OKYO Pharma Limited announced that, effective January 5, 2026, Robert J. Dempsey will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer. Robert J. Dempsey will join OKYO Pharma immediately as Chief Executive Officer and an executive Board member bringing more than two decades of global ophthalmology experience, including drug development, commercialization, and value-creating strategic transactions. Mr. Dempsey previously served as Group Vice President and Head of Global Ophthalmology at Shire, prior to its acquisition by Takeda, where he led the divestiture of Xiidra® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, which was one of only three ophthalmology deals in the past twenty years with more than $1 billion upfront.
The sale of Xiidra® to Novartis in 2019 included $3.4 billion upfront and up to an additional $1.9 billion in potential milestone payments. Xiidra® was the first FDA-approved therapy indicated for both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease and went on to become one of the top-selling branded dry eye treatments globally. Mr. Dempsey architected and led the successful launch of Xiidra® and brings deep strategic and commercial expertise across ocular surface disease indications, including direct management responsibility and commercial oversight for Restasis® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05%.
His professional network in the eye care community is broad and well-established, reflecting his service as a CEO and independent director across multiple ophthalmic companies. Robert?s CEO and Board Director experience spans extensive transactions and portfolio expertise across venture capital, investment banking, and strategics to successfully secure funding and advance M&A opportunities for multiple companies. His philanthropic leadership as a Board Member and Co-Founder of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration, alongside world-renowned corneal surgeon Edward J. Holland, M.D., is dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals affected by severe ocular surface disease, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a rare and devastating condition that can result in chronic pain, profound vision loss, and blindness.
Robert formerly served as the Group Vice President and Head of Global Ophthalmology at Shire, which was acquired by Takeda, where he swiftly established a highly regarded reputation for Shire as a new company in the Ophthalmology and Optometry markets. He built the ophthalmic franchise and led the Xiidra® commercialization strategy that resulted in an industry leading launch, while overseeing the acquisition of four companies contributing to the franchise pipeline of innovative candidates aimed at improving vision-related quality. He is a seasoned ophthalmology executive who successfully launched two category-defining dry eye therapies, Xiidra® and Restasis®.
Robert has previously held CEO roles across ophthalmic companies, where he progressed clinical-stage programs, led capital formation efforts, and consistently delivered value inflection points. Robert holds a Master's and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D., will transition to the role of Chief Development Officer and continue serving on the Board of Directors.
