Key appointments include Wes Brazell as Chief Financial Officer and Michael Brubaker, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer, adding deep ophthalmic and operational expertise to PolyActiva
FORT WORTH, Texas & MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PolyActiva, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel drug delivery technology to improve outcomes for patients with ocular conditions, today announced the appointments of Wes Brazell as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Michael Brubaker, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). 
“Wes and Mike bring exceptional expertise in their respective fields and a shared commitment to innovation and value creation in ophthalmology,” said Jerry St. Peter, CEO and Board Director of PolyActiva. “Their appointments come at an important time as we scale globally and advance our lead product candidate, PA5108, into late-stage clinical development. Alongside Vanessa Waddell’s continued leadership as Chief Strategy Officer, we’re building a highly capable executive team to guide our next phase of growth. These appointments enhance our deep technical foundation in Australia and position us to deliver on our mission to lead in sustained-release ocular therapies and improve patient outcomes.”
Wes Brazell joins as CFO, bringing more than 30 years of leadership across public and private companies in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, with deep expertise in financial strategy, global operations, business development, fundraising, and corporate planning. He previously served as CFO at Xequel Bio, Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, and TearLab Corporation, and he spent over two decades at Alcon, where he led finance functions across regional and global operations.
“PolyActiva is backed by exceptional biotech investors and is entering a pivotal growth phase,” said Mr. Brazell. “The recent Series C financing gives us the runway to scale in the U.S., launch our Phase 2b trial, and accelerate both the path to commercializing PA5108 and identifying additional assets to leverage the PREZIA platform. I’m excited to join this talented team and look forward to contributing to this next chapter of success.”
Michael Brubaker, PhD, CSO, brings over 25 years of R&D leadership across ophthalmic, otic, and respiratory diseases. He most recently served as CSO at Xequel Bio and previously held senior R&D roles at Novartis, where he led global development for Xiidra®, as well as Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, and Abbott Laboratories. Mike’s expertise spans drug and device development, regulatory strategy, and portfolio leadership.
“The PREZIA platform represents a breakthrough for ocular drug delivery through its innovative and cutting-edge technology,” said Dr. Brubaker. “I’m thrilled to join PolyActiva and eager to help our strong, experienced R&D team to advance and fortify our pipeline with the potential to transform how we treat glaucoma and other serious eye diseases.”
These strategic appointments follow PolyActiva’s successful $25 million (AUD $40 million) Series C financing round and the appointment of Jerry St. Peter as PolyActiva’s CEO, further strengthening the company’s focus on advancing its lead product candidate, PA5108, into Phase 2b clinical trials in the U.S.
About PREZIA™
PolyActiva’s proprietary PREZIA™ drug delivery platform underpins PA5108 and other candidates in the company’s pipeline. Unlike traditional polymer matrix or nanoparticle-based systems that rely on passive diffusion, PREZIA™ uses covalent bonding to attach therapeutic agents to a polymer backbone. This approach enables precise, consistent, and fully customizable drug release over periods ranging from one week to over one year. The platform’s biodegradable design eliminates residual buildup and supports repeat dosing. PREZIA™-based therapies can be formulated as rod-shaped implants or injectable gels and are compatible with both single-agent and combination therapies for a broad range of ocular conditions.
About PolyActiva
PolyActiva is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel drug delivery solutions to improve outcomes for patients with ocular conditions. The company’s lead asset, PA5108, is a biodegradable ocular implant that delivers sustained latanoprost therapy to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. For more information, visit polyactiva.com.
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