Company History
Emtora Biosciences is a clinical stage life science company developing a novel formulation of rapamycin, eRapa™, for use in preventing the onset and recurrence of cancer. eRapa™ was originally developed for use in aging studies by Dr. Z. David Sharp and Dr. Randy Strong at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio in 2009. Their work uncovered numerous potential uses for eRapa™ in the fields of oncology, immunology, neurology, and trauma.
eRapa™ is the only pharmaceutical agent to demonstrate significantly increased health span and lifespan in rodent models, and Science, Nature, and Time magazines proclaimed the discovery of a special formulation of rapamycin to extend one’s life and health span among the most significant and exciting scientific breakthroughs of 2009.
eRapa™ was licensed for development to Emtora Biosciences (formerly Rapamycin Holdings, Inc.) in late 2012. Since that time, the company has launched eRapa-laced mouse chow products into the research market, completed second generation formulation development, completed numerous preclinical studies, obtained key patents, and completed a first-in-human Phase 1b clinical trial in low grade prostate cancer patients. Issued patents cover the novel formulation as a composition of matter, the manufacturing process for the formulation, and a variety of method of use patents covering our unique dosing and treatment regimens in multiple target disease indications.
Pipeline
The company completed a Phase 1 safety and dose escalation study in low grade prostate cancer patients in 2019. Phase 2 studies in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are underway.
Board of Directors
Bruce Barshop, JD
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Mr. Barshop is President and a Director of San Antonio, Texas-based Barshop Ventures, LLC, a diversified venture capital investment and portfolio investment management firm. He is also a Director of Barshop & Oles Company, Inc., a commercial real estate development and management company. Mr. Barshop has served on the Board of the Texas
Mr. Barshop is President and a Director of San Antonio, Texas-based Barshop Ventures, LLC, a diversified venture capital investment and portfolio investment management firm. He is also a Director of Barshop & Oles Company, Inc., a commercial real estate development and management company. Mr. Barshop has served on the Board of the Texas Life Science Center for Innovation and Commercialization and the Advisory Board of the University of Texas System’s Horizon Fund. He has been a member of the Development Board of the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Board of Revive Alameda. He currently serves on the Development Board of UT Health San Antonio, on the Board of Trustees of the Southwest School of Art and on the Finance Committee of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Mr. Barshop is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Texas School of Law and has studied at the London School of Economics. In 2017, he completed an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellowship at Harvard University.
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Randi Brosterman Hutchens is an Executive Coach focused on leadership development. She spent 26 years with Deloitte Consulting, including 15 years as a Strategy and Operations Principal (equity owner/ partner). Mrs. Hutchens is an independent board director engaged in governance of for-profit and not-for-profit companies. After Deloitt
Randi Brosterman Hutchens is an Executive Coach focused on leadership development. She spent 26 years with Deloitte Consulting, including 15 years as a Strategy and Operations Principal (equity owner/ partner). Mrs. Hutchens is an independent board director engaged in governance of for-profit and not-for-profit companies. After Deloitte Consulting, Randi embarked on a second career as an Executive Coach to C-suite and senior executives.
As part of Deloitte Consulting’s Financial Services Industry (FSI) practice, Mrs. Hutchens worked with domestic and international financial institutions in banking, securities, investment management, insurance, and credit ratings. Her focus at Deloitte was helping clients with business transformation and to achieve service operations excellence. She has led numerous client engagements including strategic design and execution, business process improvement, technology implementation and organizational change management. Mrs. Hutchens held a number of leadership roles within Deloitte, including National Financial Services Industry Leader of Deloitte’s mid-market Consulting practice as well as leadership roles within Deloitte’s Women’s Initiative and Deloitte’s Parents Community. In her leadership roles, she focused on attracting, retaining and developing top talent at Deloitte, and fostering an environment of inclusion that develops skills in networking, mentoring, work/life balance, and leadership development.
Stephen Dufilho, Chair
Randi Brosterman Hutchens, MBA
Stephen Dufilho, Chair
Mr. Dufilho is a Principal at Goldsmith, Fillis & Dufilho Capital Partners, LLC in San Antonio, Texas. Previously he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Trust Co., a San Antonio investment company with more than $1.2 billion in client assets. Before that he served as Chairman and CEO of BBVA Compass Bank, Managing Partner of
Mr. Dufilho is a Principal at Goldsmith, Fillis & Dufilho Capital Partners, LLC in San Antonio, Texas. Previously he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Trust Co., a San Antonio investment company with more than $1.2 billion in client assets. Before that he served as Chairman and CEO of BBVA Compass Bank, Managing Partner of Quincy Lee Interests, and Executive Vice President at Frost National Bank.
Mr. Dufilho serves as Chairman of the Board of Ascension Health, Alamo Public Television (incoming), Texas Research and Technology Foundation, Velocity Texas, and The Catholic Community Foundation; he also serves on the Board of Governors of the Mays Cancer Center (formerly Cancer Therapy Research Center). He formerly served as Chairman of the Board of the Children's Hospital of San Antonio Foundation and Saint Mary's University. Mr. Dufilho also serves as Chairman of the Board of Invictus Medical and M Capital Advisors.
John Feik
Randy Goldsmith, PhD
Stephen Dufilho, Chair
Mr. Feik is the founder and former chief operating officer of DFB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the parent company of DPT Laboratories Ltd., Phyton Biotech LLC., Coria Laboratories and Heatlthpoint Biotechnologies, Ltd. Under his leadership, DFB and its subsidiaries have grown from an entrepreneurial start-up company to an internationally reno
Mr. Feik is the founder and former chief operating officer of DFB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the parent company of DPT Laboratories Ltd., Phyton Biotech LLC., Coria Laboratories and Heatlthpoint Biotechnologies, Ltd. Under his leadership, DFB and its subsidiaries have grown from an entrepreneurial start-up company to an internationally renowned pharmaceutical and biotech company with annual sales exceeding $400 million. Mr. Feik attended the University of Texas at Arlington, majoring in chemistry before graduating with a finance degree.
He holds many civic leadership posts, including Board positions for the University of the Incarnate Word, Texas Research and Technology Foundation, StemBioSys Inc., Texas Biomedical Research Institute, South Texas Blood and Tissue, La Misiones and Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals. Mr. Feik and his wife Rita are supporters of many charitable and educational efforts including the founding of the John & Rita Feik School of Pharmacy at the University of the Incarnate Word and likewise underwrote the Rita & John Feik Distinguished Chair for Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Randy Goldsmith, PhD
Randy Goldsmith, PhD
Randy Goldsmith, PhD
Dr. Goldsmith is a serial entrepreneur and former President and Chief Executive Officer of The Texas Technology Development Center. He has served as the fund manager of the McDermott Pre-Seed Fund, the Oklahoma Technology Business Finance Program, the Emerging Ventures of Oklahoma Fund, and the Mississippi Technology Alliance Seed Fund.
Dr. Goldsmith is a serial entrepreneur and former President and Chief Executive Officer of The Texas Technology Development Center. He has served as the fund manager of the McDermott Pre-Seed Fund, the Oklahoma Technology Business Finance Program, the Emerging Ventures of Oklahoma Fund, and the Mississippi Technology Alliance Seed Fund. He is an internationally recognized leader in business incubation and emerging technology venture development.
He holds a Ph.D in Urban Planning and Tech-Based Economic Development from Texas A&M University.
Management Team
George Peoples, MD
George Peoples, MD
George Peoples, MD
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Dr. George Peoples is the founder and director of the Cancer Vaccine Development Program (CVDP), associated with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. He is the current CEO of Cancer Insight, LLC, Professor of Surgery at USUHS, and Professor (adjunct) of Surgical Oncology a
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Dr. George Peoples is the founder and director of the Cancer Vaccine Development Program (CVDP), associated with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. He is the current CEO of Cancer Insight, LLC, Professor of Surgery at USUHS, and Professor (adjunct) of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). He served as the past Chair of the Cancer Program, San Antonio Military Medical Center and the past Deputy Director of the United States Military Cancer Institute. He was the salutatorian graduate of the United States Military Academy and is a retired Army Colonel. Dr. Peoples is a graduate of Johns Hopkins Medical School, completed his surgical training at Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy at Harvard Medical School, and completed a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson. Dr. Peoples has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and manuscripts and 12 book chapters on cancer, immune therapy, and similar subjects. He holds 7 INDs, 4 of his immunotherapies are in active commercial development, and he is the named inventor on dozens of patents in the field of immunotherapy.
Mark Horsey, MBA
George Peoples, MD
George Peoples, MD
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Horsey has more than 20 years of broad international and domestic experience building financial and operational infrastructure for multi-national corporations in the biotech, information technology, and retail fields. He was formerly the Finance Director for Genzyme’s Multiple Sclerosis and Oncology Business Un
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Horsey has more than 20 years of broad international and domestic experience building financial and operational infrastructure for multi-national corporations in the biotech, information technology, and retail fields. He was formerly the Finance Director for Genzyme’s Multiple Sclerosis and Oncology Business Units and Controller for Dell Computer Company’s $14B North American Consumer Business Unit. Mr. Horsey has extensive knowledge of start-up finance and operational strategy.
Shannon Kingman, MBA
Shannon Kingman, MBA
Shannon Kingman, MBA
VICE PRESIDENT OF
PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
Ms. Kingman has over 10 years of experience in strategy, operations, analytics, and business development in the healthcare and life sciences industries. She was formerly Director of Strategy for Texas Health Resources hospital system, where she led numerous efforts to identify and analyze strateg
VICE PRESIDENT OF
PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
Ms. Kingman has over 10 years of experience in strategy, operations, analytics, and business development in the healthcare and life sciences industries. She was formerly Director of Strategy for Texas Health Resources hospital system, where she led numerous efforts to identify and analyze strategic growth opportunities for the network of over 20 hospitals. She previously worked as a management consultant within Accenture’s healthcare division, where she served clients in the life sciences, hospital, and payer industries.
Leon LeVan, PhD
Shannon Kingman, MBA
Shannon Kingman, MBA
PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
Dr. LeVan has over 25 years of pharmaceutical development experience in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (“CMC”) and in drug metabolism. He was the former Director of Process Development at Genzyme Corporation supporting Genzyme’s oncology products. He held previous positions at Bone Care International, Inc.
PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
Dr. LeVan has over 25 years of pharmaceutical development experience in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (“CMC”) and in drug metabolism. He was the former Director of Process Development at Genzyme Corporation supporting Genzyme’s oncology products. He held previous positions at Bone Care International, Inc. (acquired by Genzyme) and Hazleton Laboratories (now Covance). Dr. LeVan participated in the preparation of two successful NDAs and several sNDAs and INDs.
Advisors
Ian Thompson Jr., MD
Ian Thompson Jr., MD
Ian Thompson Jr., MD
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Thompson is the President of Christus Santa Rosa Hospital and former Director of the UT Health San Antonio Cancer Therapy & Research Center. Dr. Thompson is a urologic oncologist who specializes in prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate and other urologic cancers, including cancers of the kidney, bladd
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Thompson is the President of Christus Santa Rosa Hospital and former Director of the UT Health San Antonio Cancer Therapy & Research Center. Dr. Thompson is a urologic oncologist who specializes in prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate and other urologic cancers, including cancers of the kidney, bladder and testis. He is a trustee of the American Board of Urology, chairman of the Early Detection Research Network of the National Cancer Institute, and chair of the Genitourinary Cancer Committee of the Southwest Oncology Group, one of the largest cancer treatment trial organizations in the world.
Will Quirk, JD
Ian Thompson Jr., MD
Ian Thompson Jr., MD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
Mr. Quirk is a partner and the head of the Intellectual Property Group at Rosenthal Pauerstein Sandoloski Agather LLP, Attorneys at Law. Prior to joining Rosenthal Pauerstein, Mr. Quirk worked at Kinetic Concepts where he served as Associate General Counsel, Chief I.P. Counsel and Director, Regulatory Affairs.
Z. Dave Sharp, PhD
J. Randy Strong, PhD
J. Randy Strong, PhD
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr. Sharp is a professor of molecular medicine and researcher at Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio. His research focuses on cancer and aging and the role played by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling system. Along with Dr. Randy Strong, he led the foundational
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr. Sharp is a professor of molecular medicine and researcher at Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio. His research focuses on cancer and aging and the role played by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling system. Along with Dr. Randy Strong, he led the foundational research on eRapa™ and its impact on longevity in mice. Dr. Sharp holds a PhD in Cell Biology and Human Anatomy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
J. Randy Strong, PhD
J. Randy Strong, PhD
J. Randy Strong, PhD
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr. Strong is a professor of pharmacology and researcher at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio. He invented eRapa™ in 2009 and, together with Dr. Dave Sharp, has led a number of studies to uncover the impact of eRapa™ on cancer, aging, immunology, and a variety of other indica
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr. Strong is a professor of pharmacology and researcher at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at UT Health San Antonio. He invented eRapa™ in 2009 and, together with Dr. Dave Sharp, has led a number of studies to uncover the impact of eRapa™ on cancer, aging, immunology, and a variety of other indications. Dr. Strong holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas at Houston.