UNITY Biotechnology Appoints Industry Leader and Ophthalmology Expert Yehia Hashad, M.D., to the Board of Directors
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX] has appointed Dr. Yehia Hashad to its Board of Directors and science committee. Dr. Hashad, currently executive vice president of R&D and chief medical officer at Bausch + Lomb, brings over 25 years of ophthalmology and drug development expertise.
This strategic appointment comes as UNITY prepares for its Phase 2b ASPIRE 24-week data readout for UBX1325, a potential treatment for diabetic macular edema. Dr. Hashad's extensive experience includes overseeing 40+ pharmaceutical programs at Allergan Aesthetics and serving as global medical director for macular degeneration treatments at Novartis Pharma AG.
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX] ha nominato il Dr. Yehia Hashad nel suo Consiglio di Amministrazione e nel comitato scientifico. Il Dr. Hashad, attualmente vicepresidente esecutivo di R&D e direttore medico presso Bausch + Lomb, porta con sé oltre 25 anni di esperienza in oftalmologia e sviluppo di farmaci.
Questa nomina strategica arriva mentre UNITY si prepara per il data readout di 24 settimane della Fase 2b ASPIRE per UBX1325, un potenziale trattamento per l'edema maculare diabetico. L'ampia esperienza del Dr. Hashad include la supervisione di oltre 40 programmi farmaceutici presso Allergan Aesthetics e il ruolo di direttore medico globale per i trattamenti della degenerazione maculare presso Novartis Pharma AG.
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX] ha nombrado al Dr. Yehia Hashad en su Junta Directiva y en el comité científico. El Dr. Hashad, actualmente vicepresidente ejecutivo de I+D y director médico en Bausch + Lomb, aporta más de 25 años de experiencia en oftalmología y desarrollo de medicamentos.
Este nombramiento estratégico se produce mientras UNITY se prepara para la lectura de datos de 24 semanas de la Fase 2b ASPIRE para UBX1325, un posible tratamiento para el edema macular diabético. La amplia experiencia del Dr. Hashad incluye la supervisión de más de 40 programas farmacéuticos en Allergan Aesthetics y el cargo de director médico global para tratamientos de degeneración macular en Novartis Pharma AG.
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX]는 이사회 및 과학 위원회에 Dr. Yehia Hashad를 임명했습니다. Dr. Hashad는 현재 Bausch + Lomb의 연구개발 부사장 겸 최고 의학 책임자로, 안과 및 약물 개발 분야에서 25년 이상의 경험을 가지고 있습니다.
이 전략적 임명은 UNITY가 UBX1325의 2b 단계 ASPIRE 24주 데이터 리드아웃을 준비하는 가운데 이루어졌습니다. Dr. Hashad의 폭넓은 경험에는 Allergan Aesthetics에서 40개 이상의 제약 프로그램을 감독하고 Novartis Pharma AG에서 황반 변성 치료의 글로벌 의학 이사로 재직한 경력이 포함됩니다.
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX] a nommé le Dr Yehia Hashad à son conseil d'administration et à son comité scientifique. Le Dr Hashad, actuellement vice-président exécutif de la R&D et directeur médical chez Bausch + Lomb, apporte plus de 25 ans d'expertise en ophtalmologie et en développement de médicaments.
Cette nomination stratégique intervient alors qu'UNITY se prépare pour la lecture des données de 24 semaines de la Phase 2b ASPIRE pour UBX1325, un traitement potentiel pour l'œdème maculaire diabétique. L'expérience étendue du Dr Hashad comprend la supervision de plus de 40 programmes pharmaceutiques chez Allergan Aesthetics et le poste de directeur médical mondial pour les traitements de la dégénérescence maculaire chez Novartis Pharma AG.
UNITY Biotechnology [NASDAQ: UBX] hat Dr. Yehia Hashad in seinen Vorstand und seinen Wissenschaftsausschuss berufen. Dr. Hashad, derzeit Executive Vice President für Forschung und Entwicklung sowie Chief Medical Officer bei Bausch + Lomb, bringt über 25 Jahre Erfahrung in der Augenheilkunde und der Arzneimittelentwicklung mit.
Diese strategische Ernennung erfolgt, während UNITY sich auf die 24-wöchige Datenlesung der Phase 2b ASPIRE für UBX1325, eine potenzielle Behandlung für diabetisches Makulaödem, vorbereitet. Dr. Hashads umfassende Erfahrung umfasst die Überwachung von über 40 pharmazeutischen Programmen bei Allergan Aesthetics und die Tätigkeit als globaler medizinischer Direktor für Behandlungen von Makuladegeneration bei Novartis Pharma AG.
- Strategic addition of experienced ophthalmology expert to board ahead of important Phase 2b trial readout
- New board member brings 25+ years of relevant drug development and commercialization experience
- Strengthened expertise in retinal diseases aligns with UBX1325 development strategy
- None.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (“UNITY”) [NASDAQ: UBX], a biotechnology company developing therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging, today announced that Yehia Hashad, M.D., executive vice president of research and development and chief medical officer at Bausch + Lomb, has been appointed to the Company’s board of directors and as a member of its science committee.
"Dr. Hashad is a highly respected leader in ophthalmology whose expertise will be invaluable as we prepare for the upcoming Phase 2b ASPIRE 24-week data readout and optimize our strategy to potentially advance UBX1325 to late-stage development," said Anirvan Ghosh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of UNITY Biotechnology. "With over two decades of experience in clinical and commercial drug development, Dr. Hashad’s insights will be instrumental in positioning UBX1325 as a much-needed treatment option for patients with diabetic macular edema."
Dr. Hashad is a seasoned ophthalmologist and retinal specialist with more than 25 years of leadership experience in global research and development. In his current position as the executive vice president of research & development and chief medical officer at Bausch + Lomb, he oversees all R&D portfolios across all business units. Previously, he served as senior vice president and head of R&D for Allergan Aesthetics (Abbvie Company), in which he oversaw the development of more than 40 programs that spanned a wide range of pharmaceutical products. Prior to Allergan, Dr. Hashad spent five years with Novartis Pharma AG, where he served as a global medical director for age-related macular degeneration-related treatments Visudyne® and Lucentis® and as a medical director, ophthalmology for the European region. Dr. Hashad obtained his Master of Science in medical and surgical ophthalmology from Cairo University and a business degree from INSEAD in France. He previously served on the boards of The Glaucoma Research Foundation, the National Alliance of Eye and Vision Research, and the University of California Irvine Research Center.
"I am thrilled to join UNITY at this pivotal moment and contribute to its mission to develop the next generation of therapeutics for retinal diseases,” said Dr. Hashad. "I look forward to collaborating with the UNITY team to advance the lead senolytic program and shape an exciting pipeline of future products."
Keith R. Leonard Jr., chairman of the board of UNITY Biotechnology added, "We are delighted to welcome an experienced ophthalmologist and drug development leader like Dr. Hashad to the board and our science committee. Dr. Hashad's strategic perspective and clinical experience will be vital as we continue to advance UBX1325 and develop innovative products in ophthalmology.”
About UNITY
UNITY is developing a new class of therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging. UNITY’s current focus is on creating medicines to selectively eliminate or modulate senescent cells and thereby provide transformative benefit in age-related ophthalmologic and neurologic diseases. More information is available at www.unitybiotechnology.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements related to UNITY’s understanding of cellular senescence and the role it plays in diseases of aging, the potential for UNITY to develop therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging, including for ophthalmologic and neurologic diseases, the potential for UNITY to successfully commence and complete clinical studies of UBX1325 for DME and other ophthalmologic diseases, and the expected timing of results of the clinical trial in UBX1325. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to delay or disruption in clinical trials, risks relating to the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, risks related to the Company’s ability to raise funding and resulting runway, and risks relating to UNITY’s understanding of senescence biology. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it has no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general and the sufficiency of its cash runway, see UNITY’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2025, as well as other documents that may be filed by UNITY from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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FAQ
What is the significance of Dr. Hashad joining UBX's board for the UBX1325 program?
What is UBX1325's target indication according to the latest UBX announcement?
What is Dr. Hashad's current role outside of UBX's board position?
What relevant experience does Dr. Hashad bring to UBX's development programs?
