Management

Dr Jean-Paul Castaigne, MD, MBA
President and CEO //
Dr. Castaigne is a senior pharmaceutical executive with extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining AngioChem, he was COO and CSO of Conjuchem, and previously he was Vice President, Head of Global R&D at the Fournier Group in France. In addition, Dr. Castaigne spent eleven years with Novartis in a variety of management positions, including Corporate Vice President for Canada, President and Managing Director in the Philippines and Director of Medical and R&D in France. Dr. Castaigne has also worked with CILAG (J&J) and Sanofi in France. He received his MD from Paris University in 1975 and held the position of Associate Professor of oncology and pneumology in 1978. Dr. Castaigne received his advanced diploma in Management of Business Administration in 1987.  Dr. Castaigne is member of the board of the three following biotech companies: Tranzyme Pharma, Asmacure and Allostera.

Reinhard Gabathuler, PhD, CSO //
Dr. Reinhard Gabathuler obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1982, and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington, Seattle. Over the years, he held various research positions, namely at the Swiss Institute for Cancer Research, in Lausanne, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, and the Biotechnology Laboratory of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Gabathuler's discovery of a new vector for delivery of therapeutics to the brain led to the creation of Synapse Technologies Inc., where he began as Director, Blood‑Brain Barrier Research, ultimately rising to the position of Vice-President, Research. The company was later acquired by BioMarin where Dr. Gabathuler assumed the position of Vice-President, Brain Research.  Since joining AngioChem in 2004, Dr. Gabathuler has applied his extensive knowledge in directing the R&D programs thus advancing the Company’s products.  He has been a recognized expert in the biology of blood-brain barrier for over 15 years. 

Betty Lawrence, B.Sc., Executive Director of Development //
Betty Lawrence has over 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry, with extensive experience in early development projects. She has managed and implemented development programs for various molecules and therapeutic areas including oncology, endocrinology, analgesia, diagnostic imaging, and coagulation. She has also played an active role in various business development and partnering activities. Prior to joining Angio Chem, Ms.  Lawrence held progressive positions at ConjuChem Biotechnologies Inc. during an 8-year tenure to Director of Development. She has also held various scientific positions at Resolution Pharmaceuticals and Health Canada. Ms. Lawrence received her B.Sc. with honors in Biology and Pharmacology degree in 1996 from McMaster University.

Ann Neale, Head of clinical research //
Ann Neale has over 18 years experience in all phases of clinical development. She has managed clinical programs for biologics, small molecules and medical devices.  She has experience in many therapeutic areas including: oncology, central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrinology and immunology. Until recently, Ms. Neale was VP Clinical at Saegis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, where she was responsible for CNS clinical development. Prior to joining Saegis, Ms. Neale was Senior Director, Development Planning and Operations at Aryx Therapeutics. She has held other positions, which included 8 years as a clinical development consultant, and most recently with ConjuChem Biotechnologies, Inc. Prior to consulting, Ms. Neale held various positions of increasing responsibility in clinical development at Titan Pharmaceuticals, Applied Immune Sciences (acquired by Rhone- Poulenc Rorer) and Syntex (acquired by Roche). Ms. Neale received her B.Sc. degree in Nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1985.

Dejan Ristic, CA, CPA, Acting Head of Finance //
As acting CFO, Dejan Ristic brings his corporate financial expertise of the new economy with public and venture capital funded companies.  Since 2004, Mr. Ristic has been working as an expert consultant with a number of technology companies both publicly-traded and start-ups.  Between 2003 and 2004, Mr. Ristic was the CFO at Radical Horizon, a telecom start-up and prior to that, he was Director of Finance at Nexia Biotechnologies and as such, he assisted in Nexia’s IPO in 2000.  From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Ristic was a manager in the high-technology practice of Ernst & Young LLP.  He participated in public offerings generating over $150M, primarily for biotechnology and new economy companies.  Mr. Ristic is a Canadian Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant in the US.  He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Entrepreneurship from McGill University and a Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University.