Company overview
Nova Therapeutics is an innovative biotech enterprise developing novel therapies for cancer treatment, with the management team from Novartis and other well-known institutions.
Nova Therapeutics has established proprietary and revolutionary nSMART technology platform, which breaks through the bottleneck of traditional CAR-T therapy for the treatment of solid tumors. The company is also leveraging its proprietary technology in developing small molecules inhibitors targeting both tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. With two small molecule and two cell therapeutic programs in clinical development, Nova Therapeutics is in a unique position to leverage the combination of two drug modalities.
Business Development
Nova Therapeutics is currently in collaboration with several renowned pharma and biotech companies such as Merck and Xuanzhu Biopharm to co-develop its clinical products. The company is seeking opportunities of development partnership and out-licensing agreements with partners to leverage its proprietary nSMART CAR-T technology.
Our Team
Jay Zhang, MD, PhD
CEO
Dr. Zhang is a co-founder of Nova Therapeutics and has been the CEO since 2019. Prior to joining Nova Therapeutics, he was the VP-RD and VP-BD at Kindstar Global, one of the international leading providers of diagnostic services. Dr. Zhang’s primary duties were to manage the clinical diagnostic laboratories, tests development, and tech-transferred from “Mayo Clinic Laboratories”. Previously, Dr. Zhang served as a leader at the genomic core at The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation and participated in large numbers of drug discovery projects from the global Novartis community. Earlier in his career, Dr. Zhang was an attending physician with eight years of clinical practice, specializing in Oncology and Gastroenterology, and with a deep understanding of the mechanisms of many systemic diseases.
James Schaeffer, PhD
SVP BD
Dr. Schaeffer had a 25-year career at Merck Research Labs (MRL) where his research focused primarily on neuroendocrine-related projects. Jim subsequently moved to San Diego to assume the role of Merck’s “Science Scout” on the West Coast, with the responsibility to identify new licensing opportunities across all therapeutic areas at all stages of development including enabling technologies. Jim was directly involved in the formation of a partnership between Merck and Dr. Peter Schultz which lead to the establishment of The California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr). When Calibr merged with Scripps Research Institute (TSIR), Jim joined TSIR as VP of External Relations. Jim has co-founded several successful biotech companies (including Genesis Therapeutics- https://www.genesistherapeutics.ai/) and continues to consult for nascent start-ups. Dr. Schaeffer received his Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine and was a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Julius Axelrod at the National Institute of Mental Health. Prior to joining Merck, Jim was a professor in the Department of Reproductive Medicine in the School of Medicine at UCSD.
Wael Harb, MD, MBA
CMO
As board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, Dr. Wael Harb brings over two decades of profound experience in medical oncology and hematology to his role as Chief Medical Officer. His career is highlighted by significant contributions to clinical practice and the biopharmaceutical industry, aimed at enhancing the quality and scope of oncology care and research. Dr. Harb’s contributions to oncology have been recognized with numerous awards from prestigious organizations such as ASCO and ESMO. His expertise spans a wide array of therapeutic areas, including targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and a variety of novel therapeutics. Beyond his clinical and research endeavors, Dr. Harb has demonstrated a deep commitment to the cancer community through the founding of the Community Cancer Network, a nonprofit organization that provides support to cancer patients across North Central Indiana.
Yan Liu, PhD
Director of R&D
Dr. Yan brings extensive knowledge and experiences in academic research, translational research and biotechnology R&D, and devotes herself in the area of protein engineering, multi-functional antibody engineering, cell engineering and cancer immunotherapy. As the Director of Research and Development at Nova Therapeutics, Yan oversees the development and implementation of research and development policies, objectives and initiatives to ensure company’s competitive edge and profitability.Prior to joining Nova Therapeutics, Yan started her career at the world renowned research institute Scripps Research, where she efficiently met top research and technological constraints to produce significant achievements in protein engineering, antibody development and cancer immunotherapy. During the seven years at Scripps Research, she led and participated several projects funded by National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in the area of diabetes, cancer and auto immune disorder treatment. The programs she participated collaborated with Pfizer, Merck and AbbVie have entered clinical studies. Additionally, she holds 6 patents and has published several research papers on high impact scientific journals. She earned her Ph.D in Bioengineering at University of California-Riverside in year 2012.
Michael Brownstein, MD, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Brownstein has over thirty years of research experience in the fields of genetics, endocrinology and pharmacology. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University; completed his graduate training at University of Chicago, where he earned an M.D. and Ph.D. in pharmacology; and received his clinical training at the Boston Children’s Hospital.He then moved to the National Institutes of Health to work with Julius Axelrod, recipient of a Nobel Prize in 1970 for his studies in the field of neuropharmacology, and remained at NIH after completing his fellowship. Dr. Brownstein served at the NIH as Chief of the Laboratory of Genetics of the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Human Genome Research Institute; and for two years as the Scientific Director of the NIMH Intramural Research Program. While at the NIMH/NHGRI, he directed the Brain Molecular Anatomy Project. Simultaneously, he contributed to the Mammalian Gene Collection, a trans-Institutional effort to clone and sequence cDNAs corresponding to all human, mouse, and rat transcripts. Subsequently he directed the functional genomics program at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, MD for three years. Currently he is a Scientist Emeritus at the NIH. He has worked in the fields of neurobiology, neuroendocrinology, biochemical pharmacology, genetics, and genomics; has published more than 200 papers in peer reviewed journals; and has served on major editorial boards and continues to serve on a number of scientific advisory boards. Dr. Brownstein also co-founded several successful biotech companies.
Feng Wang, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Wang brings over 20 years of experience in biotech innovation and early stage drug development to the company. Dr. Wang has extensive experience in developing new technology to select and design novel therapeutic protein with a great deal of achievements. Dr. Wang has authored more than 50 publications in top scientific journals and is an inventor of more than 20 PCT patents. Several innovative drugs developed by Dr. Wang have entered into clinical trials and been transferred to Merck, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk etc. Dr. Wang worked at Novartis (GNF San Diego) and then joining the California Institute for Biomedical Research (CALIBR) as a founding member, where he innovated several new technology platforms and led more than thirty drug development projects.
Gordon Mills, MD, PhD
Scientific Advisor
As a professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Director of Precision Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Director of SMMART Trials, Wayne and Julie Drinkward Endowed Chair in Precision Oncology, Dr. Gordon B. Mills earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in biochemistry and completed his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alberta. Prior to moving to OHSU, Dr. Mills was at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the number one ranked Cancer Center in the United States. He fulfilled multiple roles including founding chair of the Department of Systems Biology, co-Director of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy co-Director of the Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers and holds the Olga Keith Wiess Distinguished University Chair for Cancer Research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. At the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Dr. Mills is Director of Precision Oncology and SMMART trials. He is responsible for the implementation of an integrated program of tumor analysis, decision-making and implementation of novel precision oncology trials. The key goal will be to use serial tumor and liquid biopsies to evaluate and target adaptive responses in real time to interdict cancer evolution. Dr. Mills is recognized as one of the most highly quoted scientists in the world with over 1000 publications. He also holds more than 20 patents. His work has been continuously funded by multiple grants for over 30 years. Dr. Mills efforts have been recognized in the Komen Foundation’s Brinker Award for Scientific Excellence and the Finneran Family Prize for Translational Research. He has been very successful in supporting training, mentoring, and career development for young scientists including graduate students, fellows, and junior faculty. The majority of his trainees have developed successful research careers rising through the ranks to full professor, department chairs, and institute directors. Based on this role, Dr. Mills has been nominated for and awarded multiple mentoring awards, including the Stand Up 2 Cancer Laura Ziskin Prize for Mentoring.
Doriano Fabbro, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Fabbro started his career as Group Leader in the Molecular Tumor Biology Unit of the University of Basel (1979-1991) working mainly on the mechanisms of activation of PKC as well as on prognostic markers for breast cancer. In 1991, he joined the Pharmaceuticals Research of Ciba-Geigy Basel, first as a Group Leader in the department of Oncology, which then led to the successful discovery of Midostaurin (PKC412) and Glivec (STI571). In 1994, as Indication Area Head Oncology, he directed research on inhibitors of various kinases, SH2, p53/hdm2, and antisense projects in collaboration with ISIS Pharmaceuticals. Following the merger of Ciba-Geigy with Sandoz to form Novartis in 1996, he actively contributed as member of the integration team Oncology to forge the Novartis and later the NIBR Onocology Research (as it is today), where he was responsible for the preclinical world-wide drug discovery efforts focusing on ATP-dependent enzymes (protein kinases and ATPases), as well as MT stabilizing agents like EPO906 (Patupilone, Phase III) and from 2004 to 2005 he served as Head of Signaling Pathways in the Oncology Research of NIBR. In 2006, Dr Fabbro, implement the kinase platform at NIBR, where he served as head of the Kinase Biology Unit of the EPK until 2012. During his pharmaceutical drug discovery career he has contributed amongst significantly to the discovery and development of various protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, including various preclinical and clinical candidates, including the PI3K inhibitors (BEZ235, BKM120 and BYL719 in Phase I-III clinical trials) PTK787 (Vatalinib, Phase-III clinical trial), PKC412 (Midostaurin, Phase III clinical trial), and was involved in the the launch of compounds like RAD001 (Everolimus), STI571 (Imatinib, Glivec) and AMN107 (Nilotinib, Tasigna). In 2013, D. Fabbro joined PIQUR Therapeutics AG, Basel, as Chief Scientific Officer.