News
Recent News
04/02/2025
VCU startup wins $800k grant to propel its infection-fighting surgical gel
With an innovation that could advance brain and spinal surgeries, a Virginia Commonwealth University startup has received an $800,000 state grant to support development of its infection-fighting gel. Pascal Medical Corp. is one of four grant recipients to receive awards from Virginia Catalyst, a nonprofit created by the General Assembly and funded by the state’s general …
04/02/2025
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Announces Additional Positive ‘Whole Body’ Clinical Data from Ongoing Pediatric Netherton Syndrome Study and Approval to Initiate Testing of a Second Pediatric Patient
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: QNRX) (the “Company” or “Quoin”), a late clinical stage, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products that treat rare and orphan diseases, today announces additional highly positive clinical data from its ongoing Investigator Pediatric Netherton Syndrome (NS) study. After 6 weeks of continued whole body application …
04/02/2025
Charlottesville Angel Network Celebrates 10 Years, Surpasses $20 Million in Investments
The Charlottesville Angel Network (CAN), a group of accredited investors dedicated to supporting early-stage ventures, proudly marks its 10th anniversary this month. Since its inception, CAN angel investor members have invested more than $20 million in nearly 80 startups, fostering innovation both locally and beyond. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, CAN has realized returns …
“Robert is a proven industry leader with extensive and highly relevant experience in Ophthalmology and DED,” said Anil Asrani, President and CEO of TearSolutions. “I am genuinely excited and honored to have Robert join our board, as we work together to bring next generation therapeutics to patients suffering from the maladies associated with ocular surface disease.”
“I’m thrilled to work closely with the TearSoultions team to help advance their programs and take the Company to the next level,” said Robert Dempsey. “With their lead product’s highly differentiated and well-characterized mechanism of action, human clinical data illustrating speed of relief, safety, and a best-in-class tolerability profile, as well as the potential to work in a majority of patients, I believe we have a novel disease-modifying solution that can bring much needed relief to patients as well as their treating physicians.”
Robert brings more than two decades of domestic and global leadership experience in the Ophthalmology space driving successful drug development in public and private sectors through efficient organizational structure and capital investments. His widespread experience in Ophthalmology stems from diverse leadership roles across commercial, business development, medical affairs, and venture-backed startups. Currently, Robert serves as the Chief Executive Officer at AsclepiX Therapeutics focused on advancing an integrin regulating peptide for posterior segment diseases and recently led a successful Series A-3 financing. He joined Asclepix in 2021, after serving as the Chief Executive Officer for TearClear where he accelerated the business and commercial strategies including a successful Series B financing and positive FDA engagements. Prior to that, he served as the Global Head of Ophthalmology at Shire, then Takeda, responsible for one of the top ten largest biopharma M&A deals in 2019, the divestiture of Xiidra® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, to Novartis in June 2019 for up to $5.3B.