Erick Co

President & CEO
Formosa Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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​​With nearly 25 years’ drug discovery experience, Dr. Co’s research and leadership has

contributed to the invention of multiple clinical drug candidates, and most recently, US FDA-
approved APP13007, a novel formulation of clobetasol propionate for the treatment of post-
operative inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. He received his B.S. degree in
Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
from University of California, Los Angeles. Trained as a medicinal chemist in leading US biotech
and pharma companies such as Exelixis (South San Francisco) and Takeda (San Diego), where he
contributed to clinical candidates in oncology and metabolic diseases, Dr. Co transitioned into
project management and director roles at Nitto Denko (San Diego) and ScinoPharm (Tainan,
Taiwan). He joined Formosa Pharmaceuticals in 2017 as Chief Scientific Officer, and now serves
as President & Chief Executive Officer.

Speech title & Synopsis

A Novel Ophthalmic Suspension of Clobetasol Propionate derived from APNT Nanoparticle Formulation Technology, USFDA-approved for the Treatment of Inflammation and Pain Following Ocular Surgery 

APP13007, approved in March, 2024, by the US FDA for the treatment of post-operative
inflammation and pain following ocular surgery, is a novel ophthalmic suspension of clobetasol
propionate, one of the most potent corticosteroids known. Developed through Formosa
Pharma’s proprietary APNT™ nanoparticle formulation technology, APP13007 is the first
application of clobetasol propionate in an ophthalmic setting, with a convenient posology of
twice-daily for 14 days (28 drops per treatment regimen). Comparison of Phase 3 clinical data
with marketed products strongly suggests that APP13007 has a more robust clearance of
inflammation and faster resolution of pain, while possessing a safety profile similar to placebo. In
Phase 3 trials, ocular adverse event occurrence was <2%, with many of those cases attributable
to the surgical procedure itself. Almost 99% of the 366 subjects receiving APP13007 did not
experience any appreciable increase in intraocular pressure, a side effect often associated with
prolonged corticosteroid use. No stinging or foreign body sensation was reported, and visual
acuity was restored rapidly after treatment. With an average particle size of <200 nanometers,
APP13007’s homogeneous formulation does not require shaking prior to administration, and
together with its convenient schedule, enables rapid recovery and greater comfort and
compliance for ocular surgery patients.