Product Pipeline

Preclinical Development:

• Avian Influenza (H5N1) Oral Vaccine
  Vaccine efficacy has been established in challenge studies using mice and large animals (ferrets). Phase I clinical trials are expected by approximately Q1 2011.
  

• Annual Influenza Vaccine
  Animal immunogenicity established.
  

• Pandemic H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine
  Animal immunogenicity established, challenge studies are expected in 2010.

Board of Directors

Richard Markham, Chairman
Mr. Markham is a Partner at Care Capital. Prior to joining Care Capital, among other posts, Mr. Markham was the CEO of Aventis Pharma, the CEO of Hoechst Marion Roussel, and the President and COO of Marion Merrell Dow, Inc. From 1973 to 1993, Mr. Markham was associated with Merck & Co., Inc., culminating in his position as President and COO. Mr. Markham has been a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, a member of the Board of Trustees of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, and a member of the board of directors of Aventis Pasteur and of Commerce Bank of Kansas City. Mr. Markham received a B.S. in Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences from Purdue University and has served as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the university. He has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree, the university’s highest honor for achievement.

Jan Leschly
Mr. Leschly is a partner at Care Capital. Before founding Care Capital, Mr. Leschly was Chief Executive of SmithKline Beecham PLC ("SB") from 1994 to 2000. He joined SB as Chairman of the Worldwide Pharmaceutical business in 1990 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1990. Before joining SB, Mr. Leschly served as President and COO, Squibb Corporation. Mr. Leschly is a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Express Company and the APM-Maersk Group. Before his business career, Mr. Leschly made his name in professional tennis, achieving the rank of 10th in the world in 1967. Born in Denmark, Mr. Leschly received a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the Copenhagen College of Pharmacy and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Copenhagen School of Economics and Business Administration.

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.
Dr. Finney is Managing Director of Finney Capital. He has been a Vaxart director since 2007.  He is a graduate of Harvard College and has a PhD. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been a director of biotechnology companies for over 25 years.  

Sean Tucker, Ph.D.
Dr. Tucker founded Vaxart in 2004. Dr. Tucker received his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Washington and previously held research and development positions of increasing responsibility at Genteric, SyStemix, and Dow Chemical. 

Management

Michael J. Finney, Ph.D.  Acting CEO
Dr. Finney was a member of the Vaxart Board of Directors for two years before becoming Acting CEO in July 2009.  He has a PhD. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a co-founder and CSO of MJ Research, Inc.  He has been a director of biotechnology companies for over 25 years. 

Sean Tucker, Ph.D.  Founder, VP Research, and CSO
Dr. Tucker’s expertise is in oral administration of gene-based vaccines and mucosal immunology. He has previously served as a principal investigator on an NIH SBIR grant for the purpose of exploring oral delivery (salivary gland) as a site for HIV vaccine delivery. Dr. Tucker previously held research and development positions of increasing responsbility at Genteric, SyStemix, and Dow Chemical. Recently published articles include: Mol Therapy 8:392 and Vaccine 22:2500

George Trager, MBA  Director, Product Development
Mr. Trager served as Associate Director, Formulation and Purification Development during his nine years with MedImmune Vaccines.  His team led the development of refrigerator-stable FluMist.  Mr. Trager has also worked for Matrix Pharmaceuticals, Genelabs and Xoma.

Ciaran Scallan, Ph.D.  Senior Scientist
Dr. Scallan’s expertise is in molecular virology and assesment of immune responses to viral vectors. Recently published articles include: Blood 102:3919, Blood 102:2021 and Blood 107:1810


Key Advisors

Prof. Richard Whitley, M.D.
Director, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and Co-Director, Center for Emerging Infections and Emergency Preparedness, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Prof. Harry Greenberg, M.D.
Dr. Greenberg is a Professor at Stanford Department of Medicine.  He brings expertise in pathogenic viruses that infect the gastrointestinal track.  Dr. Greenberg was the Chief Scientific officer at Aviron (now MedImmune Vaccines) where he played a key role in bringing the live attenuated influenza vaccine to licensure.