Commercializing Demodex Blepharitis with Aziz Mottiwala and Bill Link, PhD

Click here to watch the video version of this podcast.

Aziz Mottiwala, Chief Commercial Officer of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, says the company looks for honest unmet needs when deciding what targets to explore. It also looks for opportunities to be the first or the best.

The company may meet both objectives with TP-03, an antiparasitic agent developed to treat Demodex blepharitis, among other conditions.

Mottiwala describes lotilaner, the molecule behind TP-03 and other Tarsus therapies, as a “pipeline in a molecule.” The company is evaluating formulations of lotilaner for the treatment of Lyme disease and rosacea as well as Demodex blepharitis.

With podcast host Carey Powers, Mottiwala and Bill Link, PhD, Managing Director of Versant Ventures, Founder and Managing Partner of Flying L Parnters and leader of the firm’s ophthalmology venture category, discuss how to execute successful direct-to-consumer campaigns, including the “eyelid check” campaign for Demodex blepharitis.

They also discuss the investment outlook for eye care. With funding harder to come by, start-ups may want to take note of how Dr. Link evaluates companies, which he discusses in this episode. Hint: strong science and a solid business plan are not enough.

Listen to the podcast today to discover:
• The five categories Dr. Link uses to evaluate an eye care company.
• Whether AI-based technologies are an attractive investment.
• How Tarsus evaluates opportunities in the pipeline.
• The Tarsus approach to DTC for TP-03 and why patients aren’t the initial focus.
• How 2023 is shaping up for investment and access to capital.
• Innovation Mottiwala is excited about and how Tarsus may integrate new technology into their commercial activities.
• How technology is impacting how Tarsus builds its organization.

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Resources
Demodex blepharitis campaign: https://eyelidcheck.com
Bill Link: https://www.versantventures.com/team/bill-link-phd and http://flyinglpartners.com/team
Aziz Mottiwala: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azizmottiwala
Carey Powers: https://ois.net/carey-powers