CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PHARMA AND HEALTH SCIENCES IN
OPHTHALMOLOGY

• Wai started Tiresias Biopharma Consulting in 2024 to bring his experience as a drug-developer, physician, and vision scientist to clients in ophthalmology.

• From 2020-2024, Wai was the inaugural Retinal Diseases Discovery Head in the Retina Disease Area Stronghold at Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) Innovative Medicine, where he initiated the establishment of a state-of-the-art retinal discovery research facility in the Bay Area, and led the recruitment of a leading research team.  He oversaw the creation of portfolio of early retina programs, including assets in novel platforms such as oligonucleotides and gene therapy, and advanced a small-molecule program to clinical development for common retinal diseases. 

• Up to 2020, Wai was a tenured senior investigator and faculty member at the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he led a NIH-funded laboratory investigating neuroinflammation as a driver of retinal diseases.  At the NIH, he provided clinical care as a board-certified ophthalmologist and retinal specialist and served as the lead and responsible investigator on a number of Phase 1/2 trials and Phase 3 in retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and rare retinal diseases. 

• He received Bachelor’s degrees from MIT in both Chemical Engineering and Biology, MD and PhD degrees from Washington University School of Medicine, and residency and postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and the NIH.  He has received research training in the laboratories/teams of Robert Langer (MIT), Rudolf Jaenisch (MIT), Rachel Wong (Wash U), Jean Bennett (UPenn), Emily Chew (NIH), and Frederick Ferris (NIH).

• Wai is a highly cited author on >150 publications and patents in leading journals (>15K citations, h-index = 67) and has been a speaker/organizer of >100 lectures/symposia/workshops.  His work has been recognized in awards including the Sayer Vision Research Award (NIH), Young Investigator Award (Macula Society), Secretariat and Achievement Awards (American Academy of Ophthalmology)​.

• Wai is closely connected to the ophthalmology community and KOL networks. He holds an active medical license and current board-certification by the America Board of Ophthalmology.  He has been a member of the Macula Society since 2009 and is an active reviewer for major ophthalmology journals and grant review committees.  In 2024, he served as the co-organizer of the inaugural Keystone Meeting on Dry AMD in Monterey, CA. 

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• As a consultant, he will;

  • Leverage extensive domain expertise in ophthalmology to generate valuable insights for clients

  • Navigate complex landscape of the ophthalmology sector, advising strategy across disease indications and drug platform

  • Provide insightful analysis and interpretation of preclinical and clinical research data, driving optimization of next steps

  • Advise effective communication of scientific/medical concepts to diverse audiences, including investors, regulatory agencies, internal management, and medical and patient communities

  • Build trusted and consequential partnerships with key stakeholders, utilizing established professional networks.

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Consulting activities with prior and current clients:​

• Large pharma companies: 

  • Served as Key-opinion Leader (KOL) and Subject-Matter Expert (SME), including speaking at internal workshop panels and appointment to Scientific Advisory Boards.

  • Advised and guided strategy on indications, platforms, and targets in ophthalmology programs (clinical and preclinical), supporting activities across entire ophthalmology drug development spectrum (scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial)

• Biotech and start-ups: 

  • Advised preclinical drug development programs, including target identification, lead selection and optimization, selection of models/studies for scientific POC data, PK/PD studies, and toxicological studies. 

  • Served as domain area expert to provide broad background on ophthalmological diseases, solicit and organize KOL input, formulate TPPs, and advise clinical operation considerations.

  • Crafted and formulated clinical development strategy including outcome measure selection and trial design.  Supported clinical translation of preclinical programs towards IND preparation, FIH/PH1/2 studies, and pivotal studies.

  • Advised and supported business development efforts from strategic, scientific, and clinical perspectives.  Engaged in pitch-deck creation, narrative development, and providing in-person and virtual pitch presentations and responses to partner Q&A. 

• Venture capital companies: 

  • Provided quantitative data analysis and interpretation of released clinical data for investment considerations.

  • Advised on strategic aspects of investment decisions, including competitive landscape, practitioner/patient/payer perspectives, benefit/risk assessments, and regulatory aspects.