CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— Aviceda Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation immunomodulators, announced on Monday the appointment of Jeffrey Nau, Ph.D., M.M.S., as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Nau will also join the company’s board of directors.
Nau, a veteran biopharmaceutical executive, brings more than two decades of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He most recently served as chief operating officer at Kalaris Therapeutics, where he played a key role in guiding the company’s operational strategy and facilitating its merger with Allovir Inc.
Previously, Nau was the CEO of Oyster Point Pharma, where he led the company’s initial public offering in 2019, secured more than $300 million in funding and oversaw its acquisition by Viatris in 2023. Under his leadership, the company launched Tyrvaya, the first FDA-approved nasal spray for treating dry eye disease, and developed an investigational Enriched Tear Film Gene Therapy program.
Nau’s career also includes leadership roles at pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms such as Genentech, where he contributed to the development and commercialization of Lucentis, a therapy that revolutionized blindness treatment and reached peak global sales of approximately $4 billion. He was also involved in the early development of Izervay, a prescription eye injection for geographic atrophy, at Ophthotech, later known as Iveric Bio.
“Dr. Nau is a proven growth architect with a track record of scaling companies and steering them through critical value-inflection points, including successful financings, commercial launches and strategic M&A,” said David Guyer, M.D., board chair of Aviceda. “His expertise makes him the ideal leader to drive Aviceda’s next phase of growth. With his deep ophthalmology experience, he will be invaluable as we advance AVD-104 into pivotal trials for geographic atrophy.”
Nau holds a Ph.D. in public health and epidemiology from Walden University, a Master of Medical Science from Drexel University College of Medicine, and a B.S. in biology from Stony Brook University. He is an inventor on multiple patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.
“I am honored to join Aviceda and look forward to working with this talented team to advance our pipeline, forge strategic partnerships and deliver breakthrough therapies that could transform the treatment of geographic atrophy and other serious diseases,” Nau said.
