Neutrolis is a clinical stage therapeutics company targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and other sources of pathologic extracellular DNA.
The role of DNA as a key component of the human immune response has been observed for over 150 years. The specific mechanistic understanding of DNA’s involvement with disease, however, was a puzzle that took decades and significant scientific advancement to elucidate. With the discovery of NETs in 2004, it became clear that this fundamental and pathological source of extracellular DNA required improved therapeutic management.
Building on the precedent of previous DNASE therapies, which mainly targeted bacterial sources of DNA, Neutrolis is developing therapies that are capable of treating the scale and structure of extracellular DNA produced by NETosis. The company’s pipeline includes molecules generated by the exDNASETM platform that remove NETs and halt their pathologic effects.
Neutrolis was founded in 2017 by Drs. Toby Fox and Abdul (Hakkim), two of the earliest and most-cited leaders in the NETs field. Toby and Hakkim have collaborated for over 18 years starting as molecular biologists in the lab of Dr. Arturo Zychlinsky at The Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, who characterized NETs in a 2004 cover article in Science. After establishing careers in academia and industry, Toby and Hakkim cofounded Neutrolis to commercialize the innovative exDNASETM platform based on their unique understanding of NETs clearance mechanisms. Neutrolis is a clinical stage company developing a robust pipeline of therapeutics in major disease areas driven by NET-based pathologies starting with lupus.
Toby is co-founder, CEO, CSO and co-president of Neutrolis. He is one of the most-cited researchers in the field of NETosis and the with important contributions towards the biology of NETs and its implications in vascular and ischemic injuries. Toby is a former principal investigator at University Medical Center in Hamburg-Eppendorf. He trained as an immunologist at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School.
Hakkim is co-founder, COO and co-president of Neutolis. Hakkim and Toby were the first graduate students at the Max Planck to work on the biology and implications of NETs in autoimmunity. Hakkim is an immunologist trained at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School. At Harvard, Hakkim worked on genetics of innate immunity before transitioning into an entrepreneur initially with Genma Biosciences, a therapeutics company spun out of Harvard University.
Ghazaleh has 20+ years of clinical research experience and is an Associate Professor in Internal Medicine and board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and clinical pharmacology. Previously, Ghazaleh lead a research group at the phase I Unite of the Medical University Vienna and was Medical Director at a global CRO. She has been involved in the development and approval of numerous products and has led product strategy and protocol development by identifying and documenting the best ways to help patients. Ghazaleh and her clinical team at Gouya Insights lead Neutrolis’ clinical strategy and operations.
Ralph has 25+ years of experience developing manufacturing processes and analytical methods in support of commercial, clinical and preclinical biotherapeutic products. Prior to joining Neutrolis, Ralph was VP of Biologics Operations Science & Technology at AbbVie overseeing development and commercial manufacturing of Humira® and previously held senior scientist roles at Pfizer and BASF. Ralph is a bioorganic chemist and trained at Brown University and Harvard Medical School. At Neutrolis, Ralph leads chemistry manufacturing and controls (CMC).
Gene has 25+ years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical drug discovery experience developing core platform technologies for small molecule discovery, high-throughput biophysical characterization, and target identification. Prior to Neutrolis, Gene held senior roles at Wave Life Sciences, Novartis, and 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. At Neutrolis, Gene oversees early discovery and development of enabling technologies for precision medicine.
Ken has 22+ years of experience in drug development and regulatory strategy and is skilled in toxicology, regulatory affairs, and quality assurance. Ken is an experienced drug development veteran with a history of developing therapies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Ken previously held positions in Regeneron, Biogen, GSK, and Merimak Pharmaceuticals. Ken received his Bachelors in Toxicology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and PhD in Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences from Oklahoma State University. At Neutrolis, Ken oversees product development and assists with non-clinical and regulatory strategies.
Gerald Chan is the cofounder of Morningside Group, an investment enterprise engaged in venture, private equity, and property investments. Working with academic scientists, he started over two dozen biotech companies across diverse therapeutic areas including oncology, inflammation, ophthalmology, autoimmunity, diabetes, neurodegeneration, rare genetic diseases, and prophylactic vaccines.
Gerald is a board member of several privately-held biotech companies. He is the chairman of two Nasdaq-listed biotechnology companies - Apellis Pharmaceuticals and Stealth BioTherapeutics. He is a trustee of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He chairs the Advisory Committee of Emory University’s Innovative and Affordable Medicine, and is the past chair of the Innovation Advisory Committee of the Wellcome Trust, in London.
Gerald received his BS and MS degrees in engineering from UCLA, his Master’s degree in medical radiological physics, and a Doctor of Science degree in radiation biology from Harvard University. He received his post-doctoral training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He has been honored with six honorary degrees conferred by universities in the UK, Hong Kong, and America. In 2017, he was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2019, he gave the Andrew Carnegie Lecture at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and held a fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge University.
Dr. Sundy brings extensive expertise in the clinical development of investigational therapies in immunology and inflammation. He is currently the incoming Chief Medical Officer of Seismic Therapeutics. Previously, he served as CMO at Pandion Therapeutics (acquired by Merck for $1.85B) and as Senior Vice President and inflammation therapeutic area head at Gilead Sciences. At Gilead, he led the company’s entry into inflammation and immunology and oversaw the clinical development of over a dozen new drug programs including filgotinib, which was filed for marketing authorization globally in rheumatoid arthritis in 2019. Dr. Sundy was Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University and the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School. While at Duke he was instrumental in the clinical development of Krystexxa®, which was approved in 2010 for patients with refractory gout. He also served as Associate Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Director of Duke's Global Proof of Concept Research Unit Network in the US, Singapore and India. Dr. Sundy received his B.S. in biology from Bucknell University and his M.D. and Ph.D. from Drexel University School of Medicine.
Anthony Aiudi has been part of the investment team at Morningside Technology Advisory since 2020. He has experience providing operational and managerial oversight to early-stage biotechnology companies. Anthony serves on the boards of several biotechnology companies across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, including Fount Bio, Biothea, and Cyted. He has also facilitated company creation, completed multiple financings for private companies, and provided operational support for portfolio companies. Anthony completed a Fellowship in Clinical Research at Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Northeastern University, where he was also adjunct faculty. He later was a senior clinical research scientist at Merck & Co. From late 2015-2020, he was a director at Stealth BioTherapeutics, where he led the clinical development for numerous rare disease programs through their global Phase 3 program and supported the company through its IPO. Anthony received his Pharm.D. and MBA from the University of Rhode Island and an M.S. in finance from Northeastern University.
Toby is co-founder, CEO, CSO and co-president of Neutrolis. He is one of the most-cited researchers in the field of NETosis and the with important contributions towards the biology of NETs and its implications in vascular and ischemic injuries. Toby is a former principal investigator at University Medical Center in Hamburg-Eppendorf. He trained as an immunologist at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School.
Hakkim is co-founder, COO and co-president of Neutolis. Hakkim and Toby were the first graduate students at the Max Planck to work on the biology and implications of NETs in autoimmunity. Hakkim is an immunologist trained at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School. At Harvard, Hakkim worked on genetics of innate immunity before transitioning into an entrepreneur initially with Genma Biosciences, a therapeutics company spun out of Harvard University.
Dr. Denisa Wager is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, a senior investigator in the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and a member of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children's Hospital.
Dr. Wagner is a key opinion leader in the field of NETs with #XXX publications in this space. She brings deep understanding of vascular biology, adhesion molecules and inflammatory pathways to Neutrolis and is a co-inventor on core aspects of Neutrolis’s proprietary technology.
Her research efforts have uncovered foundational aspects of how pathogenic NETs influence both acute and chronic disorders in humans. These disorders include (thrombosis, atherosclerosis, reperfusion injury, wound healing, cancer associated thrombosis, stroke and ALI.
Dr. Looney is a Professor of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine and Attending Physician on the Pulmonary Consult Service and the Intensive Care Units at UCSF. Dr. Looney advises Neutrolis on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) program and he is also the collaborator on the NIH-SBIR grant that Neutrolis received for developing therapies that target NETs in ARDS.
Dr. Looney is a key opinion leader in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation, and cystic fibrosis.
Dr. Voll is the Director of the Department of Rheumatology at the University of Freiburg and brings to Neutrolis extensive clinical expertise in autoimmune disorders and collaborates on identifying and validating biomarkers for lupus. Dr. Voll’s research focuses on apoptotic cell death in systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the treatment of antibody-mediated diseases.
Dr. Costenbader is the Director of the lupus program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Chair of the Medical-Scientific Advisory Council for Lupus Foundation of America. Dr. Costenbader advises Neutrolis on the clinical trial feasibility for lupus and is a collaborator on the NIH-SBIR grant that Neutrolis received to identify biomarkers for lupus therapy.
Dr. Costenbader as a key opinion leader for lupus and related autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Kaplan is Senior Investigator and Chief of Systemic Autoimmunity Branch and Acting Director of Lupus Clinical Trial Unit at National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). She is a key opinion leader and her research focuses on identifying abnormalities of neutrophil subset and the role of NETs in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic autoimmune disease. Dr. Kaplan advises Neutrolis on novel NET based lupus biomarkers and also clinical trial strategy for lupus and RA.
Dr. Madri is a Professor of Pathology at Yale University School of Medicine and founder of Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a commercial-stage publicly traded ultra-rare orphan disease drug development company. Dr. Madri brings to Neutrolis extensive experience building a preeminent drug discovery and development organization from the earliest stages through launch of multiple commercial products. Dr. Madri also brings a deep understanding of the biological mechanism of inflammation and autoimmune disorders and serves on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.
Neutrolis, Inc.
1 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142
