®, the first product approved to treat both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). This milestone achievement revolutionized the DED landscape, solidified his reputation as a visionary leader in ophthalmology, and paved the way for next-generation DED products like VEVYE, which Harrow launched last year.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Shojaei to Harrow,” said Mark L. Baum, Chief Executive Officer of Harrow. “His exceptional scientific acumen, regulatory expertise, and proven track record of driving commercial innovation in eyecare align seamlessly with our mission to make eyecare solutions accessible and affordable. As we leverage our growing presence as a leading North American ophthalmic pharmaceutical company, we are confident that under Dr. Shojaei’s leadership, Harrow will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in preserving and enhancing the gift of sight.”

Dr. Shojaei earned his PharmD and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Pacific. With multiple patents, over 25 peer-reviewed publications, and extensive experience in both the anterior and posterior segments of ophthalmology and other therapeutic areas, he is uniquely positioned to lead Harrow’s next phase of growth.

Dr. Shojaei succeeds Dennis E. Saadeh, PharmD, who is retiring after nearly a decade of service to Harrow, including his most recent role as CSO.

“Since joining Harrow in 2015, Dennis has been a true partner and a driving force behind our success,” Baum continued. “Dennis has been somewhat of an unsung hero in our industry, pioneering the development of all our market-leading compounded products – sight-saving, affordable, and accessible treatments relied upon by thousands of eyecare professionals and millions of Americans. Dennis’s impact on patient care over the past decade cannot be overstated, and his unwavering dedication to our mission has helped establish the real-world scientific excellence that defines Harrow’s approach to serving the ophthalmic community. We honor his enduring legacy with deep gratitude and admiration as we celebrate his remarkable career. Although he will continue to consult with Harrow, we are happy Dennis will have more time to spend with his family and pursue other exciting opportunities.”

About Harrow

Harrow, Inc. (Nasdaq: HROW) is a leading eyecare pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative ophthalmic pharmaceutical products for the North American market. Harrow helps eyecare professionals preserve the gift of sight by making its portfolio of prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical products accessible and affordable to millions of patients each year. For more information about Harrow, please visit harrow.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts may be considered such “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted include, among others, risks related to: liquidity or results of operations; our ability to successfully implement our business plan, develop and commercialize our products, product candidates and proprietary formulations in a timely manner or at all, identify and acquire additional products, manage our pharmacy operations, service our debt, obtain financing necessary to operate our business, recruit and retain qualified personnel, manage any growth we may experience and successfully realize the benefits of our previous acquisitions and any other acquisitions and collaborative arrangements we may pursue; competition from pharmaceutical companies, outsourcing facilities and pharmacies; general economic and business conditions, including inflation and supply chain challenges; regulatory and legal risks, including litigation matters, and other uncertainties related to our pharmacy operations and the pharmacy and pharmaceutical business in general; physician interest in and market acceptance of our current and any future formulations and compounding pharmacies generally. These and additional risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Harrow’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC. Such documents may be read free of charge on the SEC’s web site at sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward‑looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, Harrow undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250107043710/en/

Investors

Jamie Webb

Director of Communications and Investor Relations

jwebb@harrowinc.com

615-733-4737

Media

Deb Holliday

Holliday Communications, Inc.

deb@hollidaycommunications.net

412-877-4519

Source: Harrow, Inc.

FAQ

Who is Harrow's new Chief Scientific Officer and when was he appointed?

Amir H. Shojaei, PharmD, PhD, has been appointed as Harrow's new Chief Scientific Officer. He brings 28 years of experience in life sciences and previously served as CSO at AsclepiX Therapeutics.

What are Dr. Shojaei's major achievements before joining HROW?

Dr. Shojaei was instrumental in the FDA approval of Xiidra® in 2013 while at Shire Pharmaceuticals, developing the first product approved to treat both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.

Who did Dr. Shojaei replace as CSO at Harrow (HROW)?

Dr. Shojaei succeeds Dennis E. Saadeh, PharmD, who is retiring after nearly a decade of service to Harrow, during which he developed the company's market-leading compounded products.

What is Dr. Shojaei's educational background and expertise?

Dr. Shojaei earned his PharmD and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Pacific. He has multiple patents, over 25 peer-reviewed publications, and extensive experience in both anterior and posterior segments of ophthalmology.