Otolith Labs Rounds Out Executive Team With Chief Clinical Officer Hire

Otolith Labs has appointed Kevin Franck, Ph.D., as chief clinical officer, overseeing the company’s clinical and regulatory strategies. Franck has 25 years of experience in the development, commercialization, and clinical provision of hearing-related medical products.
 
As a biotech and medical device executive, Dr. Franck has held numerous leadership roles in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) industry, most recently as senior vice president of Strategic Marketing and New Product Planning at Frequency Therapeutics; director of Audiology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear; faculty member, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School; and head of Marketing for Bose Hear at Bose Corporation upon acquisition of Ear Machine, a startup funded by the National Institute of Health. He also held senior roles at Cochlear Ltd. in Sydney, Australia.

“We’re thrilled Kevin is completing our executive team with his decades of clinical experience,” Otolith Labs Founder/CEO Sam Owen said. “His wealth of knowledge and relationships in the ENT community will be critical in developing partnerships with key opinion leaders and clinicians in the field.” 
 
As Otolith prepares for its market launch, Dr. Franck will play an important role in developing and executing Otolith clinical studies for its submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the go-to-market strategy. After Otolith’s market launch, he will expand Otolith’s indications for use and products to help millions of people with vestibular disorders.
 
Dr. Franck earned a PhD in hearing science from the University of Washington, an MBA in healthcare management from the Wharton School, an MSE from the Johns Hopkins University in biomedical engineering, and a bachelor of arts in engineering from Dartmouth College. He is also a licensed and certified audiologist.
 
“Otolith’s technology introduces something new for clinicians to bring to patients with chronic vertigo, where there is little else to offer. I am excited to join Otolith and help foster much needed innovation in the ENT space,” Dr. Franck stated.
 
Otolith Labs is developing prescription medical devices for treating vestibular disorders, conditions experienced by millions of Americans. Otolith’s patented technology, which received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for treating chronic vertigo, uses precisely tuned vibrations to interact with the acceleration sensors in the inner ear, mitigating the symptoms of vertigo. Otolith is conducting clinical trials to evaluate its technology as an immediate symptom-relief treatment for chronic vertigo associated with vestibular disorders.