Miami, FL– Vivex Biologics, Inc., a developer of advanced allograft therapies, has appointed Jon E. Block, Ph.D., as Chief Clinical Officer. A seasoned expert in clinical research and regulatory strategy, Dr. Block brings over four decades of experience to the company as it advances clinical trials for its signature disc regeneration technology, VIA Disc® NP.
In his new role, Dr. Block will oversee the completion of Vivex’s pivotal Ascend and Restore randomized clinical trials for VIA Disc NP, a minimally invasive procedure designed to restore function in patients with symptomatic disc degeneration. These studies are being conducted in both the United States and Australia and represent the company’s push to validate its technology as a new standard of care for chronic low back pain.
Vivex Executive Chairman John A. McCallum described Dr. Block’s appointment as a key milestone for the company’s expansion. “With Dr. Block at the helm of our clinical development programs, we’re poised to accelerate research efforts and expand access to VIA Disc NP, which has already been used to treat over 17,000 degenerated intervertebral discs,” McCallum said.
Co-President Rey Pascual emphasized that the addition of Dr. Block strengthens Vivex’s ability to scale. “His experience, combined with our robust R&D and commercial infrastructure, positions us to grow our footprint and impact across orthopedic and regenerative medicine sectors.”
Dr. Block expressed enthusiasm about joining Vivex and advancing VIA Disc NP’s clinical trajectory. “I’m thrilled to join a forward-thinking company like Vivex,” he said. “The potential of VIA Disc NP to redefine spine care for the most common cause of disability in the U.S. is clear, and I’m committed to helping make it a widely accepted treatment option.”
Before joining Vivex, Dr. Block held leadership roles in startups and major healthcare firms in orthopedics, spine, wound care, and cardiovascular medicine. He previously served as Associate Director at UCSF’s Osteoporosis Research Group and led multiple NIH-funded clinical investigations. He also contributed to key regulatory milestones, including the FDA’s down-classification of pedicle screws—a change that transformed spinal fusion surgery.
Beyond his clinical leadership, Dr. Block has served on advisory boards for prominent device companies and has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He has also advised professional societies such as the North American Spine Society and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery on policy, reimbursement, and coding standards.
