HYGEIA'S MANAGEMENT TEAM
Yael Schwartz, PhD, Founder, CEO & President, Director
Dr. Schwartz has over 20 years combined experience in both drug development and academic research. Prior to founding Hygeia Therapeutics, she held positions of increasing responsibility at Sepracor where she had direct responsibility for the pharmacology content of numerous INDs and NDAs for CNS and respiratory drugs. The earlier part of her career included stints at both Parexel International and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where she worked on cardiovascular medications and cancer therapeutics, respectively.
Over the course of her career, five of the drugs she helped to discover and develop obtained FDA approval and are currently used in clinical practice.
Dr. Schwartz studied toxicology at Northeastern University and, subsequently, obtained her PhD in endocrine physiology from a collaborative program between WPI and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She conducted post-doctoral work in both endocrinology and immunology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is the author of numerous publications. She has been an adjunct faculty member in Physiology and Immunology at WPI and Mass College of Pharmacy-Worcester.
Craig Abolin, PhD, Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Abolin has more than 27 years of hands-on pharmaceutical company experience in preclinical drug development in a number of therapeutic categories including CNS, respiratory, renal, immunology, cardiovascular, osteoporosis, anti-infectives, diabetes, antiarrhythmics and hormone replacement. He helped develop and obtain FDA approval for 11 drugs.
Before co-founding Hygeia, Dr. Abolin held management positions of increasing responsibility at Astra Pharmaceutical Products, Sandoz, Novartis, Hurley Consulting Associates and Sepracor. He has expertise and advanced training in pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, GLP-compliant bioanalytics using LC/MS/MS, and CRO management.
Dr. Abolin received a BS in Pharmacy and MS in Pharmaceutics from West Virginia University. At the University of California, San Francisco, he earned a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry while studying pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism. He is the author of many publications and scientific presentations.
OUTSOURCED LEGAL, MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS
Peter B. Finn, Esq., Secretary and Corporate Counsel
Mr. Finn is a Senior Partner at Rubin and Rudman, LLP in Boston. His practice is principally devoted to representing biotechnology and high technology companies in all aspects of corporate law, licensing and financing. Mr. Finn received his BA degree from Syracuse University and his JD degree from the Boston College Law School. He is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. He has authored articles related to financing, contracts, and licenses. Mr. Finn was an invited lecturer at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. Mr. Finn has been associated with Hygeia Therapeutics since 2007.
Richard Gearhart, Esq., Intellectual Property Counsel
Mr. Gearhart is the principal and founder of Gearhart Law, LLC. He has more than 15 years experience in intellectual property law, having written and prosecuted hundreds of patents. He is the former Head of the US Patent and Trademark group for Novartis Pharmaceuticals where he managed global litigation and patent prosecution. Mr. Gearhart received his JD from Case Western Reserve University and subsequently obtained a DES in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He is registered to practice in the states of New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan and Massachusetts. Mr. Gearhart has been consulting for Hygeia Therapeutics since 2008.
David Shepro, MD, Consulting CMO
Dr. Shepro is a hematology and oncology practitioner with Commonwealth Hematology and Oncology, PC. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He received his BA from Boston University and his MD from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Shepro completed fellowship training at Boston University Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. He received an Outstanding Medical Educator Award from his Medical School alma mater in 1987. In 2000, Dr. Shepro co-created the Anticoagulation-Advisor®, a unique and widely recognized method for safe dosing of warfarin.
Dr. Shepro has consulted for CVS/Pharmacy, T-Breeders (now ViaCell), and ATON Pharma. He is a blinded reviewer of Pivotal Phase III hematology and oncology studies for Perceptive Informatics, Inc./PAREXEL since 2004. As a clinical investigator Dr. Shepro has extensive experience in Phase I, II, and III clinical trials. Dr. Shepro has been associated with Hygeia Therapeutics since 2007.
Walter Greenblatt, MBA, Consulting CFO
Mr. Greenblatt has been associated with Hygeia Therapeutics since 2008. He is a veteran life science-focused investment banker having more than 25 years of business experience in institutional funding, business development transactions and mergers and acquisitions. He received his BA degree from Yale University, Master’s Degree in Economics from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
CO-FOUNDERS
Tom Jerussi, PhD, Director
Dr. Jerussi has more than 25 years experience in drug discovery, research and development. His industry experience includes both research and executive positions at Sepracor and Ohmeda Pharmaceuticals. In his earlier science career, Dr. Jerussi was a professor of pharmacology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, NY and Rutgers University College of Pharmacy, NJ.
Dr. Jerussi has authored pharmacology and toxicology sections of numerous INDs and NDAs in depression, schizophrenia, asthma, urinary incontinence and volatile anesthetics. His work in drug discovery and development has put more than 7 drugs into clinical practice. He has authored and co-authored more than 70 publications, 34 US Patents and 85 International patents.
Sanjeev (Jay) Popli, MBA, VP Business Development
Jay Popli has over 13 years of success in launching and marketing leading consumer and healthcare products. Prior to joining Hygeia, Mr. Popli was Senior Director of Marketing at Sepracor, where he led the consumer marketing efforts for Lunesta. Lunesta captured a 14% share of the market in only 9 months and ranks as the 7th fasted launch in US pharmaceutical history.
In 2006 BrandWeek named Mr. Popli as one of its Marketers of the Year for his work on Lunesta. Additionally, Mr. Popli was recognized by Ad Age as one of the top 50 marketers of 2006.
Prior to joining Sepracor, Mr. Popli held key positions at Novartis Consumer Health and Procter and Gamble. While at Novartis he launched key products within the Maalox and Lamisil franchises. At Procter and Gamble he helped develop the initial positioning and launch plans for Actonel, a multi-billion dollar osteoporosis medication. Mr. Popli holds a BS in Optics and a MBA from the University of Rochester.
Edward Kislauskis, PhD
Edward Kislauskis has more than 18 years experience in the early development of drugs, biologics and medical devices. Dr. Kislauskis is a co-founder and Vice President of Research for Biomedical Research Models (BRM), Inc., an international leader in diabetes and autoimmune disease models and preclinical services. Under his direction, BRM’s sponsored research generated over $30M in grant and contract revenues. Dr. Kislauskis has 15 publications in prominent journals, book chapters and reviews, and is co-inventor on 6 patents related RNA biology, sustained-release formulations, diabetes models, and vaccines. His research is featured in several advanced molecular and cell biology textbooks. Dr. Kislauskis’ professional career began as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he received his PhD in molecular genetics.