Robert J. Dempsey recently joined TearClear, an emerging global ophthalmic pharmaceutical company with a focus on eye drops that are preserved safely prior to administering dosing, as chief executive officer. Prior to this role, Mr. Dempsey held positions at Shire (Takeda, now Novartis), Bausch + Lomb, Allergan and Inspire Pharmaceuticals. What follows is a Q&A with Mr. Dempsey, where he reveals, among other things, his love of American history.

Q: With your experience at Shire, launching the company’s ophthalmic franchise, what do you see as your goals as CEO of TearClear, and how do you plan on meeting those goals? 

A: My goal is to validate TearClear’s technology, to be in clinical registration trials in 2021, prepare for product commercialization and then develop and execute a plan to enter the market in approximately two years. I had similar goals while at Shire, only on a different timeline, obviously, but those goals were met and successfully, so I’m excited!

Q: Why is providing preservative-free drops in the areas of dry eye disease and glaucoma, among other eye diseases, a focus for TearClear?

A: Our goal is to disrupt the way topical medications are delivered to the ocular surface. So how we’re doing that is we’re safely preserving the active drug component in the bottle, so patients, like the ones you mentioned, who have to use drugs chronically won’t have to worry about toxicity to their ocular surface. TearClear’s initial focus will be glaucoma medications because we believe that is the hallmark of chronic medications used both in the U.S. as well as globally, but we are looking into expanding into a number of therapeutic areas.

Q: How do you think the availability of these drops are going to influence the optometric practice in terms of patient care?

A: If you look at the management of glaucoma, for example, today in the United States, optometrists initiate over 40% of all treatments for the management of glaucoma. TearClear is going to offer a product that they can feel comfortable prescribing because it will be safe and effective on the ocular surface.

Q: What is it about the eye care industry that you enjoy or have a fervor or passion for?

A: Having been in this space for over 20 years, I have so many dear friends and just wonderful relationships in this industry, and I believe that there are still significant unmet needs in a lot of the diseases that eye care providers can treat. My goal is to bring them innovative solutions that are affordable for their patients.

Q: What’s the best piece of business advice you were ever given and why?

A: Be willing to take a chance. If you don’t take a chance, you don’t learn.

Q: What was your first job?

A: Other than a paperboy and dishwasher, I operated the swan boats in the Public Gardens in Boston. It was a really cool job! At my core, I’m a storyteller, so I loved giving tours to the public and sharing history.

Q: What are your passions outside of work?

A: My family, youth sports, American history and watching my Boston teams in action. My involvement in youth sports when my kids were younger taught me the importance of having a plan and then executing it.

Q: What is the most ridiculous or unusual fact that you know?

A: That Abigail Adams, the wife of our second President John Adams, is the most unheralded woman in American history. Read about her, and you’ll see.

Q: If you could have a meal with anyone, who would it be and why?

A: I’d say Abraham Lincoln. He had to deal with some of the most difficult historical matters that this country has ever been through, and I’d love to pick his brain about the approach he took in taking them on. OM