Timothy E. Morris has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of Opthea Limited, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to address unmet need in the treatment of highly prevalent and progressive retinal diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Mr Morris is a veteran pharmaceutical executive based in the United States with extensive industry experience leading financial teams of public and private biotechnology companies. His accomplishments include raising over $2.5 billion in equity and convertible securities for seven companies and the completion of over 95 transactions.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr Morris, whose more than 25 years CFO experience with public biotechnology companies will benefit Opthea as we prepare for Phase 3 trial results and advance pre-commercial activities,” commented Dr Megan Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Opthea. “Mr Morris has a proven track-record that includes financial management of companies that have successfully developed and commercialised small molecules, biologics, and cell therapy. His expertise in the field and extensive investor networks will further help to position Opthea as a globally recognised leader in ophthalmology.”
We are delighted to welcome Mr Morris, whose more than 25 years CFO experience with public biotechnology companies will benefit Opthea as we prepare for Phase 3 trial results and advance pre-commercial activities
Mr Morris said, “I’m thrilled to be a part of a global company poised to improve the lives of people suffering from retinal eye diseases. With the completion of the recent financing with Carlyle, Abingworth, and their development company Launch Therapeutics, I look forward to contributing my business skills, and leveraging my successful transaction and financing experience to build on the achievements the Opthea team has created so far in anticipation of completion of the ShORe and COAST pivotal Phase 3 studies.”
Mr Morris has an extensive professional finance and accounting background in both public and private companies, including over 25 years in public biotechnology companies as CFO. He joins Opthea from Humanigen, Inc. where he served as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer since his appointment in August 2020. Previously, Mr Morris was CFO of Iovance Biotherapeutics which raised over US$1 billion in four offerings to fund expansion of the clinical development program, build manufacturing capability and to prepare for commercialisation. During that time, the market capitalisation of IOVA increased five times in three years. Prior to IOVA, Mrs Morris was CFO of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, VIVUS Inc., and Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is currently on the Board of Directors of DBV Technologies S.A., Aquestive Therapeutics, Humanetics Corporation and Univercells S.A. Mr. Morris earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from California State University, Chico.
Mr Morris’ appointment as CFO of Ophthea commenced 24 October 2022.
