Bio
Kai Larson joined Signpath Pharma in May of 2015 as VP, Business Development, General Counsel, and COO. He has served as Signpath’s President since May, 2017. Prior to joining Signpath, he served as the Vice President and Associate General Counsel of The Sun Products Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he managed legal affairs for a major consumer products company, focusing on commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, government interactions, and patents.
From 2008-2009, he was an attorney in the Life Sciences Group at Axiom Legal, where he counseled pharmaceutical companies regarding clinical trials, pharmaceutical marketing compliance, and intellectual property.
Prior to working at Axiom, Mr. Larson served as the Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Tapestry Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqCM: TPPH), a biotech company in Boulder, Colorado which was focused on oncology and genetic diseases. He joined Tapestry Pharmaceuticals in 1994 as the Director of Legal Affairs under its former name, Napro Biotherapeutics, and helped oversee its IPO in 1996.
Mr. Larson began his career in 1992 as an associate attorney in the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Kirkland & Ellis in New York. He earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Chinese from Brigham Young University.
Jonathan Plehn, M.D.
VICE PRESIDENT, CARDIOLOGY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Bio
Dr. Plehn is SignPath’s Chief Medical Officer and has a long history of working in academic cardiology and, more recently, industry. He recently left his position of Chief Medical Officer at Sardocor Corporation, a cardiovascular gene therapy company, to focus on the critical work at SignPath in designing and developing molecules to prevent cardiotoxicity (e.g. cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias) of primary therapies with known deleterious effects on cardiac mechanics and electrical function.
Dr. Plehn’s work previous work has focused on the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and, more recently, drug development including trial design and management. Dr. Plehn received his A.B. degree in History from Vassar College and M.D. degree from the New York University School of Medicine. Subsequent training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago were followed by appointment to the faculty of the Boston University School of Medicine where he directed the Cardiovascular Ultrasound Laboratory and Coronary Care Unit at Boston City Hospital. At the same time, he set up the two-dimensional imaging lab at the world-famous Framingham Heart Study where he and collaborators investigated the effects of aging and various forms of heart disease prevalence on long-term prognosis in a free-living population. His work in the Cardiac Muscle Research Laboratory under Dr. Carl Apstein led to a better understanding of the effect of hypertension on myocyte function in intact and isolated perfused models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Dr. Plehn directed the Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratory at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and directed clinical trials in heart failure, valvular disease and lipidology authoring the first paper describing the benefits of statins in stroke prevention. Subsequently, Dr. Plehn served on the faculties of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH, and the Medstar Cardiovascular Core Lab at Georgetown University. He created the heart failure program at George Washington University, all in Washington D.C.
In 2008 Dr. Plehn was recruited as Cardiovascular-Metabolic Section Chief at Covance Inc., a contract research organization (CRO) where he developed and managed physicians and operational teams focusing on a wide range of cardiovascular conditions while also serving as part-time director of the Hahnemann University Hospital Echocardiography Lab at Drexel University School of Medicine. In 2021 he took on the role of Chief Medical Officer at Sardocor Corporation working with Dr. Roger Hajjar in the genetic modulation of calcium transport in subjects with heart failure both with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
Dr. Plehn is the author of over 150 articles, book chapters and abstracts and is a reviewer for major cardiology journals. He also sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cardiac Failure. His major interests include understanding mechanisms and therapeutic approaches to cardiomyopathies, especially infiltrative types such as amyloidosis and development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in the field of cardio-oncology.
Peter P. Sordillo, A.B., M.D., M.A., M.Phil, Ph.D., M.S.
VICE PRESIDENT, ONCOLOGY, CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
Bio
Dr. Sordillo joined Signpath as Chief Science and Medical Officer in June of 2017. Prior to that time, Dr. Sordillo had served as Signpath’s Director, Clinical Affairs and a member of Signpath’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Sordillo is an attending physician, Medical Oncology and Hematology, Lenox Hill Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. He is also a research consultant at the Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers, Physics Dept., City University of New York. Dr. Sordillo had previously served for 13 years as a fellow and an attending physician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
His academic appointments have included Instructor in Biophysics at the Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College; Associate Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and Associate Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sordillo received his A.B from Columbia College in New York; an M.D. from New York Medical College; an M.S. in Physics from New York University; and two additional Master’s degrees and a Ph.D. (Quantum physics and causality) from Columbia University.
Dr. Sordillo is board-certified in both internal medicine and medical oncology, and is the author of more than 180 journal articles, conference proceedings and book chapters, as well as the recently-published books “Biophotonics, Tryptophan and Disease” (Elsevier) and “Short-Wavelength Infrared Windows for Biomedical Applications” (SPIE Press).
Peter L. Childs, MBA, CPA
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Bio
Pete Childs joined Signpath Pharma in February 2022 as the CFO. His career spans a variety of industries including public accounting, information systems, senior care, hotels, HR consulting and technology. Prior to joining Signpath he served as the CFO for several companies, including Cvent, Workfront and NetDocuments, and CAO of Towers Watson, where he was responsible for guiding the strategic financial activities of both public and private enterprises, including investor relations, financial planning & analysis, accounting, audit, SOX and SEC compliance, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, treasury and administration (HR, Legal).
Through his career, Pete has developed a track record of preparing companies to be public by transforming financial systems, processes and teams — and as a result, has had the opportunity to integrate many acquisitions into the fabric of existing public companies and has also taken two private companies public through the IPO process.
Pete holds an MBA from George Washington University (international business finance), a BA (accounting) from Brigham Young University and is a CPA, having begun his career with KPMG in Washington DC.
Michelle Comas
VICE PRESIDENT, REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND OPERATIONS
Bio
Michelle Comas joined Signpath Pharma in March 2022 as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Operations. Before joining Signpath, Michelle held the position of Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality at Varex Imaging Corp., where she effectively managed diverse teams and responsibilities, including the Quality Management System, Quality Compliance, Document Control and Change Management, Regulatory Affairs, and Environmental Health & Safety.
With over twenty-five years of experience in FDA, EPA, IEC, and ISO regulated industries, Michelle has excelled in various domains, including medical devices, OTC products, pesticides, cosmetics, and consumer goods. Recognized as a results-oriented leader, Michelle has a proven track record of developing successful strategies, engaging with global regulatory agencies, and fostering productive relationships with manufacturing partners. Her troubleshooting abilities and strategic acumen enable her to identify and address business challenges, implement effective processes, and drive organizational success in diverse environments.
Michelle’s expertise extends to regulatory affairs and quality management, supported by her completion of various relevant courses. She holds a Regulatory Affairs Certificate from the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) and has completed additional courses in Pharmacovigilance, Ethics for Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Trials, CMC, Supplier Management, Global Strategy, and Compliance and Audits. Furthermore, she possesses a quality auditor certificate, highlighting her commitment to upholding and ensuring stringent quality standards.
With her deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, Michelle navigates complexities with ease. Her exceptional communication skills and collaborative approach make her a valuable asset, enabling her to work effectively with cross-functional teams and regulatory agencies. Michelle provides strategic guidance and support, ensuring compliance with regulations and guidelines while driving organizational success as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Operations.
Scientific Advisory Board and Collaborators
Annie Bouchard, M.S.
Consultant and Collaborator, Principal at AD CardioCinetique Inc.
Annie Bouchard completed her undergraduate training in microbiology at the University of Sherbrooke. She was granted her Masters’ degree in Physiology and Endocrinology at the Faculty of Medicine in Sherbrooke, before holding various positions as Scientist in pharmaceutical companies. She joined IPS Therapeutique Inc. in 2001, and is responsible for creating the cardiac cell lines used for regulatory cardiotoxicity testing over the past 15 years. As a study director and senior scientist, she has directed over 100 FDA-mandated, GLPcompliant studies in cardiovascular safety for new drug applications. She has also co-authored several articles on cardiac toxicity and participated in the development of innovative animal models to quantify cardiac adverse events.
Dan Salvail, Ph.D
Consultant and Collaborator, Principal at AD CardioCinetique Inc.
Dany Salvail completed his undergraduate training in Biochemistry at Bishop’s University, in Canada, before being granted a Ph.D in Thoracic Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Sherbrooke. While pursuing post-graduate training in cardiology in Massachusetts and in Canada, he co-founded IPS Therapeutique Inc., a CRO specializing in preclinical cardiovascular efficacy and safety assessment, in which he still holds a management role. As Director of Pharmacology, he has assembled and implemented cardiac safety testing strategies for over 3000 drug candidates over the last 18 years. The experience gained in testing and co-filing regulatory applications for dozens of classes of compounds and the central role he played in the development of highly successful drugs led to international recognition, presentations given in North America, Europe, Asia, and subsequent work acting as a consultant in preclinical cardiology.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Arthur P. Bollon, Ph.D.
Dr. Arthur P. Bollon has served as a director of the Company since May 28, 2008. Dr. Bollon has more than 25 years of experience in biotechnology as a scientist, executive and entrepreneur. Since 2011, Dr. Bollon has been Chairman and CEO of Vitruvian BioMedical, Inc., which is developing an Alzheimer Disease Vaccine and diagnostic technologies. From October 2003, until August 2010, he was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer to HemoBioTech, Inc. which is developing HemoTech, a potential substitute for human blood.
He is a founder and had served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wadley Biosciences Inc./LPL, a joint venture between Wadley Cancer Center and Phillips Petroleum which focused on cancer and immune disease therapeutics from 1987 to 1991. From 1992 to 2000, he was a founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics Inc. which focused on cancer and infectious disease therapeutics. While at Cytoclonal, he completed an initial public offering. In addition, he has completed research contracts with multiple universities including UCLA, Montana State University, University of California at San Diego, Texas Tech University and University of British Columbia and licensing agreements with Brisol Meyers-Squibb, Phillips Petroleum, Merck & Co. and Nuron Biotech.
Jack Levine, CPA
Jack Levine was first appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company on July 12, 2010, and currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Mr. Levine, a Certified Public Accountant, has been advising private companies for over 30 years. As of November 2011, he was elected Chairman of the Audit Committee of Provista Diagnostics, Inc., a cancer detection and diagnostics company focused on women’s cancer. The company has established partnerships that allow access to some of the most innovative biomarkers in the molecular oncology market. From 1999 to 2007 he served as an Independent Board Member to Pharmanet, Inc. where from 2006-2007, he served as Chairman of the Board; in 2005, was a member of the Nominating Committee, Lead Director in 2004; a member of the Compensation Committee in 2003, a Chairman of the Audit Committee in 1999. Pharmanet is a global drug development services company providing a comprehensive range of services to pharmaceutical biotechnology, generic drug and medical device companies that was traded on Nasdaq and has since been acquired.
From 2004-2008, Mr. Levine served as Chairman of the Audit Committee of Grant Life Sciences (OTCBB), an R&D company focused on early detection of cervical cancer and also providing medical diagnostic kits. From 2000-2006, Mr. Levine was Chairman either of the Audit Committee, Executive Committee or ALCO Committee of Beach Bank, Miami Beach, Florida. He also served as Chairman of the Audit Committees of Prairie Fund (2000-2006) and Bankers Savings Bank (1996-1998).
From 2004-2006, Mr. Levine was a member of the Audit Committee of Miami Dade County School Board, the nation’s third largest school system with an annual budget exceeding $5 Billion. Mr. Levine currently sits on the Board of Biscayne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Biscayne is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing novel therapies based on growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogs. Mr. Levine has been a Board Member since January 2013.
Mr. Levine has been a licensed CPA in Florida since 1983 and in New York since 2009. He has been a Committee member of the State of Florida – Florida Bar since 1993 and a Board Member of the Southeast Region of the American Friends of Bar-Ilan University since 2002.
Robert Seguso
Robert Seguso was first appointed to the SignPath Board of Directors in March of 2017.
Mr. Seguso is an early investor in SignPath and has been a public relations consultant since 2016. He has been instrumental in helping the Company raise its public profile and gain access to key individuals in various capital markets.
Mr. Seguso began his public career as a professional tennis player since 1983. He has been ranked #1 on the ATP tour in Doubles and #22 in singles. He holds 36 world doubles titles, including: 2 Wimbledon titles (1987-1988), US Open Title (1985) and the French Open (1987.) He was an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1988 and a US Davis Cup Team Member (1985-1991)
Since retiring from professional tennis, Mr. Seguso has been a commercial and residential real estate developer, with developments including apartment complexes, sports complexes, retail commercial properties, and single family homes.
Mr. Seguso has served as an advisor and public relations consultant to various biotech, investment, and public relations firms.
Gregory M. Heard
Gregory Heard was first appointed to the SignPath Board of Directors in April of 2019 and he currently serves as Chairman of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee..
For more than 25 years, he has been a sales professional who has delivered successful business development and revenue-enhancing strategies to employers and clients.
Gregory Heard, is a Principal at Raymond Street Partners, a hedge fund focused on lending to small business and healthcare organizations.
He began his professional career in private banking and wealth management with Bankers Trust, then transitioned to sales, operations and business development roles with the Marriott Corporation. He also worked at Black Entertainment Television as Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. While there, he oversaw the company’s acquisition of Vanguard Media and counseled and advised BET’s restaurant and apparel ventures.
He worked as Director at Arlington, Va.-based tech firm Cyveillance, Inc., then moved to HMO giant CareFirst, where he was part of the team that implemented an analytical platform to map employee behavior and predict outcomes.
His entrepreneurial spirit drove him to start successful business ventures in telecom and the apparel sales. His juvenile/baby products company, Snibbie®, was the subject of a University of Virginia case study.
He holds a B.S. in Marketing and Economics from Fairfield University, and a MBA from the University of Chicago (with a concentration in accounting, business policy and finance). He also completed MPH coursework at Yale University’s School of Epidemiology.
He has lectured at UVA and Johns Hopkins University. He is also active in his community as a member of St. Columba’s Church in Washington, DC, and is an avid lacrosse supporter, mentor and former board member of Charm City Lacrosse.
Jeffrey S. Starman, Esq.
Jeffrey Starman was appointed to the Board of Directors in April of 2021, and currently serves as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
With undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan, Mr. Starman is an accomplished investor and manager of income real estate throughout Michigan. A licensed real estate broker, Mr. Starman served as the principal broker and co-founder of Ann Arbor-based Madison Property Company LLC, a real estate brokerage and consulting organization, and is the president of Wickfield Properties LLC, a professional management firm specializing in commercial, multi-family and student properties. An affiliated entity of Wickfield is senior lender to SignPath. Prior to forming Madison Property Company in 2002, Mr. Starman served as vice president and general counsel of GRC Inc., a real estate holding company with subsidiaries engaged in real estate investment, development, consulting, and mortgage brokerage. Following his graduation from law school in 1992, Mr. Starman joined the Detroit-based law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLLC, as an associate attorney where he specialized in litigation and business services for three years. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Michigan Bar Association, the National Association of Realtors, the Michigan Association of Realtors, and the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors. Mr. Starman holds a real estate broker’s license in the state of Michigan.
Mr. Starman currently serves as the Managing Member of various private real estate investment companies and serves as a board member of several privately held companies.
Bradley J. Hayosh
Brad Hayosh was appointed to the Board of Directors in April of 2021, and currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
Brad has an extensive background in real estate investment analysis ranging from property level underwriting to formulating complex debt and equity models. Brad has a law degree from the University of Michigan with a concentration in Tax Law with work experience at Coopers & Lybrand and the Washington D.C. office of the IRS. Brad currently serves as the Managing Principal of various private real estate investment companies. In addition to sourcing, Brad oversees the acquisition, due diligence, financing and equity placement on real estate investments of all product types but with an emphasis on value add, turnaround opportunities. Brad is also a principal and founder of Wickfield Properties LLC Prior to creating his own investment company, Brad spent nearly four years from Feb ’03-Dec ’06 as the Director of Acquisitions for Dietz Holdings in Birmingham, MI where was responsible for all aspects of the acquisition, disposition and investment activity for the company. Brad successfully grew Dietz’s multifamily division over 200% during his tenure and assisted in the creation of a highly successful regional property management company. From 2001-2003 Brad served in a similar role for the Rosin Company, a Bloomfield Hills, MI based apartment investment company where Brad was an Acquisition Officer, a role which helped Brad create his network of owners, brokers, attorneys, and lenders from which to source off market investment opportunities.
Outside Auditors
Marcum LLP serve as the company’s outside auditors, and advise the Board and management on accounting issues.