About Us

TREVENTIS™ Corporation is dedicated to treating and preventing protein misfolding diseases. We utilize a proprietary, patented discovery engine – Common Conformational Morphology (CCM) – to identify druggable active sites in misfolded protein targets. CCM combines unique in silico models with deep expertise in model development (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo) to enable rational drug design against misfolded protein targets. Our Takeda-partnered lead program focuses on anti-misfolding small molecules in Alzheimer’s disease. We have further CCM-driven, U.S. DOD-funded efforts in oncology and other neurodegenerative diseases that show the wide utility of our technology platform.

Management

Christopher J. Barden

Chief Executive Officer

Donald F. Weaver

Chief Medical Officer

Mark Reed

Chief Scientific Officer

Marcia Taylor

SVP Research

Seung-Pil Yang

Biology Group Leader

Carlos Zepeda

Chemistry Group Leader

Board of Directors

Gregory Harriman, M.D.

Independent Director

Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D.

Independent Director

L. William McIntosh, B.S., M.B.A.

Chairman and Founder

Timothy J. Williamson, B.A.

Independent Director

William Wong, Ph.D.

Founder

Advisory Board

Barry Greenberg, Ph.D.

Gregory Kopia, Ph.D.

Brian W. Metcalf, Ph.D.

Patrick T. Shannon, Ph.D.

Christopher J. Barden

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Barden, a serial entrepreneur, registered patent agent and computational scientist, has fifteen years of experience in drug discovery management. He is a veteran of academia and biotech drug projects, with R&D expertise in the oncology, neurodegenerative and anti-infective spaces and business expertise in technology transfer and building investible companies. A co-founder of Treventis, he is a key architect of our proprietary “CCM” model of protein misfolding. Dr. Barden received his Ph.D. in Physical (Computational) Chemistry from the Schaefer group at University of Georgia.

 

Donald F. Weaver

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Weaver is a Senior Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute and Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and is an inventor on over 70 patents. In addition to being a practicing neurologist, Dr. Weaver is a recognized expert in computer-aided drug design. Dr. Weaver’s work in the fields of quantum and molecular mechanics to design drugs through the use of high throughput in silico screens has been instrumental in his founding of several biotech companies. Most notably at Neurochem Inc. (recently acquired by GSK), Dr. Weaver discovered and developed tramiprosate (Alzhemed), the first “disease modifying” small molecule anti-amyloid aggregation drug in the world to reach phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Weaver is the recipient of numerous grants, awards and honors, a selection of which include a 2022 Oskar Fischer Award, 2011 Jonas Salk Award, 2010 Bantrel Award, and the 2009 Prix Galien (for research into the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease). He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Mark Reed

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Reed is a founder of Treventis and co-inventor of our lead and backup series of small molecule inhibitors of tau and beta-amyloid oligomerization. Dr. Reed was instrumental in leading the company’s pharmacology and chemistry efforts to obtain in vivo dose response reduction and target engagement of tau and beta-amyloid oligomers in models of neurodegeneration. He has over 20 years of experience in drug discovery, working in startups biotech (ICOS corporation, Seattle) and large pharma (Schering Plough Research Institute, Cambridge, MA). Dr. Reed has implemented modern medicinal chemistry practices to identify and advance de-risked lead compounds towards the clinic in the areas of CNS, anti-infectives, immunology and oncology. Dr. Reed has published multiple papers and patents in areas of synthetic organic chemistry, neurodegeneration, neuropathic pain and inflammation. He received a B.Sc in chemistry from the University of Reading and D.Phil in organic chemistry from the University of Sussex and currently holds the positions of Staff Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute and Assistant Professor within the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto.

Marcia Taylor

SVP Research

Dr. Taylor manages a team of researchers working in medicinal and synthetic chemistry, and developing screening tools for amyloid drug discovery, including proof of concept and mechanism of action studies. A variety of novel biophysical, biochemical, cell-based, and preclinical tests are being developed in house and in collaboration with leading scientists worldwide. Dr. Taylor has led the biology program at DeNovaMed, a Halifax, Nova Scotia based company developing novel anti-infectives and has experience in drug development and regulatory submissions at Apobiologix in Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Taylor was awarded her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Dalhousie University, Canada, followed by a postdoctoral position at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Seung-Pil Yang

Biology Group Leader

Dr. Yang is a Distinguished Scientist at Treventis Corporation, leading the Biological Sciences Group of the company. Dr. Yang has over fifteen years of experience in the research of protein misfolding in the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. He joined Treventis Corporation in 2013 and has played a key role in developing bioassays for neurodegeneration programs of the company. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology with study of the interaction between Alzheimer’s beta-amyloid peptide and VEGF from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH); and did his postdoctoral training in Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop’s lab in the University of Toronto.

Carlos Zepeda

Chemistry Group Leader

Dr. Zepeda began his career by co-discovering a small molecule therapeutic for leukemia centered on the protein WDR5 as a research scientist at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. In this role he also led multiple projects to develop chemical probes for target validation. This drug candidate is currently being co-developed with Celgene after obtaining $40M USD in funding. He joined Treventis in 2021. Carlos has authored 5 patents and several scientific publications. Prior to his work in drug discovery and development, Carlos completed his PhD at McMaster University (Canada), and also worked as project leader in a process team at one of the Apotex subsidiary companies.

Board of Directors

Gregory Harriman, M.D.

Independent Director

Dr. Harriman has over 25 years of experience with increasing responsibilities in academic medicine and the biopharmaceutical industry. He has held leadership positions in both small and large biopharmaceutical companies, having global responsibilities in research and development of pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and cell therapies. Dr. Harriman founded Main Line Ventures, an investment and consultancy company focused on identifying innovative and pioneering life sciences opportunities. He is a member of Robin Hood Ventures, an angel investing group, and he works closely with the life sciences community in the Philadelphia area to identify and fund biotech companies and to advance translational medical research. He received his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego and trained in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital and completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the NIH.

Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D.

Independent Director

Maria Maccecchini received her PhD in biochemistry from Rockefeller University and spent two years at Caltech as a postdoc in molecular biology. Her first industry position was at Mallickrodt as research scientist. Subsequently, she served as general manager of Bachem Bioscience, a US subsidiary of a Swiss company. In the early 1990s, Dr. Maccecchini established Symphony Pharmaceuticals. After acquiring the Scottish and Japanese company Cruachem, Symphony Pharmaceuticals changed its name to Annovis. Annovis develops, manufactures, and markets a variety of nucleic acid-based products and services for businesses in the life sciences sector. In 2001, Annovis was acquired by Transgenomic Inc. of San Jose, CA. Dr. Maccecchini serves on several boards of biotechnology companies, organizations that promote entrepreneurship, international trade as well as women and charitable organizations. Currently she is a member and director of two angel funds – Robin Hood Ventures and Mid-Atlantic Angel Group.

L. William McIntosh, B.S., M.B.A.

Chairman and Founder

Mr. McIntosh is a 30+-year veteran of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and device industries. Most recently, he was Chief Operating Officer, Neuro Hitech, Inc. He began his career at Merck and Co., Inc. where for 15 years he served in 11 different positions including Director of Business Development, and Sr. Director of Marketing Antibiotics/Vaccines. He served in senior management positions at a variety of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Medco Containment Services, Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Zynaxis, Inc., Glaxo SmithKline, and VIMRx, Inc. In addition, he was CEO for Nexell Therapeutics, Inc. and Q-RNA, Inc. Mr. McIntosh has both a B.S. and M.B.A. from Lehigh University.

Timothy J. Williamson, B.A.

Independent Director

Mr. Williamson is a 30+ year veteran of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry with a focus on sales, marketing, business development, commercial operations, fund raising, senior management and board positions. He has had broad experience with large and medium pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology, and start-up stage companies. Mr. Williamson began his career at Merck and Co., Inc. where he served in a variety of positions for over 15 years. After leaving Merck, Mr. Williamson has served in senior management positions at Genentech, Inc., Boehringer Mannheim Pharmaceuticals, CTRC Institute for Drug Development, ILEX Oncology, Inc., Advagen, Inc. and Systems Medicine, Inc.

William Wong, Ph.D.

Founder

Dr. Wong is a 25-year veteran of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and device industries. He most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer at Neuro-Hitech, Inc. Over his career he has served as a senior manager at Becton-Dickinson Corporation, E. I. DuPont Company, Zynaxis, Inc., Intracel Corporation, Nexell Therapeutics, Inc. and Lynx Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Wong received his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Advisory Board

Barry Greenberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Greenberg is Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Translational Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He previously served as Director of Strategy for the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance. He previously held positions in management and science at a number of companies involved in Alzheimer’s research including Bellus Health, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon, Inc., The Upjohn Company and California Biotechnology, Inc. Dr. Greenberg has authored or co-authored over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 19 book chapters and reviews.

Gregory Kopia, Ph.D.

Dr. Kopia is currently a freelance consultant to the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Previously, he worked for many years at Johnson and Johnson Cordis and there was a Research Fellow. During his tenure at Johnson and Johnson, he was awarded the Johnson Medal for his accomplishments in the development of coated stents. From 1989 to 1995,he held the position of Director of Pharmacology at Zynaxis, Inc.

Brian W. Metcalf, Ph.D.

Dr. Metcalf has served as the Chief Scientific Officer of Global Blood Therapeutics and Executive Vice President and Head of Drug Discovery of Incyte Corporation. During the majority of his distinguished career in industry, Dr. Metcalf worked at SmithKline Beecham and rose to the position of Sr. Vice President, Discovery Chemistry & Platform Technology. Brian also had previously served as Senior Vice President and CSO of Kosan Biosciences (2000-2002). He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Maze, Global Blood Therapeutics, Prelude, and BridgeBio.

Patrick T. Shannon, Ph.D.

Dr. Shannon currently serves as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry specializing in late-stage pharmaceutical development and regulatory strategy. In his last two positions in the industry Dr. Shannon served as Sr. Director, Project Management, OSI Pharmaceuticals from 2003 to 2006 and as Sr. Director, Pharmaceutical Development, Ilex Pharmaceuticals from 2001 to 2003.
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