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Invetx Team
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Jürgen Horn
Chief Executive Officer
Role
CEO and Founder of Invetx with the vision for Invetx to become the leading veterinary biotherapeutics company.
Experience
15+ years in various leadership roles in Marketing and R&D in the Animal Health industry and biotech. New product development for global markets with a focus to transfer and apply innovative technologies from human biotechnology to advance veterinary medicine.
Previous
Novartis Animal Health, Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Elanco/Lilly, Nexvet
Education
Dr. med. vet., Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany
PhD, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
EMBA, London Business School, UK & Columbia Business School, NYC, US
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Colin Giles
Chief Development Officer
Role
Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, passionate about bringing Invetx’s portfolio of innovative veterinary biotherapeutics through the regulatory process to be available to practicing veterinarians and their patients.
Experience
35 years of experience in the management of R&D in the Animal Health Industry including many years in senior leadership positions; focused on bringing innovative veterinary medicines to the marketplace.
Previous
Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis), Nexvet Biopharma, Independent Consultant
Education
BVetMed, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
PhD, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
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William Brondyk
Chief Scientific Officer
Role
Develop and execute a research strategy to generate innovative and transformative biotherapeutics for the Animal Health market.
Experience
20+ years of experience in developing protein therapeutics for oncology indications, immune-mediated diseases, infectious diseases, rare diseases and reproductive health and contraception.
Previous
Ohana Biosciences, Sanofi, Genzyme and Serono
Education
PhD in Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Jeff Troderman
Chief Financial Officer and Inside Counsel
Role
Oversee and manage the finances and accounting to ensure timely, accurate and complete corporate reporting for the leadership team and investors. Inside legal counsel.
Experience
15+ years as CFO for a variety of life science and technology companies from start-up through profitability. Financial leader through many successful corporate transactions.
Previous
X-Chem, X-Body, Psy Therapeutics. Served as CFO to a broad client base with a concentration in life sciences through financial advisory firms.
Education
JD/LLM, Suffolk University Law School
MBA, Babson College
BBA Accounting, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
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Krishnan Sampath
Senior Vice President, CMC and Manufacturing
Role
CMC development, manufacturing, quality and regulatory. Build and implement development and manufacturing strategies to bring Invetx’s transformative biotherapeutics programs to the animal health market.
Experience
20+ years of technical and leadership experience in biologics CMC development and manufacturing of novel biologics and biosimilars including cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, antibody drug conjugates, peptibodies, and Fc fusion proteins.
Supported 20+ IND stage programs, multiple BLA regulatory filings and successful approvals of human biotherapeutics products.
Previous
MacroGenics, NexImmune, Hospira/Pfizer and Amgen
Education
PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, US
BS Pharmacy, Chennai Medical College, Chennai, India
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
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Robert Zolynas
Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
Role
Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, dedicated to developing Invetx’s portfolio of innovative veterinary biotherapeutics while defining global regulatory registration strategies and leading global clinical trials generating clinical evidence to obtain regulatory approvals.
Experience
25 years of R&D management experience in the Animal Health and Human Pharma Industries including senior leadership roles; focused on bringing innovative veterinary and human pharma medicines to the market.
Previous
Schering-Plough (now Merck), Bayer Animal Health, Elanco
Education
DVM, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
MBA, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
MBA in Pharmaceutical Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
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Chi-Ting Huang
Senior Director, CMC
Role
Implementing state-of-the-art manufacturing and development technologies to bring pioneering biotherapeutics to animal health.
Experience
20 years of experience developing biotherapeutics. Lead development teams for the production of several novel biotherapeutics (e.g. biosimilars, antibody-drug conjugates, highly glycosylated fusion proteins, TGF-beta proteins). Experience spans the initial IND for luspatercept as well as characterization for the commercialization of the Infuse(TM) Bone Graft.
Previous
Surface Oncology, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Acceleron Pharma, Immunogen Inc., and Genetics Institute/Wyeth Biopharma
Education
BS, University of Illinois – Urbana
PhD, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
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Leila Sevigny
Director of Drug Discovery
Role
Oversee and direct discovery, characterization and developability of transformative biotherapeutics for the Animal Health Market.
Experience
10+ years of experience in discovery and bioanalytics of protein therapeutics for rare disease, oncology, and infectious disease. Expertise in protein expression, purification, and multi-specific targeting.
Previous
Sanofi, MassBiologics
Education
PhD in Genetics, GSBS, Tufts University
BS in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut
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Shivaanee Kothavale
Senior Research Associate
Role
Assist in the discovery of therapeutic modalities catering toward animal health.
Experience
Previous research experience developing modalities and furthering understanding in the fields of oncology, wound healing, and retinal biology.
Previous
Skinap Therapeutics; Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, Pune
Education
MS Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD
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Elizabeth Bosia
Research Associate
Role
Providing laboratory support to Director of Discovery in characterization and developability of transformative biotherapeutics for the animal health market.
Experience
4 years in academic research characterizing protein structure to understand enzyme catalysis and protein-protein interactions associated with various cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and rare disorders. Currently finishing accelerated master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Education
BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carlson School of Chemistry, Clark University, MA
Advisors
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Madhusudan Natarajan
Role
Scientific Advisor, Ad-hoc consultant
Advisor and consultant to Invetx from the ideation stage of the company transitioning to membership on the Scientific Advisory Board.
Head of the Rare Diseases Drug Discovery Unit at Takeda
Experience
Two decades of experience in human pharmaceutical development (Pfizer, Shire/Takeda), startups (Physiome Sciences) and academic research (Asst. Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas) studying basic biological questions underpinning biology in multiple diseases and development of therapeutic approaches to address them.
Education
PhD in Neurobiology, Northwestern University, USA
BEng Electronics & Communication Engineering, University of Madras, India
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Rebecca Sendak
Role
Scientific Advisor
Head (SVP) of the Global Large Molecules Research Platform, Sanofi
Experience
20+ years of experience in biologics CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls) at Genzyme and Sanofi, from cell line development through GMP drug product manufacturing. Supported the development and commercialization of several biologics currently on the market.
Education
PhD in Biophysical Chemistry, Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts, Biology and Chemistry, University of Vermont
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Gaynor Hillier
Role
Commercial/Marketing Advisor
Experience
30+ years commercial and marketing experience in Animal Health. In Local, Regional and Global roles for Intervet, Novartis Animal Health and Elanco.
Education
BSc (Hons) Applied Biology and Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing, MCIM, UK
Board of Directors
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Joachim Hasenmaier
Role
Director
Member of supervisory boards, animal health industry expert.
Experience
25 years of experience in the Animal Health industry. Leading the development of Boehringer Ingelheim’s animal health business from a niche player to a global leader, with final role as Member of the Board of Managing Directors of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation. Broad experience in strategy and business development, change management as well as management of a global organization.
Previous
McKinsey & Co., Hoechst Roussel Vet, Intervet, Boehringer Ingelheim
Education
Dr. med. vet., Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany
Master in Management, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago
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Phil Austin
Role
Director
Managing Partner, Anterra Capital
Founder and Managing Partner at Anterra Capital, currently leading their US office and Life Sciences investment team.
Experience
15+ years of consulting and investment experience initially in industrial biotech with McKinsey & Company and Atlas Venture, then more recently at Anterra Capital where his investment portfolio focuses on the application of life sciences technologies across agriculture, animal health, and nutritional wellness.
Previous
McKinsey & Co, Atlas Ventures, Rabo Ventures
Education
MEng Chemical Engineering & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Heriot Watt University Edinburgh, UK
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Peter Lee
Role
Director
Analyst, Casdin Capital
Board Member/Observer of multiple Casdin portfolio companies.
Previous
Healthcare investment banking at RBC Capital Markets and Canaccord Genuity.
Education
BA, University of Chicago
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Jason Akus
Role
Director
Senior Vice President, Research, Tekla Capital
Responsible for investment research and due diligence in the biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostic areas. Serves as a member of the team responsible for making investments on behalf of the Funds.
Experience
20+ years investment experience in biotech and healthcare.
Education
BS in Mathematics
MD Tufts University
MBA Tufts University
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Jessica Alston
Role
Director
Partner, F-Prime Capital
Life sciences investing across therapeutics, med tech, diagnostics, and research tools.
Experience
15+ years research, consulting and investment experience across life sciences and healthcare.
Previous
McKinsey & Co, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Education
PhD, Genetics, Harvard University
BS, Biology, Duke University
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Kartik Dharmadhikari
Role
Director
Partner, Novo Holdings
Experience
Partner in Novo Holdings’ growth equity investment area (Novo Growth) currently leading activities within food, agriculture, industrials, and bio-manufacturing in North America. Experience across agriculture, chemicals, consumer products, and healthcare on biotechnology strategy and operational topics; business building and corporate development roles in both Denmark and the U.S.
Previous
Novozymes, McKinsey & Co.
Education
MBA, Columbia Business School
BA, Northwestern University