About NeoVista, Inc.

Board of Directors

Stephen Martin

Biography

Steve Martin founded CIBA VISION Optics in 1980 and CIBA VISION Ophthalmics in 1990. He and his team grew sales of the combined companies, which employ more than 6,000 people, to over $1.2 billion.

CIBA VISION is a world leader in research, development, manufacture, and marketing of soft contact lenses, lens-care products, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Steve was President of CIBA VISION Corporation USA until 1998.

Until his retirement in June 2001, Steve acted as a venture opportunity liaison on entrepreneurial life science projects for Swiss giant Novartis. He continues to help entrepreneurs find venture capital funding through Merritt Capital Services, where he is a general partner.

Steve has personally successfully negotiated more than 70 licensing and acquisition deals with values ranging from $1 million to $320 million. He has assisted several start-ups in raising equity capital.

His worldwide business contacts include decision makers in organizations such as Alliance Technology Ventures, ALZA, Bausch & Lomb, Cordova Ventures, Croft & Bender, Domain Associates, the US Food and Drug Administration, Johnson & Johnson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Merck & Company, the Nobel Foundation, Noro-Moseley Partners, and Solvay Pharmaceuticals. He has served as a director on the boards of numerous public and private companies, and is currently a director of La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company and OcuCure Therapeutics (private).

Steve is a graduate of Wake Forest University and attended the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He holds six issued US patents for his inventions and a number of European patents. Steve was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps; he and his wife Judy now live in the North Georgia mountains.