Diorasis Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering durable gene therapies for glaucoma and other ophthalmic diseases, today announced the appointment of Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, AM (hon.), DHL (hon.), to its Board of Directors. Dr. Azar is a globally recognized leader in ophthalmology, translational medicine, and biotechnology innovation, with a distinguished record of advancing novel therapies and diagnostic technologies for eye diseases.
This appointment marks a significant step for Diorasis Therapeutics as it moves toward clinical development of its lead gene therapy program in glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
A Distinguished Career in Ophthalmic Innovation
Dr. Azar currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and as President and CEO of Lacristat.AI, an ophthalmic technology company advancing artificial intelligence-driven solutions for eye health. Over his career, Dr. Azar has held multiple high-impact leadership roles at the intersection of academia, clinical research, and biotechnology commercialization.
He has served on the Board of Directors at Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, and as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at Verily, Alphabet’s life sciences research organization. In addition, he was a Board Member of Verb Surgical, the joint venture between Verily and Johnson & Johnson focused on developing next-generation surgical robotics.
Dr. Azar previously served as Senior Director at Verily and as the Founding CEO of Twenty Twenty Therapeutics, a joint venture between Santen and Verily. In these roles, he oversaw the development of groundbreaking diagnostic and therapeutic platforms across ophthalmic indications including glaucoma, dry eye disease, presbyopia, and ocular drug delivery.
An accomplished academic and clinician, Dr. Azar is Executive Dean Emeritus and Field Chair of Ophthalmic Research at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Earlier in his career, he served as a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and as a tenured professor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Azar earned his MD from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and completed both his clinical training at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and research fellowship at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, two globally respected institutions in ophthalmology.
Strategic Vision for Diorasis Therapeutics
Welcoming Dr. Azar to the board, Remis Bistras, Chief Executive Officer of Diorasis Therapeutics, said:
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Dimitri Azar to our Board of Directors. His exceptional experience in ophthalmic science, biotechnology leadership, and translational innovation will be invaluable as Diorasis advances its mission to transform glaucoma treatment. Dr. Azar’s deep understanding of both clinical and commercial pathways will help guide Diorasis through its next critical phase of development.”
Diorasis Therapeutics is developing first-in-class gene therapy candidates designed to provide long-lasting intraocular pressure (IOP) control and neuroprotection for patients with glaucoma. Unlike conventional glaucoma therapies that rely on chronic eye drop use or repeated surgical interventions, Diorasis’s approach aims to offer a durable, single-administration treatment that directly addresses disease mechanisms at the cellular and genetic level.
Following a successful Pre-Investigational New Drug (Pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the initiation of GMP manufacturing, Diorasis is preparing to enter clinical trials. The company expects to begin its first-in-human study following the completion of toxicology studies and submission of regulatory documentation.
Advancing Gene Therapy for Glaucoma
Glaucoma affects more than 80 million people worldwide, and despite decades of research, current treatments often fail to halt disease progression or prevent blindness. The chronic nature of the disease, coupled with issues of treatment adherence and limited long-term efficacy, underscores the urgent need for more effective, durable solutions.
Dr. Azar commented on his new role, emphasizing the scientific and societal importance of Diorasis’s mission:
“Glaucoma remains one of the most prevalent and devastating causes of irreversible blindness globally. What excites me about Diorasis is its vision to move beyond chronic, burdensome treatments and deliver a long-term, potentially curative solution through gene therapy. The company’s science has the potential to redefine the standard of care and dramatically improve patients’ quality of life.”
He added:
“For investors and the broader ophthalmic community, Diorasis represents a unique opportunity to participate in the next frontier of precision gene medicine—an approach that could transform how we treat and prevent blindness in millions of patients worldwide.”
