Manohar Katakam, PH.D.
Founder & CEO
About
Experienced biotech/pharma entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in developing and marketing a diverse therapeutic area products. Dr. Katakam raised equity and debt capital and managed operations leading to many successful high-valued corporate exits. Major pharmaceutical industry experience included successful tenures at Centocor, Aventis, Wyeth, and Pfizer. Dr Katakam co-founded NuTherapeutics to develop and commercialize thin-film dosage forms of prescription products which he guided to a successful exit.
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He established the orphan disease product company, Makindus, and led product development to Phase 3 readiness in both the US and in EU. He obtained his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Kakatiya University and his MS and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Auburn University.
Constantine A Stratakis
Executive Medical Director
About
Professor Constantine A Stratakis is a renowned medical geneticist, endocrinologist, translational investigator, and executive leader with extensive experience in healthcare, clinical trials, genetics, policy, government regulations, and patient advocacy. He served as the Chief Scientific Officer of ELPEN Pharmaceuticals and directed the efforts to build a new ELPEN Research Institute. He led the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NICHD) genetics and endocrinology programs and the NICHD intramural research program for over 18 years in the United States, training over 200 trainees. He has authored over 800 publications and received numerous awards and honors for his work.
Lisa Sher
Head of Corporate Development
About
Lisa has spent more than 20 years in business development roles and as in-house Head of Investor Relations/Corporate Communications for private and publicly traded companies in a multitude of therapeutic areas including, but not limited to CNS, oncology, rare disease, anti-infectives, and addiction. In addition to providing senior-level in-house investor relations and communications counsel, Lisa has spent many years with healthcare-focused investor and media relations agencies.
Earlier in her IR career, she served as Director, Investor Relations & Programming for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, also known as BIO. At BIO, Lisa led all investor communications and initiated and implemented several new programs to further engage the investment community in the organization. In the early 2000s, Lisa was in the top ranks of pharmaceutical sales reps at industry leaders; Schering-Plough (acquired by Merck), Astra Zeneca, and Endo Pharmaceuticals.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University.
Bo Allen, PH.D.
Senior VP, Regulatory Affairs
About
Carroll “Bo” Allen has over 40 years experience in multiple leadership positions within the pharmaceutical industry including 20 years in major pharmaceutical companies (Boehringer Ingelheim, Ciba Geigy, Sandoz, and Novartis). He has executive experience in various start-up biopharmaceutical companies including CoCensys, Kimeragen, and IgX. He founded Asklepion Biopharmaceuticals and Versalion Pharmaceuticals. He has extensive experience in the United States and global orphan drug markets and regulations as well as the implementation of orphan drug strategies.
He is experienced in clinical development, business development and marketing activities for orphan products as well as FDA and EMEA regulatory documentation and compliance, planning and implementation including cGMP, GLP and HIPPA practices. Dr. Allen has a Masters in Biologics Sciences from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a Ph.D. from South Hampton University, UK.