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Steven Zelenkofske,DO, MS, FACC, FCCP, FACOI, Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Steven Zelenkofske brings more than 20 years of industry development experience to SwanBio. Most recently, Dr. Zelenkofske served as Chief Medical Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage company specializing in complement inhibitors and at UniQure, a clinical stage gene therapy company. Previously he served as Chief Medical Officer of Regado Biosciences. He has also held leadership positions at Astra-Zeneca, Sanofi-Aventis, Boston Scientific and Novartis. Dr. Zelenkofske has been responsible for multiple NDA filings and has worked across multiple therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, metabolic diseases, diabetes, nephrology, hematology, immunology and neurology.

Dr. Zelenkofske completed his residency training at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by fellowships in cardiology and electrophysiology at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, and St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, respectively. He is a graduate of Emory University, where he also earned a Master of Science degree in immunopharmacology. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathy from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Zelenkofske is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Osteopathic Internists.

Karen Kozarsky, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Co-Founder

Karen Kozarsky, PhD, has 25 years of experience in gene therapy, with a primary focus on the development of gene therapy for inherited rare diseases utilizing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors.

Dr. Kozarsky has deep experience evaluating potential therapeutic opportunities, identifying new areas, and developing products from the earliest preclinical stages through IND. She has been involved in the development of multiple gene therapy products that are in clinical trials.

Previously, Dr. Kozarsky was President of Vector BioPartners, VP of R&D at REGENXBIO Inc., and Head, Gene Therapy in the GlaxoSmithKline Biopharmaceutical Center of Excellence for Drug Discovery. Prior to that, she was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Institute for Human Gene Therapy, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Michigan in gene therapy and in immunology.

Dr. Kozarsky was named by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine as the first co-Chair of the Gene Therapy Section to support policies to advance novel gene therapies, and has been a committee member for the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy.

Dr. Kozarsky received a PhD in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Biology from Amherst College.

Michael Alexander, JD, PhD, General Counsel - SwanBio Therapeutics, Inc.

Dr. Michael Alexander has 27+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry providing legal guidance and strategic business advice in support of global research and development, business development and licensing and various intellectual property matters.

Previously Dr. Alexander was the Vice President & General Counsel of the R&D Division for Sanofi US. Prior to that, he was an Assistant General Counsel – Intellectual Property for Sanofi US.

Dr. Alexander is a registered patent attorney and received a PhD in organic / medicinal chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in chemistry from St. Lawrence University.

Rebecca Dabora, PHD

Rebecca Dabora, PhD is a Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) expert with 30 years of experience in the development of clinical and commercial stage biopharmaceutical products. She is currently an independent consultant and has been providing CMC strategic, operational, and regulatory support, and integrated program management support for over 15 years to numerous biopharmaceutical client companies. Currently she serves as Interim Chief Technology Officer for SwanBio Therapeutics and has recently served as Vice President of Technical Operations for two additional clinical development stage companies in a consulting capacity. Her expertise includes all aspects of CMC development including cell line development and banking, process development, process validation, manufacturing, analytical development and characterization, comparability strategies, and regulatory strategies. Dr. Dabora has helped numerous companies move their CMC programs from preclinical target to initial IND / phase 1 clinical start and from late stage clinical supply to commercialization. Over the course of her industry and consulting career, Dr. Dabora has worked for over 80 companies on the development or commercialization of over 120 biopharmaceutical products encompassing a diverse range of expression technologies and manufacturing platforms. Products include monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, gene therapy products, cell therapy products, vaccines, enzymes, novel proteins, and other biologics as well as small molecule products. Regulatory filing experience includes preparation of more than 30 INDs and 7 BLAs. Previous industry affiliations (permanent roles) include Aspyrian Therapeutics (Chief Technology Officer), Altus Pharmaceutical (Vice President, Technical Operations), Biogen (Director, Process Development and Program Executive), and Merck (Senior Microbiologist). While at Biogen Dr. Dabora played a key role in the world-wide commercialization of Avonex® (interferon beta-1a), a therapeutic for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Dr. Dabora received her PhD in Biochemical Engineering from M.I.T. and her B.A. in Biochemistry, magna cum laude, from Bowdoin College.

Marita James, Interim Chief Financial Officer

Marita James is a financial executive that brings to SwanBio 25+ years’ experience developing and executing strategic business solutions.

Prior to joining SwanBio, Marita spent eight years operating two global clinical research organizations. As CFO, she transformed systems at both companies to orchestrate successful VC exits, including the sale of one CRO onto the Shenzhen exchange. Prior to clinical research, Marita offered outsourced finance solutions, serving a number of mid-market, life science clients. As the CFO of Howard Lawson, a boutique investment bank, she was integral in the sale to Fleet Boston Financial. Marita began her career on the audit team at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Marita holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelors’ Degree from LaSalle University, emphasis on Business Administration. She is a CPA, serving on the board of the University of Pennsylvania’s Alumni Association and Penn Grant committee.

Scott McMillan, PhD, Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Scott McMillan joined SwanBio as the Chief Technology Officer. In his role as Chief Technology Officer, he is responsible for SwanBio’s analytical and process development, manufacturing, quality control as well as quality assurance.

Dr. McMillan joins SwanBio from Saliogen Inc., where he served as the Chief Executive Officer since 2019. In his role as Chief Executive Officer, he was responsible for Saliogen’s gene therapy activities, including vector, nonclinical, process, and analytical development, manufacturing, quality control as well as quality assurance. Prior to Saliogen, Dr. McMillan served as Chief Operating Officer at uniQure Inc. where he had a similar set of responsibilities to that at Saliogen. Prior to uniQure, Dr. McMillan served as the Senior Vice President of Quality and Technical Operations at AMAG Pharmaceuticals and prior to AMAG he served as Senior Director of Process Development & Manufacturing at AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware, earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and conducted his postdoctoral training at Emory University Medical School, the National Institutes of Health and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Jessica Imrie, Senior Vice President of Program Development

Jessica Imrie brings more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and over nine years of experience working in cell and gene therapies to her role as Senior Vice President of Program Development at SwanBio. Jessica joined SwanBio after her time at Limelight Bio where she led the planning of two ophthalmology IND submissions and was responsible for building both the portfolio and clinical development platforms. Prior to Limelight Bio, she was at GSK where she worked across discovery and development functions in strategic & operational roles. Jessica joined the GSK Rare Diseases Team and worked cross-functionally to help deliver ground-breaking cell and gene therapy treatments for multiple immunodeficiency and leukodystrophies. In 2016, she led the European launch of the first autologous ex-vivo gene therapy (Strimvelis) for children born with ADA Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). Before leaving GSK, Jessica led a team who planned to expand gene therapy treatments worldwide. Jessica started her career working for Ernst & Young consulting to hospital networks within New Zealand. She received her MBA in healthcare and pharmaceuticals from Drexel University, Philadelphia and her undergraduate degree in Strategic Management and Industrial Psychology at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

Florian S. Eichler, MD, Chair of Clinical Advisory Board, Co-Founder

Florian Eichler received his MD from the University of Vienna Medical School in 1997 and joined the staff at MGH in 2005. Dr. Eichler is the Director of the Leukodystrophy Service and of the Center for Rare Neurological Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Eichler’s research focus is on the genetics of peroxisomal disorders, lipid metabolism, and spatial aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. His laboratory explores the relationship of mutant genes to specific biochemical defects and their contribution to neurodegeneration.

Dr. Eichler was the lead investigator of the clinical trial of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) gene therapy Lenti-D, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2017).

As Director of the Leukodystrophy Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital, he sees patients with a variety of white matter disorders. He has received several NIH awards funding studies to analyze metabolic changes seen in the brain by MR measures and to determine the neurotoxicity of newly discovered atypical sphingolipids.

In April, 2018, The Clinical Research (CR) Forum, a non-profit membership association of top clinical research experts and thought leaders from the nation’s leading academic health centers, presented the Herbert Pardes Clinical Research Excellence Award, its most prestigious honor to Dr. Eichler’s research team for its discovery of the first successful gene therapy treatment to stave off childhood degenerative brain disease, cALD. Using a disabled form of HIV to deliver the gene therapy, Dr. Eichler and his research team were able to halt the progression of the disease in 15 out of 17 boys who participated in the clinical trial. The study opens the door not only for treating ALD, but also other neurological diseases.

Wayne Froland, Ph.D, Chief Technology & Manufacturing Officer

Wayne Froland, Ph.D., is a first-principles biochemist with twenty years’ industry experience. Dr. Froland has led innovative development organizations, small and large, across the entire biopharmaceutical product development spectrum from early clinical development through to global registration and successful product launches. He has a broad knowledgebase of biopharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as global regulatory functions.

Dr. Froland has deep experience in biologics evaluation, product maturation, formulation, drug product image and manufacturing process development, characterization and qualification in support of production of biopharmaceutical drug substance and drug product.

Dr. Froland spent the early part of his career at Bayer, supporting drug substance and product development through internal teams and external CMOs and CROs. Subsequently, he joined Aerovance to build and lead a team of twenty focused on Process Sciences and Technical Operations. Dr. Froland was recruited to Merck to build and lead a late-stage development and commercialization team, and also was responsible for developing enterprise level strategic and technical development for large molecule development and manufacturing.

Dr. Froland received his B.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and did his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley.

Rachel Salzman, DVM, President, Co-Founder

Dr. Rachel Salzman is a passionate advocate for advancing therapies where novel platforms such as genetic and cellular therapies hold promise. Dr. Salzman co-founded SwanBio Therapeutics in 2017, after serving as the Chief Science Officer (CSO) of The Stop ALD Foundation since 2001. For over 15 years she has provided drug development advice to biopharmaceutical executives working in the rare disease space where complex biological and business issues intersect with serious unmet medical need.

The Stop ALD Foundation is a non-profit Medical Research Organization dedicated to employing entrepreneurial approaches and innovative methodology towards effective therapies, cures, and prevention of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), an often-fatal neurodegenerative disease. As CSO she made critical contributions in driving forward the world’s first ex vivo lentiviral gene therapy clinical trial conducted in non-HIV infected patients. This program is now in a pivotal trial, having contributed to the successful development of a gene therapy company.

Dr. Salzman has been an active member of ASGCT (American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy) for over 15 years and has served in a leadership capacity on multiple committees and task forces designed to advance the state of gene and cell therapy in both the US and EU. Her contributions were recognized when she received the Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award in 2015. She currently serves as an elected member of the Executive Board of Directors and was the inaugural Chair of the Government Relations Committee.

Dr. Salzman received a D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) from Oklahoma State University and a B.S. in Animal Science from Rutgers University.

Carolyn M. Carroll, Chief People Officer

Carolyn M. Carroll brings to SwanBio more than 20 years of experience in organizational, leadership and cultural development as well as human resources expertise in health care, global pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. In her current role, Carolyn serves as the architect of people and culture initiatives, focused on preparing the company for the next phases of growth. She is a passionate strategist focused on positioning the company for near-term and future success from a science, business and people perspective. SwanBio relies on Carolyn’s ability to be an innovative and practical problem solver and ensuring employees collaborate in harmony with a strong leadership team.

Prior to joining SwanBio, Carolyn held several senior leadership positions in both organizational development and HR for the transnational R&D business of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. Most recently, she created and led her own organization development and HR consulting business, specializing in providing innovative HR and organizational development solutions to small and mid-size companies.

Carolyn’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and Business Strategy from Temple University and master’s work in Human Organizational Sciences at Villanova University. Additionally, she holds certificates in MBTI, High Performance Team diagnostics and Neuro Linguistic executive coaching practitioner. Carolyn is also a certified executive coach.

Carolyn serves as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Tom Anderson, CEO - SwanBio Therapeutics, Inc.

A 35-yr veteran of the biopharma and CPG industries, Tom Anderson has led and been a part of high growth organizations for much of his career. Prior to Tom being appointed CEO at SwanBio Therapeutics, he was recruited to Sage Therapeutics, Inc. in 2014 to be the company’s Chief Commercial Strategy Officer and a key member of Sage’s leadership team. Between 2004 and 2014, Tom was a senior operating (P&L) executive with Shire Pharmaceuticals Group in a number of operational and strategic CEO-advisory roles in both rare diseases and specialty pharmaceuticals. During that time, Shire achieved a 5-fold increase in revenues and market cap valuation. Prior to that, Tom was with J&J (Janssen and McNeil Pharmaceutical) in a number of sales, marketing and business information roles which experienced transformative growth. Between 1997 and 2002, Tom served in C-suite and Board roles with market-leading consumer product companies as part of the Claneil Enterprises, Inc. family of companies: President & CEO for Ranir-DCP Corporation, and EVP / COO with Claneil’s Lander Company, Inc. Tom is on the boards of SwanBio Therapeutics, ExpressCells Inc. and a strategic advisor to Sealink International and CEO Trust. He is also an investor partner at Robin Hood Ventures in Philadelphia, PA. Tom earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business Administration. He received a BS in civil engineering from the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering at Lehigh University.

Spyros Papapetropoulos MD, PhD

Dr. Spyros Papapetropoulos is an experienced biopharmaceutical executive, a recognized researcher, and a change agent. He has held positions of increasing responsibility at small, medium and large CNS-focused biopharma companies. Prior to joining SwanBio Therapeutics, he served as Head of Research and Development and CMO at Cavion Inc where he successfully spearheaded the development of small molecules in novel CNS indications by developing an innovative precision medicine platform. Before Cavion he held senior/executive positions at Biogen, Allergan, Pfizer, and TEVA. Dr. Papapetropoulos has filed multiple INDs and has overseen a broad spectrum of pharmaceutical development programs leading to successful regulatory filings and new product launches worldwide. For the past ten years, he has led efforts in digital health and biopharmaceutical innovation developing standards and novel technology-based tools and solutions. Dr. Papapetropoulos has a track record on building focused, innovative, fast-paced teams with an emphasis on science and culture.

Dr. Papapetropoulos is a board-certified Neurologist and Neuroscientist trained at the University of Patras, Greece and Queen’s Square/UCL, London, UK and holds appointments as Consultant with Massachusetts General Hospital and Voluntary Professor of Neurology with the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He has authored more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, presented and chaired meetings since 1998. Dr. Papapetropoulos is a member of various US government and non-profit committees on healthcare and biomedical research innovation.

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Neurological Disease

SwanBio is using adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver therapeutic genes directly to the central nervous system to achieve rapid and profound therapeutic effects. AAV has been shown to be safe and effective in multiple clinical trials.

SwanBio is developing an AAV-based gene therapy for a rare inherited neurodegenerative disease in which the causative gene is definitively known and well characterized.

While SwanBio’s initial focus is on diseases that are both rare and serious, the broader vision is understanding the origin and treatment of disorders where therapeutic DNA has the potential to treat neurological illnesses.

The Innovation Fund was created in 2007 by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital to address a growing unmet need for funding emerging technology in the capital gap between invention and product development.

The main objective of the fund is to accelerate to market technologies developed by Partners HealthCare investigators, thereby enhancing healthcare quality, cost and outcomes. Structured as a separate LLC entity, the $35M Fund is evergreen in design and will reinvest all gains from investments back into the Fund to create capital for additional investments.

Investment decision oversight is provided by an independent external committee composed of experts from industry, venture capital and academia.
The Fund has four major goals:

Capture more value from the PHS research portfolio by creating companies, technologies and solutions that advance and enhance healthcare.
Provide funding for technologies positioned in the capital gap between invention and clinical development.
By demonstrating institutional commitment, attract external capital that will leverage and encourage co-investment.
Generate a return on investment to refresh the fund and provide capital for additional technologies.

Syncona is a leading FTSE250 company focused on investing in and building global leaders in life science. Our vision is to deliver transformational treatments to patients in truly innovative areas of healthcare while generating attractive returns for shareholders. Our current investment portfolio consists of seven high quality investee companies in life science and a leading range of fund investments.

We seek to partner with the best, brightest and most ambitious minds in science to build globally competitive businesses. We are established leaders in gene therapy, cell therapy and advanced diagnostics, and focus on delivering dramatic efficacy for patients in areas of high unmet need.

Our funds portfolio seeks to generate superior returns by investing in long only and alternative investment funds. This represents a productively deployed evergreen funding base, which enables us to take a long-term approach to investing in life science as we target the best new opportunities and support our existing portfolio investee companies to grow and succeed.

Syncona is aligned with two of the premium charitable funders in UK science, The Wellcome Trust, original founder of Syncona, and Cancer Research UK, both of which are significant shareholders in our business. We make a donation of 0.3% of Net Asset Value to a range of charities each year.

Life-changing impact

Innovative science

Transformative thinking

Life-changing impact

Innovative science

Transformative thinking

Welcome to SwanBio Therapeutics

OUR SCIENCE

PRESS RELEASES

SwanBio Therapeutics Appoints Scott McMillan, Ph.D., as Chief Technical Officer

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