About Us
FemHealth Revolution
Our mission is to introduce innovative, high-quality intrauterine drug-delivery
technology to improve and impact women’s health and quality of life.
Company’s Profile
About Us
OCON Therapeutics innovates, develops, manufactures, and commercializes cutting-edge women’s health products based on our patented IUB® (Intra Uterine Ball) proprietary platform. The IUB® made from a super-elastic alloy Nitinol, is an ideal carrier for multiple drugs to the uterus to treat a variety of conditions.
In addition to our flagship product, the IUB® Ballerine®, OCON Therapeutics is developing an innovative pipeline of products utilizing the IUB® frame for indications such as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), heavy menstrual bleeding (HMS), myomas/fibroids, and infertility.
IUB™ FRAME
Leadership
Chief Executive Officer
Keren Leshem, OCON’s CEO is a seasoned executive with over 20 years’ experience in the medical device & pharmaceutical industries specializing in the management of innovative start-ups, strategy, commercialization, BD and financing. She was recently dubbed as one of the three women shaping the future of women’s health by Forbes Magazine.
Prior to leading OCON Therapeutics, Ms. Leshem held various global CEO, Board and Management positions within the pharmaceutical and medical industries both in Israel and abroad.
CFO & General Manager
Amir Avraham, OCON’s Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, hails from Secure Islands, a company acquired by Microsoft, and prior to that was CFO of Van Leer Ventures Jerusalem. A certified accountant, Mr. Avraham has a BA in Accounting & Economics and a MBA.
VP Marketing & Medical Affairs
Daniela Schardinger, OCON’s VP Marketing & Medical affairs, has well over a decade of experience in Marketing, Sales and Medical Management in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries around the globe. Ms. Schardinger holds a MSc in Information Design and Marketing.
VP RA/QA
Adely Levy, OCON’s VP RA/QA, is a regulatory professional with decades of experience in handling quality systems and regulatory activities in medical & pharmaceutical companies.
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Susan Alpert, OCON’s Senior Regulatory Advisor, specializes on the strategies needed to place medical devices and other medical products into the global market. She was a Corporate Senior Vice President for Global Regulatory at Medtronic, Inc. and prior to that VP Regulatory Science at C.R. Bard, Inc. She worked at the US FDA from 1987-2000 where she held a variety of management positions in the Centers for drugs, devices and radiological health, and foods. Susan was Director of the Office of Device Evaluation from 1993-1999. Susan chaired the RAPS board was on the boards of FDLI, WBL and SWHR.
Chief Medical Officer
Prof. Sergio Haimovich, OCON’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), is a senior OBGYN and specialist. Prof. Haimovich Heads the Endometrial Pathology Hysteroscopy Unit in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Dept., Del Mar University Hospital- Barcelona, Spain. He is the founder and director of The International School on Laser Hysteroscopy, a pioneer in using medical laser in office hysteroscopy. He is the author of numerous publications, chapters and books. Prof. Haimovich completed his PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology with distinction Cum Laude at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.
VP Operations
Daniel Sclar, OCON’s VP Operations, brings over 25 years of managing Operations at IDF logistics command and global Nanotech and medical device companies. Daniel Sclar holds an MBA from Bear Sheva University and a BSc in Industrial Engineering from the Technion Haifa.
Director Clinical Operations
Rachel Safra-Zafrany, OCON’s Director Clinical Operations, brings more than 25 years of experience and knowledge in clinical trials, leading dozens of clinical trials, overseeing all aspects of phase I-IV studies in a wide range of therapeutic areas.
Rachel holds an MHA (Master of Health Administration) from Ben-Gurion University and a B.Sc.Nutr (Clinical Dietitian) from the Hebrew University.
Director Global Sales
Susanne Mair, OCON’s Director Global Sales, brings more than 4 years of experience as a European Sales and Marketing Manager in the medical device field. Prior to joining OCON Therapeutics in May 2020, Dr. Mair identified, selected and built up several markets in Europe for an Israeli startup, IOPtima Ltd, with focus on ophthalmology, and rebranded and launched a new product.
Director of CMC
Galit Levin, OCON’s Director CMC (Chemical Manufacturing and Control), brings over 20 years of experience in CMC in the pharmaceutical industry. In her previous roles as Head of CMC and Formulation and CMC lead, Galit lead the chemistry, analytical, formulation and manufacturing of slow-release implans as well as drug-device combinations. Galit Levin holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Tel Aviv University.
Board of Directors
Anula Jayasuriya, MD, PhD, MBA, Chairwoman
Founder & Managing Director, EXXclaim Capital; Co-founder Evolvence India Life Science Fund. Anula Jayasuriya is a successful private equity executive and venture capitalist whose background combines deep business, scientific and medical knowledge with broad clinical, industry, entrepreneurial, and investment experience. She serves on the boards of several biotechnology companies, and also serves non-profit boards. Ms. Jayasuriya holds a BA (summa cum laude) from Harvard, an MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School as well as an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and an M. Phil. in pharmacology from the University of Cambridge, in England.
Keren Leshem, MBA
Keren Leshem is a seasoned executive with over 20 years’ experience in the medical device & pharmaceutical industries specializing in the management of innovative start-ups, strategy, commercialization, BD and financing. She was recently dubbed as one of the three women shaping the future of women’s health by Forbes Magazine. Prior to leading OCON Therapeutics, Ms. Leshem held various global CEO, Board and Management positions within the pharmaceutical and medical industries both in Israel and abroad. Ms. Leshem currently sits on FemTech Lab’s admissions and advisory Board as well as LSX’s Advisory Board and is a Mentor thru the 8400 Healthtech Network. Ms. Leshem holds an MBA from Clark University.
Tomer Kariv, LLB
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pontifax. Tomer serves as a board member at Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, LogicBio Therapeutics, VBI Vaccines, Cathworks and V-Wave among others and holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Asaf Shinar, CPA
Mr. Shinar is the CFO of The Pontifax Group. The fund runs more than 50 portfolio companies all around the globe.
Adi Goldin, LLB
Mr. Goldin is Docor’s Vice President and has over 15 years of experience in the life science, industrial and hi-tech industries in the areas of investments, business strategy, deal structure and company management. Mr. Goldin holds a Masters in Economics as well as a LLB.
Stasia Obremskey, MBA
Stasia Obremsky, Managing Director of Rhia Ventures, has more than twenty-five years of experience providing financial and strategic planning consulting to organizations in the U.S. and Asia. She joins management teams as an interim Chief Financial Officer to provide finance, accounting and strategic planning expertise to startups, fast growing companies and nonprofit organizations. As a philanthropist, she holds leadership positions with Upstream USA, the Gladstone Institute, Room to Read, and the Chinese American International School.
Robert Auerbach, MD
Dr. Auerbach has over 20 years of experience in medical and business leadership positions in the women’s healthcare industry, and over 36 years of experience in OB/GYN with the Yale OB/GYN/RS department. He most recently served as President of CooperSurgical Worldwide, the CooperCompanies women’s healthcare division, and before that as EVP, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of CooperSurgical. Prior to joining CooperSurgical, he served as an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine.
Barak Mevorak, MD
Dr. Barak Mevorak has over 25 years experience in the healthcare industry as an Investor, practitioner, consultant, and business owner. Barak has taken part in implementing and executing software development projects for managed care organizations and other institutions such as hospitals and provider based institutions. Barak completed his specialty training in Internal Medicine and a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at UCLA.
Rani Lifshitz, LLB
Active Chairman of Merchavia Holdings ,a publicly traded company (TASE) , specializing in life science investments having a strategic partnership with the innovation arm of Cleveland Clinic – a leading medical Center in the USA. Rani has more than twenty -five years of senior positions in the global energy sector and medical investments . Rani founded an Energy company , with one of the biggest financial groups in Israel and led it to a successful exit . Rani holds LLB degree and BA in economics .