Qlaris Bio Taps Veteran CEO to Helm Glaucoma Drug Through Final Trials

DEDHAM, Mass. – March 10, 2026 – Clinical-stage biotechnology firm Qlaris Bio has appointed seasoned ophthalmology executive Fred Guerard, Pharm.D., as its new president and chief executive officer, a strategic move signaling its determined push to bring a novel glaucoma therapy to market. The appointment, effective March 1, 2026, places a leader with extensive late-stage development and commercialization experience at the helm just as the company prepares to advance its lead candidate, QLS-111, into pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials.

Dr. Guerard, who will also join the Board of Directors, succeeds company co-founder Thurein Htoo. Mr. Htoo, credited with guiding Qlaris from its inception through critical early development, will remain with the company until April 1, 2026, to ensure a smooth leadership transition. The change marks a pivotal moment for the company as it shifts focus from early-stage discovery to the demanding and capital-intensive final phase of clinical validation and commercial preparation.

A Strategic Play for Late-Stage Success

The decision to bring in Dr. Guerard is a clear strategic maneuver to leverage his deep experience in navigating the complex final stages of drug development. His career spans more than two decades and includes leadership roles at some of the largest and most innovative companies in the eye care space.

“As Qlaris advances QLS-111 into Phase 3 clinical development, we are pleased to welcome Fred as our next chief executive officer,” said Ron Hunt, chairman of the board of directors of Qlaris. “His proven ability to build high-performing teams and drive clinical and commercial execution will be invaluable as we enter this pivotal stage of growth.”

Dr. Guerard’s most recent tenure as CEO of Opthea underscores the high-stakes environment he is accustomed to. There, he led the company through two large-scale, international Phase 3 trials for its wet AMD candidate, sozinibercept. While those trials ultimately did not meet their primary endpoints in August 2025, his leadership was instrumental in managing the difficult aftermath, which included a solvent wind-down of the program and a settlement with investors.

Prior to Opthea, he was president and CEO of Graybug Vision, where he successfully guided the company through a Series C financing and its initial public offering (IPO), while advancing a late-stage candidate for wet AMD and moving a glaucoma asset into the clinic. He ultimately orchestrated the company's merger with CalciMedica in 2022. His long career at Novartis was particularly formative, culminating in his role as Worldwide Franchise Head of Ophthalmology. There, he oversaw the complex integration of the Novartis Retina and Alcon Pharmaceuticals businesses and was a key architect in expanding the company's pipeline through strategic deals, including the acquisition of Encore Vision and the in-licensing of Luxturna outside the U.S.

Redefining Glaucoma Treatment with a Novel Mechanism

At the heart of Qlaris Bio’s strategy is QLS-111, a first-in-class drug candidate that represents a fundamentally new approach to treating glaucoma. This topical, preservative-free eye drop is designed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) by targeting a pathway often overlooked by existing therapies: the episcleral venous pressure (EVP).

Current standard-of-care treatments, such as prostaglandin analogs and beta-blockers, primarily work by either reducing the production of aqueous humor (the fluid inside the eye) or increasing its outflow through the trabecular meshwork and uveoscleral pathways. QLS-111, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel modulator, works differently. It acts as a vasodilator, relaxing and widening the veins responsible for draining fluid from the eye, thereby directly lowering EVP and, consequently, overall IOP.

This novel mechanism could address a significant unmet need for glaucoma patients who do not achieve their target IOP with conventional drugs, or for whom elevated EVP is a primary driver of their condition. The potential of this approach was demonstrated in two Phase 2 clinical trials, Osprey and Apteryx, where QLS-111 showed a sustained reduction in IOP with a favorable safety profile.

“I am honored to join Qlaris at this pivotal moment,” said Dr. Guerard. “QLS-111 represents a differentiated and potentially transformative approach to lowering intraocular pressure by targeting the episcleral vein through its novel vasodilatory mechanism. I look forward to working with Qlaris’ talented team to advance our Phase 3 program and prepare the organization for commercialization.”

Navigating the Competitive Ophthalmology Landscape

The global glaucoma market is a multi-billion dollar industry, but it is crowded and highly competitive. Qlaris Bio and QLS-111 are entering a field dominated by established pharmaceutical giants and a flurry of biotechs pursuing various next-generation solutions. These include sustained-release drug delivery implants, gene therapies, and other novel-mechanism drugs like Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, which can also have a secondary effect on episcleral venous pressure.

QLS-111’s differentiation lies in its primary, direct-acting mechanism on EVP, potentially offering a new tool for ophthalmologists and a new source of hope for patients. Dr. Guerard's appointment is a testament to the high-stakes game of talent acquisition in biotech. The movement of experienced executives like Guerard—who holds board seats at Lenz Therapeutics, CalciMedica, and others—often signals where investors and industry insiders see the most promising science and market potential. His arrival at Qlaris suggests a strong belief in the company's asset and its ability to compete in a challenging market.

A Legacy of Innovation and a Seamless Transition

The leadership change also shines a light on the foundational work of outgoing CEO Thurein Htoo. As a co-founder, Mr. Htoo was instrumental in creating Qlaris Bio and transforming the initial science, originally discovered at Mayo Clinic, into a viable clinical program. He successfully navigated the company through preclinical studies and two positive Phase 2 trials, positioning QLS-111 for the final, critical stage of development.

The board expressed deep appreciation for his leadership. “We are grateful to Thurein, co-founder and previous CEO, for his many invaluable contributions in co-founding the company and in providing strong leadership through the early phases of pre-clinical and clinical development,” stated Wende Hutton, a Qlaris board member and general partner at Canaan Partners. “Qlaris is now in a strong position to take QLS-111 through late-stage development, and we wish to thank Thurein for his outstanding efforts in leading the company to this point.”

With Dr. Guerard at the helm, the focus now sharpens on execution. The upcoming Phase 3 trials will require significant capital and flawless operational management. Dr. Guerard’s experience with fundraising, including taking a company public, will be critical as Qlaris likely seeks the substantial investment needed to fund these trials and build out a commercial infrastructure. For the millions of people worldwide living with glaucoma, the progress of QLS-111 under its new leadership represents a promising step toward a potential new standard of care.