VGX Pharmaceuticals
commenced operations in 2001. We have assembled a seasoned management
team with extensive experience in clinical development, manufacturing,
marketing, research science, and financial management. Our management
team has significant experience in start-up firms and in the biopharmaceutical
industry.
J. Joseph Kim, Ph.D. Co-Founder, President and CEO.
A co-founder of VGX Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Kim is a veteran of the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to VGX, Dr. Kim led efforts in manufacturing and process development of several FDA-approved products and developmental therapeutics at Merck. These products include FDA-approved vaccines for Hepatitis as well as developmental vaccines and therapeutics for HIV/AIDS. Dr. Kim has published over 70 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters, holds numerous patents and sits on several editorial boards and review panels. Dr. Kim has garnered many honors during his career. In 2002, Dr. Kim was named as one of the world's top 100 young innovators by Technology Review magazine. The "TR100", as this group is called, was chosen by a very distinguished Panel of Judges (which includes 2 Nobel Prize Laureates). Also in 2002, Dr. Kim was chosen as one the "40 under 40" by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of the 40 most dynamic professionals who are under 40 years of age in the region. Dr. Kim was also selected on the list of the "50 Most Influential Men" in the October 2003 and in the October 2006 "Power Issue" of Details Magazine. In 2004, Dr. Kim and VGX Pharmaceuticals were selected as one of 30 Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum. Furthermore, Dr. Kim was featured in the “Who’s Next 2005” issue of Newsweek International, which included a group of 10 leaders, scientists, and executives at the forefront of change and impact in the world. Most recently in 2006, Dr. Kim has been named a Young Global Leader by the Forum of Young Global Leaders, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum. Dr. Kim was among 175 leading executives, public figures and intellectuals under the age of 40 from 50 countries. Dr. Kim has also been featured in articles in Forbes and the New Yorker and in numerous other Media Outlets.
Dr. Kim was trained in economics, engineering and biological sciences at MIT where he was a U.S. Senate Honors Scholar. He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School.
C. Jo White, M.D., Chief Medical Officer.
Dr.
White has 20 years of experience serving in senior level clinical/medical
affairs positions with major pharmaceutical companies including BMS,
Wyeth and Merck. Her experience has been focused in the area of infectious
diseases and she is trained as an Internist and Infectious Disease specialist.
Dr. White has designed and conducted over 40 Phase 1-4 trials, filed several
Biologics License Applications/Marketing Authorization Applications and
has obtained regulatory approval for 5 different vaccines and drugs in
both the United States and Europe.
Dr. White was trained in Microbiology at University of Texas where she
graduated Summa Cum Laude. Dr. White also holds an M.D. from the Baylor
College of Medicine with Alpha Omega Alpha honors.
Gene
J. Kim, C.P.A., Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Kim has over 13 years of experience in the financial services and energy related industries. He has served as a Director of Finance for several high-tech start-ups in Silicon Valley, including Yodlee, a firm providing technology solutions for the financial services industry, and Pandesic, a joint venture between Intel and SAP. His duties included the establishment and integration of policies and procedures, implementation of accounting systems, and financial planning and analysis. He has also served as a financial advisor to several small start-ups in the Washington DC area. Prior to his work with start-ups, he has worked for Bankers Trust/Deutsche Bank as a trader in the interest rate arbitrage group. Mr. Kim began his career as a chemical engineer with Unocal where he worked as a refinery engineer.
Mr. Kim has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from UCLA.
Kevin W. Rassas, Senior Vice President, Business Development.
Mr. Rassas has over 30 years of
pharmaceutical industry experience, including senior level general management
responsibility for several major international markets with Wyeth and
G.D.Searle. He has a strong strategic and operational focus with a proven
track record of delivering solid revenue growth and bottom line results.
Mr. Rassas has played a major role in the integration of large and complex
businesses and has instituted numerous programs to improve operating efficiencies.
His background includes significant experience in International Operations,
P&L Management, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Finance
and Administration, New Product Introductions, Joint Ventures, Project
Management, and Human Resources.
Mr. Rassas received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University
of Notre Dame and his MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management
at Northwestern University.
Niranjan Y. Sardesai, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research & Development.
Dr. Sardesai has over 12 years of operating and consulting experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sector. Prior to VGX, Dr. Sardesai served as Founder and President of NVision Consulting Inc., a strategy consulting firm focused on entrepreneurial companies in the biopharma/lifesciences industry, and as Director R&D at Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. At FDI, Dr. Sardesai oversaw all aspects of R&D activities and expansion of the oncology portfolio. Products developed under his leadership include new-to-the-world tests for mesothelioma (MESOMARK™), bladder cancer and a multi-marker test for ovarian cancer. Dr. Sardesai also served as Senior Scientist at IGEN International, Inc. developing a high-throughput screening platform for drug-discovery. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
Dr. Sardesai received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he was the recipient of the Shils-Zeidman Award in Entrepreneurship. He completed Fellowships at the Scripps Research Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Sardesai graduated at the top of his class to receive his M. Sc. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology.
Young K. Park, Vice President, General Counsel.
Mr. Park has over 15 years of experience as a successful business lawyer in Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include Corporate Business and Real Estate Transactions, Commercial Banking, Commercial Litigation, and Management Consulting. Mr. Park's past and current Board Memberships include Wissahickon PA School Board, Board of Governors of the University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni Association, Panasia Bank, Korean-American Association of Greater Philadelphia (Chairman), and Arcadia University Board of Trustees.
Mr. Park received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Business and his B.A. in Economics from Dickinson College.
Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Research.
Dr. Draghia-Akli has over 15 years of experience, and is recognized as a global leader in the field of DNA delivery for therapeutic and vaccination applications. She was the co-founder of ADViSYS,Inc., recently acquired by VGX Pharmaceuticals, developing the first plasmid-mediated growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) supplementation. Dr. Draghia’s research activities have focused on plasmid design, gene expression and muscle-specific promoter/enhancer fragments and DNA sequences that allow for the efficient expression of either secreted or intracellular proteins for gene therapy and vaccination. Throughout her career, Dr. Draghia has published numerous scientific papers and reviews in the areas of electroporation, plasmid components for optimum transgene expression, GHRH, IGF-I and their effects on pituitary development, immune stimulation, health, and well-being. Dr. Draghia-Akli also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for granting agencies, such as European Union, USDA and NIH, annual meeting for gene therapy and endocrinology societies, and manuscripts for numerous journals.
Dr. Draghia received an MD from Carol Davilla Medical School and a Ph.D. in human genetics from Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences. Dr. Draghia also completed a post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Rene Descartes and the Baylor College of Medicine. She has held an adjunct faculty position at BCM.
Bryan Byong Jin Kim, D.M.D., Vice President, Asian Operations.
Dr. Kim has had extensive experience in building successful organizations throughout his career. During his tenure as Director and Senior Director of Corporate Development at VGX, Dr. Kim has played an important role in the acquisition of VGX International, Inc. in 2005 as well as the day-to-day management of this publicly-traded bio-pharmaceutical company in Korea. VGX International was added to a KOSPI 200 index in 2007. In his current capacity, Dr. Kim oversees and executes all of VGX’s Asian operations. Prior to joining VGX, Dr. Kim was a successful private clinician and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, where he developed innovative clinical programs and directed important research projects granted by NIDH in microbiology and immunology.
Dr. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science, both from University of California at Irvine and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania.