Overview
NanOlogy has developed these particles into sterile injectable, topical, and inhalable investigational drugs and has a clinical program underway to evaluate these drugs across multiple indications in cancer and related illnesses. The program includes clinical trials in prostate, pancreatic, ovarian, and bladder cancers, pancreatic cysts, cutaneous metastases, and actinic keratosis under affiliate, Soria. A renal cancer trial is planned for mid-2019 and an IND is being submitted for clinical evaluation in lung cancer.
The NanOlogy Partnership
The NanOlogy Team
H. Paul Dorman, Chairman & CEO, DFB Pharmaceuticals
In 2013, Paul and a remaining partner invested some of the proceeds into a new vision for DFB. This vision leveraged retained operating company, Phyton Biotech, to establish a foothold in oncology, and discover new investment opportunities in and around oncology. This led to the identification of an innovative nanoparticle production technology, and partnership with CritiTech and US Biotest in 2015, to develop a nanoparticle drug development platform under a newly created affiliate, Nanology, LLC. Through Nanology, Paul assembled a team of internal and external experts who has recently progressed this platform into multiple clinical trials across oncology, dermatology, and women’s health.
Today, Paul continues to lead DFB and is also involved in a number of philanthropic endeavors. Before founding DFB, Paul had nearly two decades of executive leadership experience with Johnson & Johnson and Baxter. He is also the past owner of three industrial distribution companies, which he turned around to profitability from Chapter 11 status at acquisition, and, ultimately, sold to a large, public corporation. Paul serves on the board of directors of Renaissance Acquisition Holdings LLC, Multicultural Alliance, and RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor of Law from Loyola University.
Gere diZerega, MD, CEO, US Biotest
Gere’s aptitude for drug development was demonstrated while a professor at the University of Southern California, where his research received funding from the NIH, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, and BARDA. This work led to the elucidation of the renin-angiotensin system in epithelial tissue repair and preovulatory follicle development in the ovary. Projects initiated at the discovery level in Gere’s laboratory at USC were advanced to US Biotest, a drug development company he founded to support regulatory activities and perform clinical trials.
Gere has since contributed to development and regulatory approval of many products sold worldwide, and has collaborated with several “big pharma” companies in creating successful products. He has been recognized for this work by many professional societies in the United States and around the world.
Gere graduated from the University of Kansas, majoring in comparative physiology and cell biology. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine, completed his residency at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California-Los Angeles County Medical Center, and completed his fellowship at NIH and Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital.
Mark Mitchell, Chief Legal Officer & Managing Director, DFB Pharmaceuticals
Prior to joining DFB, Mark spent twelve years as a corporate lawyer in private practice. He currently serves on the board of DFB Pharmaceuticals LLC, TableTop Media LLC, and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor in Law from Southern Methodist University.
Maxwell Lea, Managing Director, DFB Pharmaceuticals
Before joining DFB, Maxwell was an investment banker with Bank of America Securities, where he was responsible for the execution of capital raising and M&A transactions in a variety of industries. He currently serves on the boards of Renaissance Acquisition Holdings LLC, Table Top Media LLC, Bio NorthTX, and Tech Fort Worth. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Marc Iacobucci, Managing Director, DFB Pharmaceuticals
Marc has been with DFB since 1993 with leadership roles in business development, marketing, project management, and operations across DFB’s family of companies. Earlier in his career, Marc worked for Procter & Gamble as a market analyst, Merck as a pharmaceutical representative, and as a clinical pharmacist in Ohio and Texas. A graduate of the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Pharmacy, Marc received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Sam Campbell, Chairman, CritiTech
Sam has been involved in funding and development of early stage life science and technology companies for over three decades. He has been extensively involved in supporting life science and technology commercialization and has held a variety of roles with the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC). KTEC is now managed by the Kansas Board of Regents through the Kansas Epscore program, and Sam continues to serve on the advisory committee. In addition, Sam has held leadership roles with the Kansas University Center for Research, and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees. Sam is also President of TerraMetrics Agriculture, Inc., a satellite remote sensing company with several applications in the agriculture industry.
Upon graduation with an MBA he entered the banking business and served with several organizations beginning with First National Bank of Topeka. He returned home to join First National Bank of Lawrence and eventually Douglas County Bank. He left Douglas County Bank to establish his own investment group and also was one of the founders of University National Bank where he still serves on the board of directors.
Matthew McClorey, President, CritiTech
Prior to joining CritiTech, Matthew was the president of the Bioscience & Technology Business Center (“BTBC”) at the University of Kansas where he helped entrepreneurs create and grow early-stage life sciences and other high-technology companies. He consulted with dozens of start-up businesses on corporate strategy, operations management, sales, marketing, financial management, and capital fundraising. BTBC’s clients raised $190,000,000 while Matthew served as its president.
Before leading BTBC, Matthew was vice president of business development and portfolio management for the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (“KTEC”), where he managed a multi-million-dollar fund of debt and equity investments in early-stage technology companies, and provided management consulting services to those companies. Earlier, Matthew was with Deloitte Consulting, where he served as a senior consultant providing strategy and information technology consulting services to Fortune 1000 companies.
Matthew earned his J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of Kansas and his B.A. in Business from Benedictine College.
Michael Baltezor, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, CritiTech
Mike received his BS degree in Chemistry in 1972 and an honorary Ph.D. in 2005 from Missouri Western State University. He received his MS and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1977 from the University of Kansas.
NanOlogy Advisors
Maurie Markman, MD, MS, FACP, FASCO
President, Medicine & Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
Dr. Markman has more than 30 years of experience in cancer treatment and research at some of the country’s most recognized facilities, with a particular focus on new drug development and exploring novel management strategies in the area of female pelvic cancers. Dr. Markman has been the primary author or co-author on over 1,500 published peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, book chapters, editorials or abstracts, and has written, edited or co-edited 24 books on various topics in the management of malignant disease.
In June 2011, he received the esteemed American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Statesman Award. Presented annually, the Statesman Award recognizes individual ASCO members who have shown extraordinary volunteer service, dedication and commitment to ASCO, their hospital community and the patients they serve for at least 20 years.
He is widely regarded for his knowledge and expertise as a practicing clinical oncologist and is frequently asked to be a visiting professor and guest lecturer at universities and medical schools across the country. He has served as a member of numerous national and regional oncology committees.