ABOUT US
Palladio Biosciences, Inc., a private, venture capital-backed biotech company, was founded in 2015 to develop transformative medicines for orphan diseases of the kidney.
Our first product, lixivaptan, is in Phase 3 development for the treatment of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is one of the most common, life-threatening genetic diseases. PKD causes numerous fluid-filled cysts to grow in both kidneys. It is a life-limiting, chronic and progressive disease. PKD is the 4th leading cause of kidney failure and carries a significant financial and emotional burden, affecting entire families.
There is no cure for PKD. We are developing lixivaptan to address the continuing unmet needs of patients, as a safe and effective agent to be used chronically to prevent the progression of PKD.
We are supported by a strong, diverse group of venture investors. In September 2020, we completed a $20 million Series B financing led by new investor Samsara BioCapital with participation from new investor Roche Venture Funds and existing investors Medicxi and Osage University Partners. Proceeds from the financing are earmarked to support our Phase 3 ALERT Study and to advance operations. A Series A venture round led by Medicxi in late 2016 allowed us to acquire lixivaptan, establish a team and lay a foundation for clinical development.
Management

Alex Martin

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Ph.D.
Lorenzo received a Laurea in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from the University of Padova, Italy; a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main, Germany; and an M.B.A. with honors from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Marella Thorell

Linda C. Hogan
She was most recently an officer and Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, prior to its acquisition by Eli Lilly. As Executive in Residence at Care Capital, a venture capital firm, Linda sourced and evaluated potential investment opportunities, assisting with the startup of several portfolio companies. In 2006, she formed LLH Associates, LLC, a consulting firm which provides business development and strategic transaction support to clients. During her 20 years with Aventis and its predecessor companies, Linda served in various roles of increasing responsibility in diverse functional areas, becoming Vice President, Global Business Development for Aventis.
Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Linda was Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Director of Drug Information Services for the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy and Kansas University Medical Center. Linda continued as Adjunct Associate Professor Pharmacy Practice and served on the KU School of Pharmacy Advisory Council.
Professional awards include the TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) Award and the Donald E. Francke Award from the Drug Information Association. Linda received BS and MS degrees in Pharmacy and Hospital Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Rockhurst College.
Linda is a Life Sciences Council Member of Springboard Enterprises and active with the Licensing Executives Society.

Neil H. Shusterman, MD
Prior to joining Palladio Biosciences, Neil worked at Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he was the Chief Medical Officer with responsibility for 5 departments – Clinical Development and Operations, Medical Affairs, Drug Safety, Biometrics, and Scientific Communications; at Forest Laboratories, Inc., where he was Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Forest Research Institute with responsibilities for Phase II – IV clinical development for five therapeutic areas – Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Gastrointestinal/Metabolism, Psychiatry, and Neurology; and at SmithKline Beecham (subsequently GlaxoSmithKline), where he advanced to Vice President, Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area, North American Medical Affairs, Research and Development with worldwide responsibilities for all Phase II – IV cardiovascular drug development. During his tenure at SmithKline Beecham, Neil led the worldwide pivotal efficacy studies and regulatory filing for Coreg (carvedilol), the first beta-blocker approved for the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF). That approval led to a paradigm-shift in the treatment of CHF, resulting in reduced morbidity and mortality in this devastating condition. In addition, Neil led several large cardiovascular morbidity and mortality studies that recruited 20,000 patients combined at hundreds of sites on 3 continents.
Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Neil practiced nephrology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA where he was Assistant Professor of Medicine and directed a large outpatient dialysis program. Neil has published and presented widely on topics in renal medicine, cardiovascular therapeutics, and drug development. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and his M.D. from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
Board of Directors

Alex Martin

Francesco DeRubertis, Ph.D.
Francesco’s prior investments include CellZome (acquired by GlaxoSmithKline), GenMab (Copenhagen: GEN.CO), GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT), Micromet (acquired by Amgen), Minerva Neurosciences (NASDAQ:NERV), Molecular Partners (Swiss: MOLN.SW), PanGenetics (acquired by Abbott), Parallele Biosciences (acquired by Affymetrix), Profibrix (acquired by the Medicines Company), and Versartis (NASDAQ:VSAR).
Francesco received a BA in Genetics and Microbology from the University of Pavia and a PhD Molecular Biology from the University of Geneva. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Whitehead Institute at MIT and is a CFA Charterholder. Francesco also serves on the strategic advisory board of the University of Geneva.

Frank Condella
Mr. Condella earned an MBA from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business and a BS in Pharmacy from Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Ph.D.
Lorenzo received a Laurea in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from the University of Padova, Italy; a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main, Germany; and an M.B.A. with honors from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Michèle Ollier, MD
Michèle currently serves on the board of directors of Ipsen Pharmaceuticals (Euronext:IPN) and sits on the investment committees of the accelerator and technology transfer companies of Paris-Saclay and France-Nord.
Michèle completed her medical studies in France at Paris Ouest University.

Sanford (Sandy) Zweifach
Sandy brings to Palladio over 25 years’ experience in senior executive roles in the life sciences industry, with a focus in corporate partnering, business development, operations, private and public investing, and capital raising. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nuvelution Pharma, Inc. Previously, Mr. Zweifach was the Co-founder and CEO of Ascendancy Healthcare, Inc. He has also been a Partner at Reedland Capital Partners, CEO of Pathways Diagnostics, Managing Director and CFO of Bay City Capital, and President and CFO of Epoch Biosciences, which was acquired by Nanogen.
Sandy currently serves as the Chair of IMIDomics SL and Non-Executive Board Member of Compugen, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGEN) and Realm Therapeutics, Inc. He received his BA in Biology from UC San Diego and an MS in Human Physiology from UC Davis.

Adam McNulty

Carole Nuechterlein

Matt Cohen
