21 October 2016 - - US-based biopharmaceutical company Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCUL) has appointed Andy Hurley to the newly created position of chief commercial officer, the company said.

In this role, Hurley will be responsible for leading Ocular's commercial organisation, focusing on effective execution of potential future product launches, brand development, and ongoing commercialization strategies.

Hurley has over two decades of sales, marketing, market access and commercial operations experience across the pharmaceutical industry.

Most recently, Hurley served as vice president, sales and marketing at Dyax Corp. prior to its acquisition by Shire in January 2016.

In this role, Hurley led the strategic and tactical launch planning for the launch of DX-2930, a product candidate under development for the treatment of hereditary angioedema, or HAE.

Prior to Dyax, Hurley held several senior positions within Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, including vice president of marketing and vice president of commercial operations.

At Sunovion, he was responsible for leading all marketing activities for its asthma franchise, including overall strategic planning, life cycle strategy, advertising campaigns, and market research.

He also led commercial operations functions including sales training, relationship marketing and sales operations.

Earlier in his career, Hurley held commercial operations and sales roles at NitroMed and Forest Pharmaceuticals.

Hurley has also held various consulting roles, providing commercial strategy development and tactical support to the biotech industry.

Ocular Therapeutix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye using its proprietary hydrogel platform technology.

The company has submitted an NDA for post-surgical pain for its lead product candidate, Dextebza (dexamethasone insert, extended release), which is in Phase 3 clinical development for post-surgical ocular inflammation and pain and allergic conjunctivitis, and in Phase 2 clinical development for dry eye disease.

OTX-TP (sustained release travoprost) is in Phase 3 clinical development for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Ocular Therapeutix is also evaluating sustained-release injectable drug depots for back-of-the-eye diseases. Ocular Therapeutix's first product, ReSure Sealant, is FDA-approved to seal corneal incisions following cataract surgery.