Episode 160 - Elizabeth Jeffords - CEO at Iolyx Therapeutics

Today, we’re joined by a leader working at the cutting edgeof immunology and eye disease. Elizabeth Jeffords is the CEO of Iolyx Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on transforming how we treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases of the eye.Iolyx sits at the emerging intersection of immunology andophthalmology—what’s often called immuno-ophthalmology. The company is developing targeted therapies designed to treat ocular inflammation right at its source, with the goal of replacing older treatments like steroids and broadimmunosuppressants with more precise, better-tolerated options. Their lead program is a topical immunomodulatory therapy forautoimmune dry eye disease, which has already shown promising results in Phase 2 clinical trials—demonstrating meaningful improvements in ocular surface health for patients with underlying inflammatory conditions. In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how her career led her into biotech leadership, why the eye is such a unique and challenging organ for drug development, the Biotech CEO sisterhood and how immunology could reshape the future of treating chronic eye disease.