EPISODE 012
In this week’s MedtechTalk Podcast, we talk with Oculeve CEO Michael Ackermann about the start-up company that caught the eye of Dry Eye Leader Allergan. Allergan would pay $125 mil-lion up front for Oculeve, which is still developing a neurostimulation treatment for the chronic eye condition. But the deal includes what no doubt will be sizable (but undisclosed) earn outs if Oculeve’s OD-01, a non-invasive nasal neurostimulation device that “tells” the lacrimal gland to increase tear flow. Oculeve had only raised $24 million from venture investors including seed investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and first-round backers Versant Ventures and New Enterprise Associates. With that degree of firepower behind it, Oculeve certainly was fueled for the long haul. Ackerman wouldn’t provide details, but clearly Allergan’s offer was significant.
Podcast Guest
Michael Ackermann
VP, Neurostimulation
Allergan (Oculeve)
Michael is currently Vice President, Neurostimulation for Allergan, plc, and most recently CEO of Oculeve, Inc., which was acquired by Allergan in August 2015. He has eleven years of experience in medical technology development in both academic and industrial settings in the fields of ophthalmology, chronic pain and movement disorders. He received a B.E. degree, magna cum laude, in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, is a graduate of the Stanford University Biodesign fellowship, and Vision Research Fellow at Stanford. He has numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications.
Meet Our Host
Geoff Pardo
Geoff has been in medtech for over two decades in both operational and investment roles. He is passionate about the industry potential and sharing stories from the front lines of innovation.