Inovio Pharmaceuticals promotes Niranjan Sardesai

From senior vp of r&d to chief operating officer

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, a US developer of synthetic vaccines, has promoted Niranjan Sardesai from senior vice president of research and development to chief operating officer. In his expanded role, Sardesai will be responsible for corporate and business development in addition to continuing to oversee research and development.

The US developer of vaccines has also announced the retirement of Kevin Rassas, former senior vice president of business development.

Sardesai has broad operating and consulting experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He joined VGX Pharmaceuticals as vp of research and development in 2006, was promoted to svp r&d in 2007 and, with the merger of VGX with Inovio in June 2009, became svp research & development of the merged company.

Sardesai is responsible for leading the company's product development programmes in infectious disease and cancer vaccines and vaccine delivery systems. He has secured more than US$30m in funding through government and NGO grants/contracts. Under his leadership the company has advanced vaccine programmes for cervical dysplasia, HIV, and influenza that are now in Phase I/II clinical studies. He currently serves as principal investigator on an NIAID funded HVDDT contract for the development of HIV vaccines and an MVI-PATH funded programme for the development of malaria vaccines.

Prior to VGX, Sardesai was founder and president of NVision Consulting Inc, a consultancy firm focused on entrepreneurial life sciences companies, and he served as director of r&d at Fujirebio Diagnostics.

You may also like

You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Pharmaceutical

Zika outbreak gives rise to global fears

Zika may not be a new virus but its newly confirmed ability to cause foetal brain abnormalities makes the search for a treatment or a vaccine a high priority. Dr Sarah Houlton looks at the latest initiatives
Drug Delivery

Inovio to buy needle-free injection technology from Bioject Medical Technologies for US$5.5m

Non-invasive integrated injection and electroporation device could enhance mass immunisation against infectious diseases
Drug Delivery

Inovio and US army receive US$3.5m grant

To continue development of a mass vaccination device using electroporation technology
Pharmaceutical

Inovio takes first step towards pandemic flu prevention

Receives US patent protection for universal flu vaccine INO-3510
Drug Delivery

Scientists begin patient trials of DNA vaccine for cancer

Researchers hope to recruit 180 patients to the two-year trial
Manufacturing

WLS introduces PR-12 and PR-24 plunger rod insertion and labelling systems

By improving reliability and streamlining production, the PR-12 and PR-24 help pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract packers protect product quality and reduce waste while maximising operational efficiencies
Pharmaceutical

Azelis strengthens its footprint in Italy with the acquisition of Azienda Chimica e Farmaceutica (‘ACEF’)

Azelis is pleased to announce that it has acquired 100% of the shares of Azienda Chimica e Farmaceutica (‘ACEF’), a distributor of speciality raw materials and ingredients for the cosmetic, nutraceutical, galenic and pharma industries in Italy
Subscribe now