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Pramana

Test Tubes

Meet the team

 We founded Pramana with the vision to enable a scientific team with decades of senior pharma experience and a proven track record of success in bringing meaningful benefit to millions of patients.  Our team has discovered and contributed to approved drugs; Byetta, Lorcaserin, Mylortaag, Symlin, Epivir, Zeffix, Bosulif, Wellbutrin, Valtrex, Retapamulin, Vyvanse, Adderall, Lialda, delayed release Metformin (Phase 3), Velsipity, Navacaprant (Phase 3).   Pramana's Novel Small Molecule Platform drives a new mechanism of action.....and we are driven by the opportunity that presents for the next wave of impactful therapeutics.

Mark L. Heiman

Over 20+ years at Eli Lilly & Co where he served as researcher and Chief Scientific Officer of Obesity Drug Discovery. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  Mark is a Fellow of the Obesity Society and has served on the SAB of Helmholtz Alliance for Imaging and Curing Environmental Metabolic Diseases (ICEMED) in Munich, Germany. He has served on the editorial boards of Endocrinology, Molecular Metabolism, and J of Hepatology & Gastroenterology.

Dr. Heiman received his Ph.D. in Physiology from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. His postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology was at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty of Medicine at Tulane University where he co-discovered the drug Lanreotide before joining Lilly. Mark has authored over 100 scientific papers and is best known for his seminal work performed at Lilly, which defined the key roles for both leptin and ghrelin in regulating energy balance.

Ph.D

Susan Hu

Over 25 years of global pharmaceutical experience spanning research, development, manufacturing, technical operations, portfolio management, and commercial. Senior executive positions at GlaxoSmithKline, Shire Pharmaceuticals.

Most recently Susan held the position of Global head of Manufacturing, Science and Technology at AstraZeneca.

Ph.D

David Kwok

David founded BRI (Biopharmaceutical Research Inc) in 1991, which was recently acquired by Frontage Laboratories Inc. Prior to this, Dr. Kwok served in a variety of senior scientific and management roles at Health Canada from 1991 to 1998. David has led over 100 IND enabling programs with deep expertise in microbiomes. Dr. Kwok received his education at the University of British Columbia, a B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, an M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry, and a Ph.D. Pharm in Bioanalysis & DM/PK.

B.SC. (PHARM), M.SC., Ph.D.

Jean Pierre

Over 35 years of experience in management of pre-clinical research projects in the field of toxicology, pharmacology and drug metabolism Since 2007, Jean Pierre has acted as a private consultant to support IND enabling programs for numerous start-ups and  

emerging biopharmaceuticals including recently acquired Inversago Pharma, Bellus Health and Locemia Solutions (Baqsimi).  He has contributed to pharmaceutical asset valorization in Canada, US and Europe.

DEC, RLAT(R)

Phillip E.M Crooker

25+ years of Drug development and regulatory counsel expertise within the pharmaceutical industry.  Phillip most recently served as staff counsel at the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Phillip held senior regulatory counsel positions at global multinationals, AstraZeneca, JNJ and Shire.  Phillip provides legal expertise through the regulatory complexities during all stages of product development including the marketing application process through to commercialization and lifecycle management. 

Esquire

Diane Alexander

Over 25 years of senior Investment advisory and capital markets experience. Consistent Chairman's Club member achieving highest transaction status participating or leading over $250 million in financing. Serial entrepreneur.

CEO & Co-Founder

Bryan Henry

Over 25 years senior investment advisory and capital market specialist. Led or co lead over $250 million in financing at Canaccord Genuity and PI Financial. Serial Entrepreneur.

Co-Founder

Tom Elliott

Dr. Tom Elliott obtained his medical degree (MBBS) in 1982 from the University of Queensland, Australia. In 1985, he moved to Canada, where he completed his core specialist internal medicine training at the University of British Columbia (UBC). From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Elliott took advanced training in diabetes at the University of London, UK. In 1991, he obtained sub specialist certification in Endocrinology & Metabolism (including diabetes) from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC). Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been a faculty member at UBC, where his current rank is Clinical Associate Professor. He was Co-Director of Undergraduate Medical Education for the UBC Division of Endocrinology from 1992 to 2012, and chaired the Endocrinology & Metabolism Society of BC, the professional body representing all BC endocrinologists and diabetes specialists, from 2008 to 2012.Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been on the active medical staff at Vancouver General Hospital. BC Diabetes was founded by Dr. Elliott in 2007, its mission to optimize control and improve outcomes for the 300,000+ British Columbians living with diabetes. Dr. Elliott is Medical Director of BCDiabetes between braces a case management model & overseeing a staff of 18. He is passionate about everything diabetes-related but most of all technology & advocacy. He has authored 73 scientific papers and is actively engaged in 15 ongoing research projects targeting early intervention in Type 1 diabetes, DIY artificial pancreas systems, smart systems in diabetes management, continuous quality improvement and investigational new drugs for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

MBBS, FRCPC

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