PhotoPharmics Assembles All-Star Advisory Board to Propel Celeste Toward FDA Market Launch

Following its oversubscribed $6 million Series B extension earlier this year, PhotoPharmics (American Fork, UT) is accelerating its path to market with the formation of a Commercial Advisory Board (CAB) packed with top-tier experts in neurology, movement disorders, market access, and medtech commercialization.

The announcement comes as the company nears regulatory submission for Celeste®, the company's FDA Breakthrough-designated device designed to treat Parkinson’s disease through specialized phototherapy.

“We’re entering a decisive stage where market readiness is as critical as clinical success,” said Kent Savage, CEO of PhotoPharmics. “This board brings unmatched expertise to help us navigate pricing, access, and adoption strategies that will get Celeste to the people who need it most.”

Momentum from Funding to Market Readiness

The CAB builds on a string of recent milestones:

• Series B Extension: $6 million raised in April 2025 to accelerate trials and commercialization.
• Executive Hires: Samantha John (Chief Commercialization Officer) and Greg Schneider (Chief Market Access Officer) joined to strengthen go-to-market leadership.
• Phase 3 Trial Progress: The “Light for PD” study has enrolled more than 200 patients, advancing toward regulatory submission.

Meet the PhotoPharmics Commercial Advisory Board

The CAB unites world-class leaders to ensure PhotoPharmics is market-ready when FDA authorization arrives:

• Jordan Dubow, MD (Chair) – 20+ years in movement disorder clinical trials, contributed to 20+ FDA drug applications, helped raise over $1B in biotech funding.
• Jill Giordano Farmer, DO, MPH – Neurologist and program builder at Drexel College of Medicine; pioneered integrated care models for Parkinson’s patients.
• Robert Hauser, MD, MBA – Internationally recognized Parkinson’s researcher, Professor of Neurology at USF, and Chair of PhotoPharmics’ Clinical & Scientific Advisory Board.
• Drew Falconer, MD – Director of Inova Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center, national educator on Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation.
• Rajesh Pahwa, MD – Chief of the Parkinson’s Division at University of Kansas, longtime leader of clinical trials in movement disorders.
• Philip Cyr, MPH – Senior VP at BlueRidge LifeSciences, expert in pharma commercialization, market access, and health economics.
• Michael Soileau, MD – Founder of Texas Movement Disorder Specialists, frequent principal investigator in Parkinson’s trials.

“Celeste has the potential to fill a critical gap in Parkinson’s care by addressing symptoms in a completely new way,” said Jordan Dubow, MD, CAB Chair. “Our role is to ensure that patients not only know about this therapeutic device but can access it once FDA authorization is secured.”

Utah Medtech on the Global Stage

The CAB formation underscores PhotoPharmics’ strategy to move beyond clinical achievement into real-world impact—bridging science, commercialization, and patient access. It also positions Utah’s medtech ecosystem in the spotlight, as one of the state’s most closely watched startups prepares to bring a category-defining therapy to market.

“The formation of this board ensures our commercialization pathway is informed by leaders who understand the science, the market, and the patients whom we aim to serve,” said Savage.

About PhotoPharmics

PhotoPharmics is a privately held, clinical-stage medical device company developing next-generation therapies for neurodegenerative disorders using specialized light. Its founders previously pioneered light therapy for seasonal affective disorder, sleep disorders, and depression—technology later acquired by Philips-Respironics. With Celeste, PhotoPharmics is advancing the science of phototherapy to address Parkinson’s disease and beyond.

Learn more at photopharmics.com.