Zhijun Wang, PhD

Zhijun Wang, PhD

SVP, Research, Data Management

Dr. Wang manages HUYABIO’s Research and Database group to identify, evaluate and propose novel drug discovery programs originating from China. With over 20 years industrial drug discovery experience focusing on oncology, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, he leverages his expertise, conducting due diligence in coordination with HUYABIO China’s scouting team, to propose drug candidates for in-licensing. Previously, Dr. Wang served as a senior medicinal chemist at CalciMedica and Kemia Inc., and as a research associate at Nankai University. Dr. Wang received his BS and MS degrees in Chemistry from Nankai University, China and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Heidelberg University in Germany. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at ETH Zurich, Switzerland and Scripps Research.

Farbod Shojaei, DVM, MSc, PhD

Previous / Next

SVP, Preclinical & Translational Sciences

Dr. Shojaei has extensive knowledge in molecular biology, cell biology and translational sciences in small molecule inhibitors and biologics in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. With over 28 years of experience, he previously served as Director, Drug Development and Biology at Zentalis Pharmaceuticals and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, focusing on translational sciences in oncology. Dr. Shojaei also served at Bionomics Biotechnology, Pfizer, and Genentech. He has provided significant contributions to IND and NDA filings of several anti-cancer agents and is co-inventor of several US patent applications and authored multiple publications in professional journals. Dr. Shojaei received his DVM in Veterinary Medicine from Tehran University, MSc in Immunoglobulin Genetics from University of Guelph, and PhD in Immunology and Stem Cell Research at University of Western Ontario.

Bani Tchekanova, PhD, MS

Previous / Next

SVP, Global Regulatory Affairs

Dr. Tchekanova has extensive experience in the oncology and cardiovascular pharmaceutical industries with global Regulatory Affairs, strategic Quality Assurance and clinical research. With over 25 years experience, she previously served as VP, Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Operations at Statera Biopharmaceutical, providing strategic oversight for the clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, safety reporting and Regulatory operations. As VP, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, and Quality Assurance at Collidion, Dr. Tchekanova provided development and strategy inputs, assuring compliance with successful submissions for approvals to health authorities. Prior to that, she was Senior Consultant at PAREXEL, Director, Clinical Operations at Artemis, Director, Regulatory Affairs at EMD Serono, Head, International Labeling Operation at Boehringer Ingelheim, and Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Abbott. Dr. Tchekanova received her PhD in Molecular Biology, an MS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and a BS in Biology and Chemistry from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Suzanne J. Romano, PhD

Suzanne J. Romano, PhD

Previous / Next

SVP, Product Evaluation & Early-Stage Development

Dr. Romano is responsible for evaluation, preclinical and early clinical development of HUYABIO’s in-licensed drug candidates sourced from China. Having participated in all aspects of HUYABIO’s in-licensing process, including initial assessment, due diligence, partnering agreements, alliance management, and execution of development plans, she is currently responsible for the clinical proof of concept trials for HUYABIO’s lead cardiovascular asset, HBI-3000. With over 25 years industry experience, Dr. Romano has skills in drug discovery, preclinical development, corporate partnering, and alliance management, in a broad range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, diabetes, inflammation, and CNS disorders, and has provided scientific business development consulting services to several biotech companies. She was previously Director, Business Development at Novasite Pharmaceuticals, served in corporate development and drug discovery positions at Ontogen Corporation and was a member of the biotechnology product development group at J&J. Dr. Romano received a PhD in Biology/Neurobiology from University of California, San Diego, and an AB in Biology from Princeton University.

William Davis

William Davis

Previous / Next

EVP, Commercial Operations

Mr. Davis brings extensive expertise in global marketing, brand development, strategic pricing and contracting, national sales strategy and sales training implementation for oncology brand launches in the biotechnology industry. With over 26 years experience, he most recently served as SVP, Commercial Operations for Secura Bio, where he led global sales, marketing, market access, pricing, and contracting during the commercial launch of duvelisib and panobinostat, and subsequently developed the sales, marketing, clinical affairs and business development departments. As SVP, Oncology Sales and Marketing at Fulgent Genetics, Mr. Davis designed and launched the strategic marketing plan, multiple marketing campaigns, pricing strategies, and all marketing material for clinical diagnostic genetic sequencing biotechnology products. He previously held senior positions at Genoptic, Amgen, J&J, and Pharmacia. Mr. Davis received his BA in Business Administration from California State University San Marcos.

Jerome Riebman MD, MA

Jerome Riebman MD, MA

Previous / Next

EVP, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs

Dr. Riebman has extensive executive expertise in the cardiac pharmaceutical industry with strategic leadership, innovation and commercialization skills. With over 40 years clinical, industry and academic experience, he has served in leadership positions at Aziyo Biologics, Amgen, Novartis Pharmaceuticals and J&J’s Ethicon Biosurgery. Dr. Riebman’s clinical experience focused on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery with heart transplantation and heart assist devices. He served as clinical investigator for NIH, NHLBI and industry-sponsored research, has over 120 professional publications and 59 presentations to his credit, and is the inventor on 19 medical device patents. Dr. Riebman received his MD, MA in Biology and completed a General Surgery residency at Temple University, followed by a NHLBI research fellowship at University of Utah’s Artificial Heart Lab, and a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery residency at McGill University. He was board certified in both General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology.

Christopher Kemmerer, PhD

Christopher Kemmerer, PhD

Previous / Next

Global Head CMC, Pharmaceutical Development

Dr. Kemmerer leads the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls functions for HUYABIO’s in-licensed drug candidates, leveraging expertise in formulation and process development, scale-up, tech transfer and manufacturing. With over 25 years of drug development experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, he has held roles of increasing levels of responsibility at Merck and Pfizer on the development and manufacture of a broad range of drug products, including Emend®, Nexium® and Pepcid®. Previous biotech startup work included Director, Formulation at Avera and VP, Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing at Neothetics, where he led the advancement of central nervous system, irritable bowel syndrome and aesthetic fat reduction drug product candidates. Dr. Kemmerer received his PhD in Pharmaceutical Science at Temple University and BS in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University.

Gloria Lee, MD, PhD

Previous / Next

CMO

Dr. Lee has broad expertise in taking products from early clinical development through marketing approval in biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations. With over 28 years experience developing small molecules into cell-based therapy products, she previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Beyondspring Pharmaceuticals, EVP, Clinical and Medical Affairs at Delcath Systems, and was the first CMO at Kite Pharma. Dr. Lee participated in the Taxotere NDA at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and registration-enabling clinical development of Zytiga at Cougar Biotechnology. Previous projects included ibandronate at Hoffmann-La Roche, tezacitabine at Chiron, entinostat at Syndax Pharmaceuticals, GM-CSF at Sandoz, P53 gene therapy at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Gencell and various early-phase biologics and immunotherapy. Dr. Lee received her PhD from Columbia University and MD from University of Miami. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Georgetown University Hospital and Hematology-Oncology fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Alan Kholos, JD, MBA

Previous / Next

CAO

Mr. Kholos has broad expertise encompassing legal, business, engineering, and operational issues in government, public and private corporate, and law firm environments. With over 25 years experience as a legal, compliance and corporate development professional for life science and technology companies, he previously served as Director of Business Development for Becton Dickinson. Mr. Kholos has also served in business and legal roles at Nextwave Wireless, Kyriba and Wavecom, and as an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP. Mr. Kholos received his JD cum laude from Loyola Law School, an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a BS in Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles.

Jason Wang, MBA, CPA

Previous / Next

CFO, Corporate Development

Mr. Wang brings extensive global financial expertise in capital raising, operating companies, and principal investing across the biotech, fintech, and high tech industries. With 25 years experience, he most recently managed a $500M endowment at Scripps Research, and previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Fincera, where he led a successful $70M re-IPO and uplisting to Nasdaq. As Director of Research & Analytics at PEMGroup, Mr. Wang executed $40M principal investments in startups, China investments, and SPACs. He has also held various finance positions at Qualcomm Ventures, 24/7 Real Media, and JPMorgan Chase. Mr. Wang received dual degrees from University of Pennsylvania – a BS in Economics from The Wharton School and a BAS in Systems Engineering, an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles, and is a Certified Public Accountant.