Pioneer in mammalian expression and genetics with more than 25+ years of experience in biotechnology start-ups, pharmaceutical companies, and premier academic institutions.\u2028She holds a PhD from the University in Strasbourg (France). Her work performed in the laboratory of Prof. Pierre Chambon who is considered as the father of the genetic revolution contributed to a seminal publication on eukaryotic gene transcription (>1100 citations).<\/p>\n
She was among the first employees of Transgene SA (France). Her work there led to a series of issued patents. She was subsequently a scientist at Sandoz (Novartis) and at the Biocenter of the University of Basle (both in Switzerland), and at the Beckman Research Center of the City of Hope (California). She later joined Spectra-Biomedical Inc. (California), later acquired by GSK. Prior to founding Selonterra, she was the sole- proprietor of Migraine Therapeutics. Her project was awarded by a commission of experts from the Biovalley Life Sciences Network association.<\/p>\n
She has spent recent years on a deep analysis of genetic markers associated with neurodegenerative disorders, culminating in the novel mechanism of how APOE4 and other degenerative disorder mutations cause disease.<\/p>\n
Roman Urfer is a scientist and executive with international R&D and business experience in global pharmaceutical (Novartis), public (Genentech) and private biotechnology companies.<\/p>\n
Dr. Urfer holds a Master\u2019s degree from ETH Zurich and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Basle, Switzerland. He has held numerous scientific, operational and executive leadership positions during his career in the industry. He has led drug discovery and development efforts in CNS disorders, inflammation \/ autoimmune disorders and cancer, and his experience spans from target discovery to clinical development. This includes the discovery and development of a small molecule for stroke recovery, a fully human antibody to treat inflammatory disorders and a neurotrophic factor for the therapy of ophthalmic diseases. He has performed business development and financing activities at several start-up companies and contributed to the successful closing of a US$ 31 MM financing round at one of his previous companies. His scientific and business skills are complemented by extensive intellectual property management experience. Dr. Urfer is committed to scientific excellence and innovation as a named inventor on 20 issued patents and author of publications in peer- reviewed journals.<\/p>\n
Karoly Nikolich serves as independent director of Selonterra. He has been a serial entrepreneur of Neurotherapeutics companies. During the 1980s, he led Genentech\u2019s entry into neuroscience and led and participated in the development of numerous protein therapeutics. He was Vice President of Research at Lynx Therapeutics, co-founder of AGY Therapeutics, Amnestix, Neurofluidics, Hummingbird Diagnostics, Chase Pharmaceuticals, Circuit Therapeutics, and Alkahest. He currently serves as Chair on the Board of Directors at Alkahest, a Grifols company. He has served as venture partner with Pivotal BioVentures, and has been on the boards and scientific advisory boards at a number of neurotherapeutics and biotech, biopharma companies, as well. He has been Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School. Dr. Nikolich is a graduate of Eotvos University in Budapest and worked as postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University and UCSF before joining Genentech.<\/p>\n
Dr Paolo Pevarello is a medicinal chemist of 30 years\u2019 experience. Specializing in CNS and oncology drug discovery and development, he has managed large medicinal chemistry groups within the biopharmaceutical industry. Dr Pevarello has contributed to and initiated a number of successful drug discovery projects for Pharmacia and Upjohn, Pharmacia, Pfizer, Newron and Axxam. Among these discoveries is\u00a0Safinamide (NW-1015), which has been registered for the treatment of Parkinson\u2019s in USA and Europe and reached Phase II studies for epilepsy. He has provided the medicinal chemistry leadership for the chemical series that generated Ralfinamide (NW-1029), which has reached Phase II for neuropathic pain and NW-3509, which has also reached Phase II studies for schizophrenia. Oncology successes include CDK2 inhibitors PHA-793887 and PHA-690509 (Phase I) and PHA-848125 (Phase III). Dr Pevarello is the author of 56 patents, over 60 peer-reviewed papers\u00a0and is a member of the editorial board of Pharmaceutical Patent Analyst.<\/p>\n
![\"Anne](\"https:\/\/selonterra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Headshot_Anne1-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Roman](\"https:\/\/selonterra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Headshot_Roman1-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/selonterra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Headshot_temp_smiley_white-300x300.png\")