Bio-Path Holdings Announces Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for Phase 1/1b Clinical Trial of Prexigebersen-A in Solid Tumors
SEC Form 8K: Press Release Dated October 27, 2021
Jorge Cortes, M.D., Chairman
Dr. Jorge Cortes joined Bio-Path’s Scientific Advisory Board as its chairman and an inaugural member. A well-established expert in oncology and hematology, Dr. Cortes is currently the director of the Georgia Cancer Center. Over the course of his 25-year career specializing in leukemia research, Dr. Cortes has held several prestigious academic appointments at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including Jane and John Justin Distinguished Chair in Leukemia Research, chief of the AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) sections, and deputy chair of the Leukemia department.
Dr. Cortes has also lent his experience as a consultant to leading pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca on the development of prenyltransferase inhibitors, GlaxoSmithKline on the use of topotecan in MDS (myelodysplastic syndromes) and CMML (chronic myelomonocytic leukemia), and Rhône-Poulenc Rorer (now Sanofi-Aventis) on the use of PEG-asparaginase in adult ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia).
Dr. Cortes earned his medical degree from la Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a Bachelor of Science from el Centro Universitario México. He currently serves on the National CML Society’s Medical Advisory Board, as well as on numerous other executive committees and scientific advisory boards for organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the International CML Foundation. He has over 230 grants and contracts where he was principal investigator. He has authored nearly 1,000 peer-review original research articles with numerous other accolades towards his name and practice.
D. Craig Hooper, Ph.D.
Dr. Hooper is a professor of cancer biology and neurological surgery and the section chief for translational research in the department of neurological surgery’s tumor division at Thomas Jefferson University. He has made important contributions to the understanding of immunity, particularly with respect to therapeutic and pathological mechanisms acting in central nervous system tissues, with over 140 peer-reviewed, full-length publications.
Dr. Hooper’s work has led to novel immune therapies for rabies infection, neuroinflammation, and cancer with 10 issued U.S. patents and 19 international patents that have been licensed to five companies in the U.S. and abroad. He is the founding president of the Jefferson Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is a co-founder of Imvax Inc., a startup company that has licensed Jefferson systemic cancer immunotherapy technology developed by Dr. Hooper and his colleagues. He serves on the editorial board of a number of journals including the Journal of Immunology and Scientific Reports and has been the recipient of numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health as well as other national and international agencies.Dr. Hooper received his doctorate in immunology from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and did his post-doctoral training at the University of Bristol, England.
Jason B. Fleming, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Jason B. Fleming is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist specializing in pancreatic cancer and serves as Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Fleming earned his medical degree at the University of Tennessee Center of Health Science. He completed a clinical residency in general surgery and a research fellowship in cancer research at UT Southwestern and the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research. He also completed a clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
At UT Southwestern, Dr. Fleming directs all clinical operations at the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and drives strategies to advance innovative, patient-centered cancer care across the health system. Before his return to UT Southwestern, Dr. Fleming served as a Professor of Surgical Oncology and Chief of Pancreas Surgery at MD Anderson and then as Chair of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Fleming is a prolific academician, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications and contributions to numerous books. He has delivered many international, national, and regional invited lectures. He serves as principal investigator or co-investigator for numerous active research projects, with grant support from sources such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Program.
Peter Nielsen
Mr. Nielsen co-founded Bio-Path and has served as Bio-Path’s President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and Chairman of the Board since 2008. At the time of Bio-Path’s establishment in 2007, Mr. Nielsen licensed technology and targets from The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center and coordinated preclinical development, optimization and manufacturing of Bio-Path’s lead drug candidate, prexigebersen. Since that time, Mr. Nielsen has led the clinical advancement of prexigebersen into Phase 2 studies, the introduction of additional pipeline candidates and the Company’s public market debut. Prior to co-founding Bio-Path, Mr. Nielsen worked with several other companies, leading turnarounds and developing and executing on strategies for growth. Mr. Nielsen previously served as a director of Synthecon, Inc., a company developing 3D cell culture technology. Before entering the biotechnology sector, Mr. Nielsen was a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power program where he was director of the physics department and was employed at Ford Motor Company in product development. Mr. Nielsen has a broad background in senior management and has significant negotiating experience. He holds engineering, mathematics and M.B.A. finance degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.
Ana Tari Ashizawa, PhD, MBA
Dr. Ana Tari Ashizawa is a scientific co-founder of Bio-Path Holdings and serves as Senior Vice President of Research, Development & Clinical Design for the company. Dr. Tari Ashizawa is a leading expert in liposomes, and was instrumental in the development of Bio-Path’s neutral lipid delivery technology. She was previously an associate professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Florida, Gainesville. Dr. Tari Ashizawa holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.
Anthony Price, MBA
Anthony Price serves as Senior Vice President of Finance, Accounting & Administration. He joined Bio-Path in May 2014 and has 15 years of experience in the healthcare field. From October 2006 through April 2014, he held positions in finance at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., most recently as Associate Director of Finance and Accounting. From 1993 to 2006, Mr. Price served in a variety of financial and accounting management positions for Building Materials Holding Corporation. Mr. Price holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration – finance from California State University, Fresno and a Master of Business Administration from Colorado State University.
Heath Cleaver
Mr. Cleaver has served as chief financial officer of Porto Energy Corp., junior oil and gas exploration company listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange, since February 2011. Prior to his elevation to chief financial officer, Mr. Cleaver served as chief accounting officer. Mr. Cleaver served as corporate controller and then as vice president and chief accounting officer for BPZ Energy from October 2006 to mid-2010. Prior to joining BPZ, Mr. Cleaver was engaged as a consultant for a variety of public companies such as Rosetta Resources, Calpine Natural Gas and Index Oil and Gas. Mr. Cleaver is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting from Texas A&M University.