VIENNA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Themis has established a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with the appointment of Christian W. Mandl, Ph.D., M.D., W. Paul Duprex, Ph.D., Stephen J. Thomas, M.D. and Nadia G. Tornieporth, M.D., the company announced today. The newly-formed SAB brings a wealth of experience in molecular virology, viral pathogenesis and vaccine development. The purpose of the SAB will be to advise Themis as it continues to develop its pipeline of urgently needed vaccines and immune system activation approaches.
“It is a testament to our achievements as a company and the potential of our technology to have attracted this roster of world-renowned leaders in vaccine development to join our SAB,” said Erich Tauber, CEO of Themis. “I would like to welcome Christian, Paul, Stephen and Nadia and look forward to their invaluable scientific insights as we advance our clinical programs and expand our vaccine pipeline beyond infectious diseases.”
“Themis’ mission is to expand the potential of vectored-vaccine technology and prevent a broad spectrum of infectious diseases,” said Dr. Christian Mandl, Chair of the Themis Scientific Advisory Board. “We are eager to contribute to a company which has a focus so closely aligned with our scientific interests and goals. Our commitment is to provide ongoing development and regulatory counsel for Themis’ clinical programs and define optimal strategies for advancing their preclinical programs.”
The inaugural members of the Themis Scientific Advisory Board include:
Christian W. Mandl, Ph.D., M.D.
Dr. Mandl is Chair of the
Themis Scientific Advisory Board and is an internationally renowned
expert on arboviruses with over 25 years of experience in vaccine
development. He previously served as Global Head of Research, Early and
Exploratory Clinical Development at Novartis Vaccines where he directed
a team of over 300 employees working on more than 15 viral and bacterial
vaccine pipeline projects and platform technologies. Prior to Novartis,
he acted as Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Virology at
the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Mandl received his M.D. and Ph.D.
from the University of Vienna and his M.S. in biochemistry from
Pennsylvania State University.
W. Paul Duprex, Ph.D.
Dr. Duprex is an accomplished
molecular virologist and measles expert. He is currently a Professor of
Microbiology and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the
Boston University School of Medicine where his laboratory focuses on
viral pathogenesis and vaccine design. He also serves as Director of
Bioimaging in the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
(NIEDL) at Boston University. Prior to his time at Boston University, he
was a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Virology at the Queen’s University of
Belfast for over 15 years. During that time, he took leave of absence to
act as Principal Scientist and Head of the Department of Emerging
Sciences and Technologies at TransForm Pharmaceuticals, which was
acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Duprex received his Ph.D. in
molecular virology and B.S. from the Queen’s University of Belfast. He
is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.
Stephen J. Thomas, M.D.
Dr. Thomas is an infectious
diseases physician and vaccinologist with more than 15 years of
experience designing and implementing biomedical research and
development initiatives. He currently serves as a Professor of Medicine
and Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease at the State University
of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. He was previously Deputy
Commander for Operations at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
where he provided strategic, operational and technical leadership to a
global biomedical research enterprise encompassing more than 2,100
employees working in numerous countries. Dr. Thomas has made direct
contributions to vaccines against dengue, Japanese encephalitis,
chikungunya, Zika, MERS-CoV and Ebola. He received his M.D. from Albany
Medical College, his B.A. in biomedical ethics from Brown University and
is a Fellow in the American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases
Society of America and American Society for Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene.
Nadia G. Tornieporth, M.D.
Dr. Tornieporth is a physician
with extensive leadership experience and technical expertise in the
clinical development of vaccines. She is currently a Professor of
Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance at the University of Applied
Sciences and Arts in Hannover, Germany. She previously served as Vice
President and Head of Global Clinical Research and Development at Sanofi
Pasteur where she oversaw all aspects of clinical development from
First-in-Man to successful registration. Prior to her time at Sanofi,
she was Vice President of Clinical Development, Prophylactic Vaccines at
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. Over the course of her career, Dr.
Tornieporth contributed to the successful licensure of more than 20
vaccines. Earlier in her career, Dr. Tornieporth held international
research and teaching positions at Weill Cornell Medical College and
Ludwig-Maximilian University. She has served as an advisor to the World
Health Organization, USAID, the Wellcome Trust and the European Forum
for Good Clinical Practice, among others. Dr. Tornieporth received her
M.D. from Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Germany and her
Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
About Themis
Themis is developing urgently needed vaccines
to prevent death and disability around the world. We lead in the
development of a vaccine against chikungunya, a serious debilitating
disease with global outbreak potential. Our innovation in vaccine
technology has created a powerful platform and a growing pipeline
addressing a broad range of infectious diseases. Together with
industrial and academic leaders we work to prevent illness across the
globe. For more information, visit http://www.themisbio.com.
