LEADERSHIP
Russell J. Cox
Chief Executive Officer, Epirium Bio
Russell Cox is president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Epirium Bio. Russell also serves on the board of directors of Gossamer Bio. Previously, he served as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors at Vital Therapies. He also formerly served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. As COO he held responsibility for the company’s Commercial, R&D, Manufacturing, International, and Global Molecule Leadership teams. He worked in a variety of escalating senior management roles from 2010 to 2018, including executive vice president and chief commercial officer from March 2012 to May 2014. From January 2009 to January 2010, he was senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Ipsen Group, and from 2007 until December 2008 he was vice president of marketing at Tercica, Inc., a biotechnology company acquired by Ipsen Group. From 2003 to 2007, he was with Scios, Inc. (acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2003), where he served as vice president of marketing. Prior to 2003, Russell was with Genentech, Inc. for 12 years, where he was a product team leader responsible for the company’s growth hormone franchise and led numerous product launches as a group product manager. Russell received a B.S. in biomedical science from Texas A&M University.
Bio
V. Bryan Lawlis, Ph.D.
Independent Director
Dr. Bryan Lawlis has nearly 40 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, including extensive experience as a director and officer. He served as CEO of Itero BioPharmaceuticals, LLC from 2011 to 2017 and from 2007 to 2011 was co-founder and CEO of Itero BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. He was president and CEO of Aradigm Corporation from 2001 to 2006. From 1996 to 2001, Bryan co-founded Covance Biotechnology Services and held the positions of president, CEO and executive chairman. He worked at Genentech from 1981 to 1996 and rose to the position of vice president of process science. Bryan’s current board appointments include independent directorships at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Geron Corporation, and Coherus Biosciences. He holds a B.A. in microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Washington State University.
Bio
Alison Lawton
Former President and CEO of Kaleido Biosciences
Alison Lawton is an executive leader with more than 30 years of experience in biopharma and most recently served as president and CEO of Kaleido Biosciences. Prior to Kaleido Biosciences, she served as chief operating officer of Aura Biosciences and OvaScience and worked at various positions of increasing responsibility at Genzyme, and subsequently at Sanofi-Aventis, including as head of Genzyme Biosurgery and prior senior vice president of Global Market Access. Alison currently serves as independent director for X4 Pharmaceuticals and ProQR Therapeutics and has served on the boards of directors of Verastem, CoLucid until its acquisition by Eli Lilly, and Cubist Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Merck & Co. She is past president and chair of the Board of Regulatory Affairs Professional Society and past FDA Advisory Committee member for Cell and Gene Therapy Committee. She earned her BSc in Pharmacology, with honors, from King’s College London.
Bio
Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch, Ph.D., J.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Vigil Neuroscience
Dr. Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch has 20 years of senior management experience in biopharma with expertise in corporate development, M&A, IP and legal strategy, and pipeline and product portfolio development. She is currently the president and chief executive officer of Vigil Neuroscience. Prior to Vigil Neuroscience, she was executive vice president, chief business officer of Ipsen, a biopharmaceutical group focused on innovation and specialty care with medicines in oncology, neuroscience and rare diseases. Ivana previously served as the executive vice president, chief strategy and corporate development officer of Axcella Health Inc. From 2013 to 2017, she was senior vice president and head of global business development at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, where she spearheaded multiple transactions ranging from licensing to acquisitions for the specialty drug business. From 2001 to 2013, she worked for Dyax Corp, rising to the positions of executive vice president and chief operating officer. During that time, she established the commercial infrastructure of the company’s first FDA-approved drug, Kalbitor®, for treatment of hereditary angioedema attacks. From 1998 to 2001, she was patent counsel and director of intellectual property at Transkaryotic Therapies. Ivana has a B.A. in biology and chemistry from Wheaton College, a Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard University Medical School and a J.D. in High Technology law from Suffolk University Law School.
Bio
Armen Shanafelt, Ph.D.
Independent Director
Dr. Armen Shanafelt was a general partner at Lilly Ventures, through 2020, where he led multiple investments (including company creation), serving as director on multiple private and public company boards. Prior to joining Lilly Ventures in 2009, he had over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostic industries. In addition to Aeglea, Armen serves as a director on the boards of Aileron Therapeutics (ALRN), Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX), Sutro Biopharma, Surface Oncology. He is a Kauffman Fellow (class of 2014). Armen received his B.S. in chemistry and physics from Pacific Lutheran University and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
Bio
Hunter C. Smith, M.B.A.
Chief Financial Officer, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
Hunter Smith has served as the chief financial officer and treasurer of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals since 2017 and served as interim chief executive officer from March to July 2020. Prior to joining Rhythm, Hunter was vice president, finance and chief financial officer of Celgene Corporation’s inflammation and immunology business unit where he provided financial and strategic leadership for the global launch of Otezla®. Prior to Celgene, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Bunge Limited,a global food and agribusiness company, including director of investor relations, chief financial officer—Asia, corporate treasurer, and chief financial officer of Bunge's sugar and bioenergy segment. Hunter holds an M.B.A in finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a B.A. in history, with honors, from Northwestern University.
Bio
Marcio Souza, M.B.A.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Praxis Precision Medicines
Marcio Souza serves as the president & chief executive officer of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. Prior to joining Praxis Precision Medicines, Marcio served as chief operating officer at PTC Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2017 to April 2020 and its senior vice president and head of product strategy from July 2016 to May 2017. Marcio previously served in positions of increasing responsibility at NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc. and Sanofi Genzyme Corporation. He also served on the board of directors of Clearpoint Neuro, Inc. (previously MRI Interventions, Inc.). Marcio received a degree in pharmacy and biochemistry with a specialization in toxicology and clinical analysis from the University of São Paulo and an M.B.A. from Fundação Dom Cabral.
Bio
Open to Collaboration
