Alphyn is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class Multi-Target Therapeutics® (MTT™) for severe and prevalent skin diseases based on our Zabalafin Platform (AB-101 Platform). We are dedicated to improving the lives of millions of patients worldwide with Multi-Target Therapeutics that are expected to be safe, powerful, and more effectively attack disease.
Our Zabalafin Platform grew out of work by Chief Scientific Officer Gary Pekoe, Ph.D., as the team lead for developing and obtaining regulatory approval of Bactroban®, generic mupirocin, a widely used antibiotic for skin infections, including infections from the highly drug-resistant MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Dr. Pekoe’s passion for finding better ways to treat skin diseases ultimately led to the formation of Alphyn, and the development of our novel Multi-Target Therapeutic Zabalafin Platform containing multiple bioactive compounds to attack a disease in many ways and to attack multiple different diseases.
Alphyn became operational with the closing of its first round of funding in March 2020. The company is based in Annapolis, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio. Alphyn also has a wholly owned Australian subsidiary, and maintains a European presence in Vienna, Austria.
Alphyn’s Vision
Our Vision is to relieve the suffering of millions as the dermatology therapeutic leader creating breakthrough therapies for the most challenging, severe, and common skin afflictions.
Alphyn’s Mission
Our Mission is to better people’s lives by developing a pipeline of new drug products leveraging the therapeutic advantages of our unique Zabalafin Platform. Our first drug product is intended to better the lives of atopic dermatitis (AD) sufferers by quickly improving the most urgent treatment priorities for AD of itch and quality of life, by effectively treating both the inflammatory and bacterial components of AD (Staph-associated and other AD flares and infected AD skin) and by providing the first AD drug that is worry-free for long-term and continuous use.
Leadership
Alphyn is led by a world-class team with extensive experience in life sciences companies, from start-ups to large pharma.
Neal Koller, CEO
A founder of Alphyn, Mr. Koller has served as the company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board since the company started in November 2019. He has been President & CEO, and Director for six life science businesses, guiding them to milestone achievement or exit. Before Alphyn, Mr. Koller was President & CEO and board member of Perthera, Inc., preceded by the same positions at PluroGen Therapeutics, Inc. Mr. Koller established Plurogen’s manufacturing, research and development, and operations facility and launched products into U.S. & international markets, exiting to a multi-national. Additionally, Mr. Koller held positions as President of PDA, CEO of Sound Diagnostics Inc., President & CEO of Dovetail Technologies Inc., and President of WellCare International Corp. He began his career at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he achieved notable successes in both large division and early stage business roles. He has a B.S. in biology from the University of Richmond.
Steven Pentelnik, President
An Alphyn founder, Mr. Pentelnik has more than 30 years of experience at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he was responsible for its $1 billion early-stage technology portfolio and was a global manager of its $750 million Beauty Care Products business. Following P&G, Mr. Pentelnik held executive responsibility for developing three start-up companies in medical devices and life sciences, leveraging his expertise in proprietary technology, business plans, and go-to-market strategies, including identifying exit opportunities. Mr. Pentelnik has a highly successful track record of bringing new products to market. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from Wayne State University.
Gary Pekoe, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer
A founder of Alphyn, Dr. Pekoe serves as Chief Scientific Officer. He is a thought leader in infectious diseases, skin diseases, and cancer and has spent more than 30 years helping to develop cutting-edge biotechnologies. A senior strategic regulatory and clinical development professional, Dr. Pekoe has worked in big pharma and small biotech, taking products through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in both environments. He led the team that developed and obtained FDA approval of Bactroban® (generic mupirocin), the topical drug of choice for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections. Later in career Dr. Pekoe was the lead clinical trial protocol writer for Merck’s blockbuster drug Keytruda®, a groundbreaking cancer immunotherapy. He has directed multiple pharma and biotech product development, clinical trial and regulatory approval programs and founded a strategic regulatory and clinical trial company focused on early-stage innovations. Dr. Pekoe received his MS and Ph.D. in neuro- and immunopharmacology from West Virginia University.
Jazmyne Mink, Manager, Regulatory Affairs
An Alphyn founder, Ms. Mink serves as the company’s Regulatory Affairs Manager, coordinating regulatory activities and submissions associated with the company’s drug product candidates. Working with senior leadership, she drives short- and long-term regulatory strategy and ensures compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines. Ms. Mink also manages internal quality assurance initiatives across departments. Prior to her role as manager of regulatory affairs, Ms. Mink worked as a scientific researcher at Alphyn, organizing research and data for the company’s pre-clinical programs.
Board of Directors
Neal Koller, Chairman
Please see bio under leadership.
Gary Pekoe, Ph.D., Board Member
Please see bio under leadership.
Roger Griggs, Board Member
Mr. Griggs is a serial healthcare entrepreneur. He has founded numerous pharmaceutical companies, including Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc., PediaMed Pharmaceuticals Inc., Integrity Pharmaceutical Corp., and the Drug Enhancement Company of America LLC. Mr. Griggs also founded Richwood Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he served as President and CEO until it was acquired by Shire Pharmaceuticals Group PLC to form Shire Richwood Inc. Mr. Griggs is currently Chairman of the Board of Medella Springs Healthcare, which is focused on bringing natural healthcare products into mainstream medicine. Mr. Griggs holds a B.S. in secondary education from Indiana State University and an M.S. from Indiana University at South Bend.
Jeff Kossak, Board Member
Mr. Kossak is president of Jolen Inc., a health and beauty company, which does business in more than thirty countries globally. He serves as the Managing Partner for Pennsylvania Renewable Resources Associates, which produces renewable electric energy in Pennsylvania, and for Kossak Oil & Gas, LP, which explores for, and produces oil and gas, primarily in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Mr. Kossak has developed a number of renewable electric energy projects and has been the lead investor in several Gulf Coast independent oil & gas exploration companies. He is a member (inactive) of the New York State Bar Association.
Adel Mikhail, Ph.D., Board Member
Dr. Mikhail is a life sciences industry veteran with extensive experience as a scientist and entrepreneur. He founded and served as CEO of Phylogeny, later Folio Biosciences, culminating in a successful exit with the acquisition by WaterStreet Healthcare Partners. Dr. Mikhail also founded and was CEO of several additional companies, including Progenitor, Inc., Rescentris, Ltd., Midwest Biorepository, Gnome Diagnostics, LLC, and Miracle Therapeutics, a gene therapy company with the NIH.
Tony Shipley, Board Member
Mr. Shipley is Chair of Queen City Angels and Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association. Previously, he served as founder and CEO of Entek IRD International, Inc., an enterprise software and electronics business. Tony was the winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and winner of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award. He is Chair of Ohio’s IT Alliance, the statewide Ohio Edison Technology Center of Information Technology. Mr. Shipley has a B.S. degree in industrial engineering from the University of Tennessee, and an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati.
Shekhar Mitra, Ph.D., Board Observer
Dr. Mitra spent 29 years as a scientist and senior executive at Procter & Gamble (P&G) rising to Senior Vice President, Global Innovation, and Member of P&G’s Global Leadership Council. At P&G he led the creation and development of numerous well-known health, wellness, and personal care products including Crest Whitestrips, Crest ProHealth, Aleve Analgesic, Prilosec, Olay Regenerist/ProX Skin Care, SK II, Hugo Boss and Gucci Fragrances, Gillette and Old Spice Clinical Strength and Metamucil (cholesterol lowering), prescription with H pylori gastritis treatment. Dr. Mitra oversaw P&G’s global innovation strategy and growth, overseeing start-up of Asian, African, and South American development hubs. Post-retirement, Dr. Mitra has been a board member and strategic adviser to several Fortune 500 companies, as well as co-founder and President of the Board of Trustees of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. In 2010, Dr. Mitra was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He is listed in the U.S. Congressional Record for his contributions to touching and improving lives through his impact on consumer meaningful innovations and community service.
Science Advisory Board
Patric Sven J. Lundberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Shekhar Mitra, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President,
Global Innovation (retired)
Procter & Gamble
Dennis P. West, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University