Aurion Biotech Names Donald Munoz as New Chief Financial Officer
Aurion Biotech, Inc. (Aurion), a company dedicated to restoring vision for millions through transformative regenerative therapies, announced today the appointment of Donald Munoz as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will report directly to Greg Kunst, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Aurion Biotech, Inc., a leader in regenerative therapies aimed at restoring vision, has appointed Donald Munoz as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately. Munoz brings over 30 years of healthcare experience, including roles as a CFO and healthcare investment banker. He will report directly to Greg Kunst, Aurion’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“We are delighted to welcome Don to our executive team,” said Greg Kunst. “Don’s proven leadership in financial operations, combined with his deep expertise in healthcare investment banking, make him the ideal candidate to support Aurion as we continue to drive forward our mission.”
Munoz is equally excited to join the team, stating, “I’m thrilled to join Aurion as CFO. I’m particularly excited about the company’s lead product candidate, AURN001, which has the potential to treat corneal endothelial disease and prevent blindness. I look forward to working with the team to bring this groundbreaking cell therapy to patients in need.”
Before joining Aurion, Munoz served as CFO of NuCana plc, a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on oncology therapeutics. During his nine-year tenure at NuCana, Munoz played a critical role in managing financial operations, investor relations, SEC reporting, and financial planning. He was instrumental in leading the company through a successful $114 million Nasdaq IPO and an $80 million follow-on offering.
Prior to his time at NuCana, Munoz was CFO at NOXXON Pharma N.V., a venture-backed biotechnology company. He also spent 20 years as a healthcare investment banker, where he led medical technology franchises at Cowen & Company, Leerink Partners LLC, and Deutsche Bank AG. Munoz has overseen more than 100 financing and strategic advisory transactions throughout his career. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Munoz’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Aurion, as the company recently announced promising six-month top-line data from its CLARA Phase 1/2 clinical trial for AURN001. This investigational cell therapy aims to treat corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction, a condition that can lead to blindness. The positive results from the trial, conducted in the United States and Canada, underscore the therapeutic potential of AURN001, which is central to Aurion’s mission.
Aurion is committed to restoring vision for millions of patients worldwide through cutting-edge regenerative therapies. The company has already made significant strides with AURN001, having developed and launched the first commercially available corneal endothelial cell therapy in Japan. This cell therapy represents a breakthrough in treating corneal diseases, offering new hope for patients who have few treatment options available.
In recognition of its innovative work, Aurion received the prestigious Prix Galien award for Best Start-Up in Biotech in 2022. This honor reflects the company’s dedication to advancing medical science and its potential to make a transformative impact on the lives of patients with serious vision disorders.
As CFO, Munoz will play a key role in managing Aurion’s financial strategy, ensuring the company is well-positioned to continue its clinical development and bring its pioneering therapies to market. His deep experience in both the biotechnology and investment banking sectors will be invaluable as Aurion continues to expand its research and development capabilities and progress its clinical programs.
Aurion’s strategic focus on regenerative medicine aligns with its broader vision of improving patient outcomes by restoring lost or impaired vision. As the company continues to build on the success of AURN001, it remains committed to advancing its pipeline of therapies for corneal and other ophthalmic diseases, as well as exploring new treatment options for broader applications in regenerative medicine.
