Board of Directors
Gail Maderis (Chairman)
Gail Maderis has over 25 years of leadership in biopharmaceutical companies and served as President and CEO of Antiva from July 2015 through April 2023. Under her leadership, Antiva advanced two molecules into clinical trials for HPV-related pre-cancers and completed four venture financings. From 2009 to 2015, Gail led BayBio, the industry organization representing and supporting Northern California’s life science community. From 2003 to 2009, Gail served as President and CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (FPRX), a protein discovery and development company focused on immuno-oncology. Prior to FivePrime, Gail held senior executive positions at Genzyme Corporation, including founder and president of Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GZMO). Gail also practiced management and strategy consulting with Bain & Co. Gail Maderis is Chairman of the board of DURECT Corporation (DRRX), and serves on the board of Valitor, Inc., as well as on the non-profit boards of BIO (Emerging Company and Health Sections), CLSI, The Termeer Foundation, and the University of California Berkeley Foundation Board of Trustees. She received a BS in business from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Wende S. Hutton
General Partner, Canaan
Wende Hutton identifies, builds, and invests in companies that can change the practice of medicine by bringing novel drugs, technologies, and devices to market. She joined Canaan in 2004 and throughout her career she has partnered with founders to deliver more than a dozen of those innovations to patients. Her track record includes seven IPOs and six acquisitions. Wende currently sits on the boards of Antiva Biosciences, Glooko, Hyalex Orthopaedics, OncoResponse, and Qlaris Bio. Her prior investments include BiPar Sciences (acquired by Sanofi-Aventis), Chimerix (CMRX), Dermira (DERM), Labrys Biologics (acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical), and Transcend Medical (acquired by Alcon/Novartis). Wende was recognized among Fierce Biotech’s 2014 “Fierce 15” women in biotech.
David Moskowitz PhD, MS
Principal, MPM Bioimpact
Dr. David Moskowitz is Principal at MPM BioImpact, where he is focused primarily on early stage investments and company creation activities. He is especially passionate about areas where emergent techniques and technologies are enabling advances in the biosciences. Before joining MPM BioImpact, David spent seven years with 8VC, where he co-led the formation of its bio practice, investing broadly within the biotechnology ecosystem as well as in the technology sector. His efforts spanned company formation to late-stage growth, where he co-founded several companies, held key leadership roles and served on a number of Boards. David received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Informatics and M.S. in Statistics from Stanford University. His research focused on the development of statistical and machine learning approaches for analyzing genomics data, and the characterization of epigenetic changes associated with aging in T cells. Previously, David was a Bioinformatic Analyst at Einstein College of Medicine, where he worked on the genetics of aging and human disease. He performed his undergraduate studies in Computational Biology at Brown University.
Beni Rovinski
Managing Director, Lumira Ventures
With over 30 years of investment, operational, managerial and research experience in the healthcare industry, Beni Rovinski has helped build life sciences companies at all stages of development. Beni held several senior management positions in the biotechnology sector, including 13 years at Sanofi Pasteur (formerly Aventis Pasteur). Beni joined Lumira Ventures in 2001 and his current and past board roles include Antios Therapeutics; Antiva Biosciences; Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AUPH); Bright Angel Therapeutics; COUR Pharmaceuticals; G1 Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GTHX); Health Hero Network (acquired by Bosch); Iterion Therapeutics; KAI Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Amgen); Morphotek (acquired by Eisai); and SGX Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGXP; acquired by Eli Lilly). Beni also serves on the Board of Directors of Life Sciences Ontario, Ontario Genomics, and volunteers for various personal career mentoring programs. Beni is a member of the Council of Expert Advisors of the Government of Canada and a former member of the Government of Canada
Clifford M. Samuel
Principal, PCMS1 Consulting
Clifford Samuel has 30+ years of commercial leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with more than two decades at Gilead Sciences in leadership roles across sales, managed markets, and global commercial operations, including Senior Vice President, Global Patient Solutions, with responsibility for more than 140 countries. Propelled by his mission to ensure large-scale access to Gilead’s life-saving medicines, Clifford enabled the delivery of medicines to more than 18 million people in emerging markets, while increasing revenue by billions. He spearheaded Gilead’s entry into generic licensing agreements with companies in China, India and South Africa that created a competitive market for generic HIV and hepatitis B & C medicines. Clifford has been recognized for pioneering new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, and developing and implementing innovative approaches to engineering education. A graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, he received an Honorary PhD from his alma mater and sits as an NJIT Honor Program Board Member. He is also the recipient of an Edward F. Weston Medal for Professional Achievement and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineers in 2019. In addition to Antiva Biosciences he sits on the boards of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and serves as a business advisor to Siolta Therapeutics, Pardes Biosciences, and Karkinos Healthcare (India).
Elizabeth Stoner, MD
Entrepreneur Partner, MPM BioImpact
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Stoner is an Entrepreneur Partner at MPM BioImpact, supporting both the private and public funds. Liz is a distinguished biopharma executive, who brings decades of international industry experience to her role guiding and growing MPM BioImpact portfolio companies. Liz has held several leadership roles at MPM BioImpact portfolio companies including interim CEO of Semma Therapeutics; founder, CMO and Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Rhythm and the CDO of Vascular Pharmaceuticals. She also served in clinical and advisory roles at Clinical Ink, Potenza Therapeutics, Solasia and TriNetX. Prior to joining MPM BioImpact, Liz was Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Development Operations at Merck Research Laboratories where she was responsible for its clinical development activities in more than 40 countries. While at Merck, she also oversaw the clinical development activities of its Japanese subsidiary and played a leading role in Merck/Schering Plough Joint Venture’s development of Vytorin and Zetia, blockbuster cholesterol lowering drugs. Previously, she led the
Kristine Ball
President & CEO, Antiva Biosciences
Kristine Ball brings to Antiva over 20 years of executive experience in the biopharma industry. Kristine has held key roles in building multiple successful biopharma companies that developed FDA approved medicines. Kristine has also led numerous corporate transactions throughout her career including multiple IPOs, M&A transactions, pharmaceutical partnerships and other private and public financings. Prior to Antiva, Kristine served as Chief Executive Officer of Soteria, Inc. from 2020 to 2022, where she raised the company’s series A round of financing, recruited the management team and set the strategic direction of the company. From 2017 to 2022, Kristine served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Chief Financial Officer of Menlo Therapeutics, Inc., until the company’s merger with Foamix. At Menlo, Kristine was responsible for leading all non-R&D functions including strategic planning, corporate development, commercial, human resources, legal, finance and IT. She led Menlo’s initial public offering and the cross-functional team responsible for closing the merger with Foamix. Prior to Menlo, Kristine held executive finance positions at Relypsa, Inc. (acquired by Galenica), KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Amgen) and Exelixis, Inc. Kristine began her career in Ernst & Young’s life sciences audit practice. Kristine serves as a member of the board of directors of Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. She also served on the board of directors of Atreca, Inc. prior to the company’s asset sale to Immunome and on the board of directors of Forty Seven Inc. prior to the company’s acquisition by Gilead. Kristine holds a B.S. from Babson College.