Leadership
We are led by an experienced leadership team with a proven track record in the biopharmaceutical industry. Collectively, our leadership team has contributed to drug discovery and development as well as approval, launch and commercialization of multiple specialty medicines.
Lynne Powell
Chief Executive Officer
Lynne Powell
Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Powell joined Tavanta Therapeutics in September 2019 and has 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical/ biotechnology industry. Prior to Tavanta she served as Chief Commercial Office at BioCryst, an emerging biotechnology company focused on commercializing innovative small molecules for rare diseases. Before this, she was Senior Vice President, North America, at CSL Behring. Throughout her 17-year career at CSL Behring, she assumed increasing responsibilities within the R&D, Business Development and Commercial functions of the organization. Ms. Powell has significant global experience serving as Vice President, Global Commercial Development and Head of Business Development & European Marketing, Head of Project and Portfolio Management and Head of Clinical Research. Ms. Powell also held positions within Glaxo Wellcome’s UK based commercial strategy and clinical research organizations. Ms. Powell serves on the Board of Directors for Progenity.
Katalin Ferenczi
General Manager, Europe
Katalin Ferenczi
General Manager, Europe
Ms. Ferenczi has been with Tavanta Therapeutics since 2010. She began with Tavanta (then NanGenex) by leading the business development operations and was later promoted to Managing Director. Ms. Ferenczi now serves as General Manager, Europe. Prior to Tavanta, she worked at Genpact, a formerly GE owned company, that had established itself as one of Europe’s business services and technology solutions providers. Ms. Ferenczi has also served in a senior business development position at SOLVO Biotechnology and was responsible for the European sales operations of the company. Ms. Ferenczi graduated as a biomedical engineer from the University of Miami.
Dr. Andreas Maetzel
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Andreas Maetzel
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Maetzel’s career spans more than two decades of experience with biotechnology products and rare disease interventions across all stages of development and commercialization. He joins Tavanta as CMO from KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he served as senior vice president, medical and contributed to the successful transition of KalVista’s lead asset into late-stage clinical development. Prior, Dr. Maetzel held senior global medical affairs positions with BioCryst Pharmaceuticals and Cornerstone Biopharma, overseeing manufacturing, regulatory, drug safety, clinical development, and pricing and market access. In 2009, he co-founded Stratas Partners, a strategic market-access consultancy that was later sold to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dr. Maetzel currently holds an academic appointment as adjunct professor at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto where he earned his PhD and MSc after completing his medical training in Paris, France.
Dr. Roger Ilagan
Vice President of Research
Dr. Roger Ilagan
Vice President of Research
Dr. Ilagan brings over 15 years of product development experience in the biomedical industry. Throughout his career, Dr. Ilagan has led basic research and early clinical development efforts focused on novel therapeutics for rare diseases. He has extensive translational experience with complex biologics including cell-based therapies, gene therapies, biological scaffolds, and tissue-engineered organs. Prior to joining Tavanta, Dr. Ilagan served as Director of Regenerative Medicine and Director of Clinical Development at United Therapeutics/Lung Biotechnology where he advanced biotherapeutic products from basic research to first-in-human clinical trials. Dr. Ilagan graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS in Biological Sciences and earned his PhD in Cell Biology from Duke University.
Dr. Prabo Wijetunge
Vice President Pharmaceutical Development
Dr. Prabo Wijetunge
Vice President Pharmaceutical Development
Dr. Wijetunge brings over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry from early development to approval. He joined Tavanta from Oyster Point Pharma where he was the Senior Director of CMC. With his extensive experience in nasal spray and inhalation drug delivery, Dr. Wijetunge was responsible for the development and approval of Tyrvaya® nasal spray for the treatment of dry eye disease. Prior to that he was the Senior Director of CMC and Analytical Development at Eagle Pharmaceuticals where he contributed to the approval of Pemfexy® (Pemetrexed Injection), an oncology treatment drug while solving many analytical and manufacturing CMC issues. He started his career at Battle Memorial Institute where he contributed to the successful submission of a new Anthrax vaccine. He also held positions with increasing responsibility at Mannkind Corporation, MicroDose Therapeutx and Novel Laboratories. Dr. Wijetunge received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry with honors from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Dr. Elizabeth Manning Duus
Vice President of Clinical Development
Dr. Elizabeth Manning Duus
Vice President of Clinical Development
Dr. Duus brings 15 years of clinical research experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to Tavanta Therapeutics, spanning early and late development across multiple therapeutic areas. Most recently, she served as Senior Director, Clinical Research & Strategy at Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc. Over the 8 years at Helsinn, Dr. Duus led the clinical strategy for oncology-related compounds in development, contributed to global regulatory engagements, supported clinical operations and biostatistics, managed medical writing activities, and oversaw investigator-initiated and collaborative studies in the US. She also held positions of increasing responsibility at Akros Pharma Inc and Avantix Laboratories. After receiving an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Delaware, Dr. Duus earned her PhD in pharmacology and molecular sciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Dr. Suzanne Thornton-Jones
Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Suzanne Thornton-Jones
Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Thornton-Jones brings nearly 25 years of increasing leadership in Regulatory Affairs spanning all phases of drug development and multiple modalities including small molecules, biotherapeutics, and gene therapies. Prior to joining Tavanta she served as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs at Affinia Therpeutics supporting development of gene therapies for rare neurodegenerative diseases and neuro-oncology and previously served as Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at the University of Pennsylvania, Gene Therapy Program supporting development of multiple gene therapy candidates in rare and orphan diseases. Dr. Thornton-Jones held a number of Global Regulatory positions at AbbVie and Sanofi with increasing responsibility and broad regulatory focus. Prior to joining industry, she was a non-clinical pharmacology/toxicology reviewer at the FDA/CDER. Dr Thornton-Jones holds a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a MS and BS in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sirley Steiner
Executive Director & Head of Clinical Operations
Sirley Steiner
Executive Director & Head of Clinical Operations
Ms. Steiner has over 25 years of experience in clinical operations and drug development ranging from early phase to approved products. Prior to Tavanta, she served as Senior Director, Clinical Operations at Insmed, a biotechnology company focused on delivering life-altering therapies to small patient populations with serious health issues. Before Insmed, Ms. Steiner held positions with increasing responsibilities in biotechnology to large pharmaceutical companies. Ms. Steiner was the Global Clinical Operations Lead at CSL Behring for the approval of Kcentra® for urgent warfarin reversal. Earlier in her career, Ms. Steiner held several clinical operations positions during her 11 years at Sanofi. She has spent most of her career on the sponsor side but is also experienced on the CRO side. Ms. Steiner holds a BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan.
Darren Brayton
Executive Director, Quality
Darren Brayton
Executive Director, Quality
Mr. Brayton brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry including manufacturing, quality control, and quality assurance. Prior to joining Tavanta, he was the Senior Director of Quality Operations at Eagle Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to the successful FDA approval and commercial launch of three products. Prior to that, he was at Novartis OTC overseeing the vendor compliance management of the America’s Region. His experience includes Quality Management Systems for preclinical development, clinical development, and commercial operations. Mr. Brayton has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Marion McGlynn
Vice President of Project and portfolio management
Marion McGlynn
Vice President of Project and portfolio management
Ms. McGlynn has over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug development and program management (PM), ranging from early stage research to approved products. Prior to Tavanta she headed up the PM function at Akebia Therapeutics, and previously she set up the PM department at the Gene Therapy Program in the University of Pennsylvania. For 7 years before that Ms. McGlynn led the PM department at Elusys Therapeutics, contributing to the approval of Anthim®, a medical countermeasure for anthrax. Earlier in her career Ms. McGlynn held positions of increasing seniority in project / portfolio management and strategic planning, at Sanofi for over 12 years, playing a key role in the development of Aubagio® for multiple sclerosis.
Ms. McGlynn is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). She serves on the Board of the NJ Chapter of the Project Management Institute, and volunteers as the director for the monthly speaker program.
Ms. McGlynn holds an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, an MS in Biology from New York University and a BSc in Analytical Science from Dublin City University.
Lester Szymanik
Head of Finance
Lester Szymanik
Head of Finance
Mr. Szymanik has over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance within the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, confectionery, renewable energy, and chemical industries. Prior to Tavanta, Mr. Szymanik was Controller at Ocean Power Technologies, a renewable energy company focused on innovative and cost-effective low-carbon marine data, power, and consulting service solutions. Before Ocean Power Technologies, Mr. Szymanik was Controller at Arno Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative products for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Throughout his career, Mr. Szymanik has held positions of increasing responsibility in multinational and well as start-up, emerging companies. Mr. Szymanik holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Szymanik also holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from Seton Hall University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New Jersey.
Andrew Midler
Chairman, Investor
Andrew Midler
Chairman, Investor
Mr. Midler is the Founder and Managing Member of Savitr Capital, LLC. Previously, he was the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Standard Pacific Capital, LLC.
Lynne Powell
Chief Executive Officer, Tavanta Therapeutics
Lynne Powell
Chief Executive Officer, Tavanta Therapeutics
Ms. Powell joined Tavanta Therapeutics in September 2019 and has 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical/ biotechnology industry. Prior to DRGT she served as Chief Commercial Office at BioCryst, an emerging biotechnology company focused on commercializing innovative small molecules for rare diseases. Before this, she was Senior Vice President, North America, at CSL Behring. Throughout her 17-year career at CSL Behring, she assumed increasing responsibilities within the R&D, Business Development and Commercial functions of the organization. Ms. Powell has significant global experience serving as Vice President, Global Commercial Development and Head of Business Development & European Marketing, Head of Project and Portfolio Management and Head of Clinical Research. Ms. Powell also held positions within Glaxo Wellcome’s UK based commercial strategy and clinical research organizations. Ms. Powell serves on the Board of Directors for Progenity.