Greg Kunst

Profile

My north star has always been to make a transformational impact around the world for patients. In the last 3 years at Aurion, we have raised over $200+M, grown from 5 to 60+ employees in the U.S. and Japan, received product approval in Japan and fully enrolled our P2 cell therapy trial in the U.S. enabling us to bring our cell therapy to millions of patients suffering from corneal endothelial disease. My success is a result of defining the right vision, financing success, and hiring the right people. In 2022, Aurion received the Prix Galien Startup: Pharma/Biotech Award which was something that I have dreamed about since I began my career. In 2023, I was awarded the PSJB prestigious healthcare leadership award as an innovative and influential thinker whose leadership has a lasting impact. In 2024, I was awarded the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

I am energized by looking at an underlying problem and addressing the disease, taking on an unclear roadmap, and defining a transformational solution worldwide. I like the road less traveled. My career has been expansive including leadership roles in drug development, commercialization, medical affairs, and market access. Taking Glaukos from a single product to a multi-platform company in over 20 countries in 6 years attests to my persistent drive to execute against aspirational goals and develop a solution agnostically (i.e., biologics, medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, etc.).

My professional interest is to translate learnings to first time CEOs and serve as an independent board member to help change human health worldwide.

In my spare time you can find me spending time with my family, skiing, or golfing.

EY Entreprenuer of the Year - Greg Kunst

Greg Kunst

Award-winning global biotech chief executive and board director with extensive experience driving product and clinical development, global new market penetration and spearheading business growth for multibillion-dollar biotech, pharmaceutical, medical technology companies and venture-backed biotech, medical technology, and pharmaceutical start-ups.

Recipient of the prestigious 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award and 2022 Prix Galien Top Biotech/Pharma start-up award.

PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

EXPERIENCE

2021 - Present

AURION BIOTECH, Seattle, WA

An award-winning, private clinical-stage, venture-backed cell therapy pioneer focused on a range of ophthalmic diseases including corneal endothelial disease and other corneal diseases.

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Director

Responsible for the development of a new venture-backed start-up developing clinical-stage cell therapy assets for corneal endothelial disease and other eye diseases. Presently manage an organization of 60 people with over $120m in series-c venture-backing and ~$150m in total venture financing.

Guided company to first allogenic cell therapy approval in Japan; received break-through status (BTD) and RMAT status in US
Received the 2022 Prix Galien Award for the best pharma/biotech start-up: the highest award in biotech, pharma, and MedTech
Raised ~$150m series c venture round including the following investors Deerfield, Alcon, KKR, Petrichor, Visionary Ventures, and Flying L Ventures and over $50m in venture debt from Bank of California
Led development of novel cell therapy from an academic program through pre-clinical development, technology transfer, process development, and analytical development into an open US IND
Spun Aurion Biotech out of CorneaGen as a standalone company including unwinding all shared service operations, physical facilities, and company operating principles, values, and procedures
Expanded research and design portfolio to include other transferrable areas including corneal disease, glaucoma, and retinal disorders including the development of the company’s lead cell therapy asset into preparation for Phase 1/2 IND study in the US and NDA submission in Japan
Led all business/corporate development activities for company

2023 - Present

Pr3vent, Inc, Palo Alto, CA

A private clinical-stage, venture-backed diagnostic/AI pioneer advancing newborn eye screening to protect vision in newborns with potential inherited eye disease.

Board Director

Independent board member of series A venture-backed start-up

2015 - 2021

GLAUKOS CORPORATION NYSE: GKOS, San Clemente, CA

A $350M world-leading glaucoma, retina, corneal disease pioneer

Vice President – Global Marketing and Market Access

Responsible for leading 40+ global marketing, business development, and medical affairs associates, directing expansion efforts, and supervising product positioning, strategy, and messaging for products

Built an integrated commercial franchise team to execute a long-term Glaukos product pipeline
Led the company’s expansion from a single product company to a diverse product portfolio and created two new business units through acquisition and/or product partnerships
Gained reimbursed for the first minimally invasive Glaucoma device, iStent, in all major markets globally

Head and Senior Director – Global Market Access, Business Development and Strategy (2015 -2019)

Spearheaded global market reimbursement initiatives and international commercialization plans, built high-performing teams, supervised day-to-day management, and successfully led positive health technology assessments around the world

Oversaw one of the most successful ophthalmic surgical implant launches with rapid reimbursement coverage and strong physician and facility reimbursement
Extended Glaukos’ category three CPT code twice over a six-year period
Built development and commercial plans for key Glaukos programs, including micro-invasive glaucoma surgery implants and drug delivery systems

2010 - 2015

ALCON, INC. NYSE: ALC, Fort Worth, TX

A $10B world leader in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer products

Global Marketing Director - Retina Pharmaceutical Business Unit (2013 - 2015)

Directed co-promotional relationship between Novartis Ophthalmics and Alcon over Lucentis and Jetrea brands, including chairing commercial partnerships between Alcon and Thrombogenics on the commercialization and development of Jetrea around the world

Successfully repositioned and redeveloped the messaging architecture for Jetrea after initial resistance
Built sales force and operating model for current and future retina pharma businesses, creating major revenues and cost synergies by integrating Novartis Ophthalmics, Alcon retina, and MSL infrastructure

Global Marketing Director - Glaucoma Surgery Business Unit (2010 - 2013)

Successfully launched a new Alcon business unit into 85+ global Alcon affiliates within nine months and developed global infrastructure required for the first new business unit in Alcon in over five years § Transformed Alcon’s recently acquired glaucoma surgery business from a stagnant $7M product line into a $30M one-year run rate 18 months post-acquisition of Optonol Limited

Globalized Optonol Limited into commercial infrastructure and glaucoma surgery business

2006 - 2010

Director of Health Econ, Reimbursement, Market Access – Asia Pacific Latin America (2009 - 2010)

KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC., San Antonio, TX

An Acelity company and $1.6B global corporation specializing in wound care, medical technology, and wholly owned subsidiary of 3M Corporation NYSE: MMM

Developed new “greenfield” KCI affiliates in Japan, China, India, South Korea, and Brazil

Partnered with Ministries of Health and insurance companies for coding, coverage, and payment

Director of Global Reimbursement and Market Access (2008 - 2009)

Developed a congressional/legislative strategy and a communications plan to exempt negative pressure wound therapy from round #1 of the CMS competitive bidding program

Global Health Economics Manager (2006 - 2008)

Successfully launched a health economics/health outcomes function in the U.S., Europe, and Canada

EDUCATION