OKYO Pharma Limited announced that ophthalmology veteran Robert Dempsey will become its chief executive officer, effective immediately. Dempsey joins the board as an executive director and brings more than two decades of experience in ophthalmic drug development, commercialization, and strategic transactions, most notably leading the launch and divestiture of Xiidra while at Shire and Takeda.
Gary Jacob, the company’s outgoing CEO, will transition to chief development officer and continue to serve on the board. Jacob’s move preserves continuity in the company’s development strategy while allowing Dempsey to focus on commercial execution and growth.
The appointment is positioned to accelerate OKYO’s progress on its lead asset, urcosimod, a lipid‑conjugated chemerin peptide agonist that has received Fast Track designation from the FDA for neuropathic corneal pain. Dempsey’s proven track record in bringing ophthalmic products to market—particularly Xiidra, which achieved strong sales and a successful divestiture—provides confidence that he can navigate the regulatory and commercialization path for urcosimod and expand the company’s presence in other inflammatory eye diseases.
Following the announcement, OKYO’s shares surged more than 7 % on the Nasdaq, reflecting investor confidence in the new leadership. The market reaction was driven by Dempsey’s history of successful launches and the expectation that his expertise will unlock value in urcosimod’s development and potential commercialization.
Dempsey said, “I am honored to lead OKYO Pharma and build on the foundation that Gary and the team have established.” Jacob added, “I am excited to continue supporting the company’s development agenda as chief development officer.”
The leadership change signals OKYO’s commitment to advancing urcosimod through the next phases of clinical development while positioning the company to capitalize on unmet needs in neuropathic corneal pain and other inflammatory eye conditions. With Dempsey at the helm, investors anticipate a stronger focus on commercial strategy and a clearer path to market for the company’s flagship asset.
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