Owkin names Google’s Vert as chief R&D officer

French-American AI startup Owkin Inc. named Jean-Philippe Vert as chief R&D officer. Vert was most recently affiliate professor at Mines Paris PSL University and research scientist at Google Brain. Owkin uses AI to identify new drug candidates, de-risk and accelerate clinical trials, and build diagnostic tools to improve patient outcomes.

Ophthalmic disease company Ray Therapeutics Inc. hired Peter Francis as chief scientific and medical officer, and Jenny Holt as SVP of program portfolio management.  Francis was CMO at RetroSense Therapeutics LLC, and Holt was VP and head of program management at 4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:FDMT)...