We are led by experienced executives:
LEADERSHIP
Michael Ruff, PhD
Founder, President, and CEO
From a start at the National Institutes of Health as an immunologist and virologist, Michael’s commitment has been to create and bring to patients safe treatments for neurodegenerative conditions. The focus of that research is to advance disease-modifying medicines to reverse the neuroinflammatory causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, as well as chronic pain and opioid use disorders. Michael previously served as the Chief Scientific Officer of RAPID Pharmaceuticals, AG and was an Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University Medical School. He has authored numerous scientific articles on the Company’s therapeutic peptides, and has an international reputation in the areas of peptide drug design and innate immune-modifying peptides that re-balance inflammation toward repair and regeneration.
Michael Simon
Chief Business Officer
Michael is a serial entrepreneur that has been a member of 5 pre-IPO companies of which 4 have had positive exits. He co-founded 3 technology companies serving in C-Level capacities. Prior to joining Creative Bio-Peptides, Michael was a certified mentor and advisor to emerging Biotech and technology firms.
ADVISORS
Gary Jay, MD, FAAPN
Medical Advisor
Gary is a Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has worked with Pfizer as the first Clinical Disease Area Expert- Pain. He has been Chief Medical Officer in several pharmaceutical companies and biotech’s as well as a CRO, bringing one drug through the FDA. Prior to that, while running an Interdisciplinary Pain and NeuroRehab Center, he has done research for Glaxo, Elan, Merck, Allergan, McNeil Pharmaceuticals and Sandoz. He was one of the founders of the American Academy of Algology (then Pain Medicine) in 1983 and the American Academy of Pain Management in 1988.
Irene Tennant, MS
Regulatory Advisor
Irene will guide clinical development and regulatory affairs across Creative Bio-Peptides (CBP). Prior to joining CBP, Irene was Vice President of Clinical Development and Regulatory at an emerging cell and gene therapy company where she led the planning and implementation of clinical strategy as well as regulatory submissions to the FDA and EMA. Irene began her industry career in pharmaceuticals at Hoffman La-Roche in the pre-clinical research group in infectious diseases. She later crossed over to clinical work and was responsible for driving clinical activities for several pivotal projects at Pfizer Oncology and Novartis AG in Switzerland. Irene has also spent several years in biotherapeutics where she led early stage products to clinical application and studies to IND and BLA filings. Irene completed her BA degree at Cornell University and received her graduate degree from New York University in neurobiology.
Henry Haigler, PhD
Neuropharmacology Advisor
Dr. Haigler is an expert in the research and development of drugs to treat pain, neurological disorders and disabilities (e.g., memory disorders, stroke). He was on the faculty at Yale and an Associate Professor at Emory University Medical School, where he served as Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Pharmacology. In the bio-pharmaceutical industry (G.D. Searle) he directed the research for discovering and developing analgesic drugs and drugs for treating age related memory disorders. At the NIMH he served as Associate Director of Medications Development in the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA), and as a Scientific Review Officer (SRO), managing committees to evaluate grants and contracts over a broad range of areas including mental disorders of aging, neuroscience, AIDS and the therapeutic efficacy of psychotropic drugs.
José de Chastonay, PhD
Peptide Manufacturing Advisor
José has served in multiple C-Level positions in the life sciences and healthcare sector for well over 20 years as CEO, CMO, and COO. Most recently (2012-2017) José has served as the Chief Marketing Officer and Member of the Executive Committee of Bachem Holding AG, the global leader in peptide manufacture. Previously José served as CEO of Irvine Scientific and was the Managing Director of Wombat Capital’s LA office, a cross-border investment banking and strategic advisory firm. Prior to joining Bachem, Dr. de Chastonay worked as International Product Lines Manager for Roche Diagnostics in Basel and as Assistant Director of Biotechnology at Ares Serono SA. There, he established the process for human growth hormone manufacturing . José will provide guidance on global peptide scale up manufacturing and regulatory affairs related to peptide manufacturing.
