Opthea appoints Anshul Thakral as non-executive director of the board

Opthea Limited, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to treat highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, is pleased to announce the appointment of Anshul Thakral as a Non-Executive Director of the Company’s Board of Directors. Concurrently with this appointment, Michael Sistenich has resigned as a Non-Executive Director, having served for over 7 years on the Board.

Opthea’s Chairman, Dr Jeremy Levin, commented “We are immensely grateful to Michael for his contribution to Opthea. Having joined the Board in 2015, Michael has been a valued contributor to Opthea’s growth as the Company transitioned from early-stage clinical research to a dual ASX-Nasdaq listed company running global registrational Phase 3 clinical trials for wet AMD. We offer our sincere thanks and best wishes to Michael and extend a warm welcome to Anshul as a member of the Board.”

Anshul Thakral is Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Launch Therapeutics, a clinical development company backed by funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle and its life sciences franchise, Abingworth. Opthea’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Dr Megan Baldwin said “Opthea entered into a large, non-dilutive structured financing with Carlyle and Abingworth, in collaboration with Launch Therapeutics in August 2022. Anshul’s joining the Board of Opthea further builds our relationship with the Launch Therapeutics team and we look forward to working closely with Anshul as we advance our Phase 3 program.”

Thakral has worked for over 20 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and is an experienced executive, management consultant and entrepreneur. “I am honored to join the Opthea Board and to work alongside great minds in science and healthcare,” said Thakral. “I feel confident that together, we will continue to find solutions for patients and drive value for shareholders.”

Thakral was previously Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President of Peri and Post-Approval Services at PPD, and prior to that was Global Head of PPD Biotech. Before PPD, Thakral ran the global life sciences business unit at Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) and worked at McKinsey & Company as an associate principal in the health care practice, where he provided strategic advice to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on growth, research and development, business development and commercialization. He currently serves on the boards of TriNetX, Saama Technologies, Orsini Specialty Pharmacy, is an Operating Executive at Carlyle and is a Venture Partner at Abingworth. Thakral holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters Business Administration (MBA) from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
MB Bureau