Chief Executive Officer and President

Mr. Katz is an accomplished life science executive with broad, multi-disciplinary background in early-stage technology development and clinical applications. Bob was previously President, CEO & Director of ContraMed, LLC a clinical stage Women’s Health start-up developing novel intrauterine contraceptive products in the drug/device combination category. He was responsible for driving OUS human pilot studies, managing product development for two assets, directing contract manufacturing and clinical & regulatory consultants. Bob successfully raised funds for the design and successful execution of two Phase 2 (IND) US multicenter clinical studies and a successful follow-on Phase 3 US multicenter study for the lead asset. Strong positive outcomes from these studies led to the acquisition of ContraMed by Sebela Pharmaceuticals, a privately held specialty pharma based in Dublin, Ireland.

Prior to ContraMed, Bob held C-level positions in a number of successful venture-backed start-ups whose products are in worldwide commercial and clinical use. He has undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Business from Rutgers University, a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University and an MBA. He is a named inventor on over 25 patents and author of several clinical papers

Founder and Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Alan Franklin is a graduate of Northwestern University (Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering), the Medical College of Ohio/University of Toledo (MD) and Vanderbilt University (PhD Molecular Physiology). His thesis focused upon the molecular biology and cell type specific gene expression in the insulin producing cells of the pancreatic islet.

Dr. Franklin fulfilled ophthalmology residency at Saint Louis University where he was chief resident in 1996-1997, and then completed his clinical training at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. His research work on an anti-vascular agent as a candidate to treat retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration was awarded the best research project by an ophthalmic physician in training at the 1999 Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology meeting. 

Dr. Franklin is a member of the Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists and the European Society of Retina Specialists.