Comanche Biopharma was founded by an experienced group of physicians, researchers, biologists, chemists, ethicists, and pharmaceutical professionals determined to tackle the problem of preeclampsia.
We recognize the challenge of drug development for mothers and babies and are committed to the women and their families who have been disproportionately underserved by the drug industry for decades.
Comanche believes every mother has the right to choose evidence-based therapies that have been appropriately studied to determine their risk:benefit and solve life-threatening conditions of pregnancy.
Our Inspiration
The company is named in honor and appreciation of the innovations achieved by the Numunuu people which allowed them to become a global power on the North American continent for over two hundred years.
In particular, these American Indians controlled an empire encompassing much of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico (referred to as Comancheria, hence the name Comanche).
Their adoption of the horse as a disruptive technology along with innovations in animal husbandry, training and utilization reshaped worldwide politics, economics, markets, and cultures.
We are inspired by this example of purposeful innovation and recognize that new technologies alone are not enough to affect meaningful change.
Our Company Values
Quality
Demonstrating that we care greatly throughout all we do
Trust
Continually building competency, consistency, transparency, mutuality
Beneficence
Duty to help others
Non-malfeasance
Intent to do no harm
Scientific method
A process for ensuring the integrity of our work
Kindness
Respect for others by listening and acting with empathy
Leadership
‘How’ is as important as ‘what’ and more important than ‘who’
Fair and equal access globally
Delivering therapies that create measurable value for society, are cost-effective, and accessible
Meaning of the 3 Layers
Our goal is to design development and commercialization processes that create affordable solutions that solve real needs and in the process deliver meaningful value to society that is measurable.
Comanche Biopharma is committed to the ethical representation of all people of color and economic status in our clinical development programs.
We prioritize ensuring access to our solutions by those who need them most.
Our Team
Scott holds a B.S. in chemistry (Phi Beta Kappa) and an M.D. (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the University of Alabama. His academic career included faculty positions at Harvard Medical School, the University of Colorado Medical School, and the University of South Alabama. He has been Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Disorders Medicine. He currently is a Board member at Atalanta Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the application of RNA interference to diseases of neurodegeneration.
Previous to Comanche, Allison was Vice President of Clinical Development, Infectious Diseases at Moderna and spent over five years in various roles with increasing responsibility for the development of mRNA-based vaccines and the first mRNA-encoded monoclonal antibody. Allison has led multidisciplinary teams on the successful execution of clinical programs from Phase 1 through Phase 3, including serving as the clinical lead for the Phase 3 pivotal efficacy trial for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
During her tenure at Moderna, she was the clinical lead responsible for advancing several vaccines including RSV, hMPV-PIV, Zika and Chikungunya and led the Medical Affairs team for CMV and other latent virus vaccines. Prior to Moderna, Allison headed the global clinical team for the RSV maternal immunization vaccine program at Novavax. Prior to Novavax, Allison worked in translational medicine, early and exploratory clinical development, and Phase 1 through Phase 3 vaccine trials, including maternal immunization, for Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.
Before moving to the biopharma industry, Allison was an academic and private practice obstetrician-gynecologist. Her academic career included faculty positions at the Brown University Medical School and adjunctive faculty at the Harvard Medical School affiliated hospitals. Allison holds a B.A. in the History of Religion from Bryn Mawr College and an M.D. from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. She was Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology after completing her residency training at Brown University.
Belen combines a solid bioengineering background with extensive expertise in life sciences strategy, having executed numerous deals, corporate initiatives, competitive intelligence and market entry strategies during her tenure at McKinsey & Company and ISDIN. She has served as advisor in the creation of new drug and diagnostic ventures at Harvard Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator, at Boston Children’s Hospital, and as Leader of MIT’s Healthcare Entrepreneurship Sector.
She holds a B.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Salamanca, and an MBA and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she focused on new business models for rare disease therapies.
Previously, Mr. Antinori was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of The Medicines Company, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company. During his tenure, the company grew from $15 million in revenue generated from one product in one country to over $700 million from multiple products sold globally.
Prior to The Medicines Company, Mr. Antinori was General Counsel at Physician Computer Network, Inc., a publicly traded healthcare information technology company. Prior to his in-house positions, Mr. Antinori was a partner at the Gibbons law firm in Newark, NJ and, before Gibbons, at other major law firms in New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Antinori received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. from Boston College (Summa Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa).
Michael has worked as a designer at startups and at a large consulting firm, using his designs and innovation to help companies secure multimillion-dollar contracts and connect with their audiences.
Michael also has a background in IT, marketing, and sales, all of which inform his designs and awareness of user interface and experience. He attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Mandy's fundamental belief is that a robust Quality Culture begins and ends with the People and an uncompromising focus on patient health. An effective Quality program must be founded upon a combination of applicable technical expertise, a passion for innovation & compassion for the patients in need. Mandy holds a MS Degree in Leadership from Northeastern University, a Bachelor's degree in Biology from UMASS and Post Grad professional certifications Six Sigma Lean, Risk Management & Data Analytics from Stanford University & MIT.
Michael received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington, MS in Life Science: Biotechnology from Harvard University, and MBA from Harvard Business School. At Harvard, he focused on investing and entrepreneurship within life sciences and healthcare.
Dr. Motheram has 27 years of diversified professional experience in pharmaceutical R&D in various aspects of pharmaceutical development ranging from development of early phase clinical products to commercial dosage forms, scale-up and technology transfer. Dr. Motheram has extensive CMC expertise in both small and large molecules leading to the development of several commercial products in a range of therapeutic areas including HIV, Oncology, Cardiovascular, Anti-infective and Critical Care medicine.
Dr. Motheram’s Ph.D. dissertation work involved characterizing the adsorption of proteins at solid/liquid interfaces and the structural changes of adsorbed proteins. His research interests include design, development, and optimization of oral and parenteral dosage formulations, and designing novel drug delivery systems for small molecules as well as biologics. Dr. Motheram is a co-inventor on patents concerning novel pharmaceutical compositions and co-authored manuscripts published in peer reviewed journals.
Prior to joining Comanche, Kat was instrumental at Arcturus Therapeutics, leading the pivotal trial in Vietnam that resulted in the world's first approval of a Self-Amplifying RNA (SA-RNA) COVID vaccine. This achievement underscores her skill in navigating the complexities of clinical trial management and her ability to drive groundbreaking advancements in medicine.
Before her time at Arcturus, Kat managed an international Phase 3 study on Lupus and was responsible for the recruitment and enrollment strategies of the PRESERVE-1 study, focusing on Preterm Preeclampsia subjects in the United States. Her efforts in these roles highlight her expertise in managing large-scale clinical trials and her commitment to advancing research in areas of significant unmet medical need.
Kat holds an M.Sc. in Regulatory Affairs from Northeastern University and a B.S. in Biology from Keene State College. Her educational background, combined with her extensive experience in leading complex clinical trials, particularly in challenging recruitment environments, positions her as a key leader within Comanche Biopharma.
Prior to joining Comanche Biopharma, Gina served as Content Manager at The Medicines Company, where she managed medical information, Continuing Medical Education (CME) grants, and Medical Society grants, while also overseeing the company’s digital library and literature resources. In this role, she streamlined content management processes and contributed to the successful execution of numerous grants and educational initiatives. Gina’s experience also includes the position of Expanded Access Operations Manager, Medical Affairs, at GlaxoSmithKline, where she supported the compassionate use and global distribution of oncology drugs.
Our Scientific Advisory Board
Prior to UMass Chan Medical School, Dr. Khvorova spent 12 years in industry in different executive positions. She has co-founded several biotechnology companies.
Dr. Khvorova is named as inventor on more than 150 patents and 300 patent applications and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including seminal articles in Cell, Nature, and Nature Biotechnology, defining the field of RNAi drug design and development. She has served as a director of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society and currently is Director-at-Large and Scientific & Research Council Chair of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.
In his role as Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Thadhani oversees a ~$1.8B research enterprise, graduate medical education, and continuing professional development for Mass General Brigham. Dr. Thadhani is a member of the Mass General Brigham executive leadership team under the direction of Anne Klibanski, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Thadhani works with senior leadership across the Mass General Brigham system on a number of system strategic initiatives.
Dr. Thadhani also managed a successful research laboratory for approximately 25 years with continuous federal funding and employing data managers, operations directors, statisticians, nurses, research assistants, and laboratorians. He has published more than 300 manuscripts, including in the top Medical and Nephrology journals – New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Dr. Thadhani has been inducted to several honor societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Epidemiological Society, and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He has also received several distinguished national awards, including the Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School – the highest award for Fostering Diversity at Harvard Medical School; Alumni Award from the Harvard School of Public Health – a significant achievement, and the John P. Peters Award from the American Society of Nephrology – for Mentorship and Scientific Achievements.
Our Patient Advisory Board
Prior to that role, Kalah spent time on Capitol Hill as the FDA detailee to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, working on the 21st Century Cures Act and other FDA-related legislation. She has also served in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) as a regulatory counsel in the Office of Regulatory Policy, and as Director of CDER’s Office of Unapproved Drugs and Labeling Compliance in the Office of Compliance, leading a team of more than 50 staff working on pharmacy compounding, unapproved drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and other enforcement issues.
Before joining the FDA, Kalah was an associate at the law firm Foley Hoag LLP, in the firm’s health care practice group.
As an Executive Vice President at Greenleaf, Kalah is continuing her commitment to public health by providing strategic counsel to clients on compliance, enforcement, and policy matters. Kalah counsels clients across a range of product sectors and is knowledgeable about multiple areas of FDA regulation, including drugs, compounding, unapproved drugs, diagnostics, digital health, cosmetics, and cell and gene therapy.
Kalah holds a B.A. with honors from Williams College, a J.D. with honors from Georgetown University Law Center, and an M.P.H. from Harvard University.
Utilizing the reach of the internet and social media to provide support and information, one of EndPreeclampsia’s programs, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia & HELLP Syndrome Survivors Global Support Network, has grown to over 37,000 members in 115 countries. This volunteer-run, evidence-based online community gains 1,000 new members per month seeking support and information about pregnancy health. Another program, Butterfly Brigade, is a group of women with lived maternal health complication experience who visit hospitalized antepartum mothers experiencing complications and extended hospital stays to deliver support and essential personal care supplies.
Kara is also a Patient Advisor for several organizations and research studies, including the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the Iowa Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, and a member of several other state PQC’s. She runs an independent forum for patient advocates of PQCs to streamline communication, share ideas, and engage people in advocacy and advisory work. She is the Patient Advisor for the $10 Million HRSA Grant partnership between the University of Iowa Health Care and the Iowa Department of Public Health to improve maternal outcomes and a Stakeholder Advisory Board member of the Institute of Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa.
Kara was the HOPE Award Recipient for Maternal Health Volunteer of the Year in 2009 and the Champions for Change Maternal Health Champion of the Year award recipient in 2019. She has led charitable giving initiatives raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Maternal Health causes.
Prior to becoming a parent, Monica served as a dedicated school librarian for 15 years. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Library Science from Texas Woman's University, reflecting her passion for learning and literature. Today, Monica has embraced the role of stay-at-home mom, cherishing the moments spent nurturing her growing family.
Monica's introduction to motherhood was marked by adversity when she faced severe preeclampsia just 25 weeks into her first pregnancy. This traumatic experience resulted in the heartbreaking loss of her son, Roman, and a 110-day NICU journey for her daughter, Amelia.
As a member of the patient advisory board Monica channels her personal journey with preeclampsia and loss into advocacy, focusing on reshaping doctor/patient interactions following a preeclampsia diagnosis. By offering her insight and sharing the story of her own traumatic experience, she aims to contribute to the development of more empathetic and supportive healthcare practices.
Driven by her own experiences and belief in the power of information, Monica is deeply motivated to raise awareness of preeclampsia and empower expectant parents to advocate for their health. Additionally, she is committed to providing support for parents navigating the challenging journey of infant loss, offering understanding and comfort during what can often be a very isolating experience.
Monica dreams of a future where preeclampsia is preventable and where every parent can grow their families with confidence and hope.
With over 10 years of childcare and birthwork experience, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and believes all families should have access to evidence-based information and resources about birth and parenthood. She is a valuable resource and is committed to collaborating with community members and practitioners to compile much-needed resources for families. Nicole wants families to feel excited and empowered about this life-changing event. Having a village is essential to positive maternal and infant mortality rates, and parents should have access to the providers, services, and support groups that will help them along their journey. Nicole is a member of Chicago Birthworks Collective, Breastfeed Chicago board member and Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants board member. She is currently the Birth Outcomes Made Better (BOMB) Doula Program Manager at the City of Milwaukee Health Department.
Dr. Moore’s research at UMMS and HHMI encompassed a broad array of topics related to the role of RNA and RNA-protein (RNP) complexes in gene expression. She is particularly known for her mechanistic and structural analyses of spliceosomes and mRNPs, co-discovery of the exon junction complex (EJC), and studies of intracellular RNA transport and quality control pathways. She was also instrumental in developing multiple enabling technologies for the field, including methods for introducing site-specific modifications into long RNA molecules and single molecule methods for observing the dynamics of RNP complex assembly and disassembly. At Moderna Therapeutics, Moore directs research into novel delivery mechanisms for therapeutic mRNAs and how to increase their functional and longevity.
I am a two-time survivor of HELLP/Preeclampsia. My daughter, Sabrina, was delivered via emergency c-section at 27 weeks due to HELLP Syndrome. Thankfully my second pregnancy lasted 34 weeks until symptoms were presented and my son, Dante, was delivered healthy.
Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Candice has dedicated herself to improving the lives and outcomes of Black mothers and infants. Recognized as a tireless champion of maternal health, she confronts the systemic racial disparities that contribute to alarming rates of maternal mortality and morbidity within the Black community.
Profound challenges have marked Candice's journey through motherhood. As a survivor of postpartum depression, she intimately understands the mental health struggles that many mothers face. Additionally, Candice has overcome the life-threatening complications of preeclampsia and post-delivery hemorrhages, not once but twice. These harrowing experiences have fueled her advocacy work, driving her to advocate fiercely for comprehensive maternal healthcare that prioritizes the well-being of all mothers.
With an unwavering commitment to her cause, Candice has emerged as a highly respected leader in the field of maternal health. Her profound understanding of the multifaceted challenges facing Black mothers and families has fueled her advocacy efforts. Through her work, she strives to advance research and policy initiatives aimed at rectifying disparities and enhancing maternal health outcomes for Black women.
In addition to her advocacy endeavors, Candice is deeply invested in education and mentorship. She endeavors to empower the next generation of maternal health advocates and leaders, sharing her expertise and insights as a passionate educator and mentor. Candice is a sought-after speaker, leveraging her lived experiences to inspire and enlighten diverse audiences of health professionals, policymakers, and advocates.
Collaboration lies at the heart of Candice's approach to advocacy. She actively engages with a diverse array of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers. Together, they work to develop innovative solutions that address the root causes of maternal health disparities, fostering equity and justice for all mothers and families.
Candice stands as a beacon of leadership and inspiration in the field of maternal health advocacy. Her unwavering dedication and visionary leadership are driving forces behind her mission to create a brighter and more equitable future for all mothers and infants. In 2021, she welcomed her son, Grayson, further igniting her passion and commitment to ensuring that every mother receives the care and support they need to thrive. In her free time, Candice finds solace in traveling with Grayson, indulging in crafting activities, and cherishing moments with her family. These personal experiences enrich her advocacy work, providing her with a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of motherhood and fueling her determination to create positive change in the world.
Nasia is not only a successful professional but also a dedicated mother, raising a beautiful family of six alongside her fiancé. Together, they have four energetic boys and a playful soon-to-be one-year-old mini/ doodle dog, all of whom she adores deeply.
Having faced the challenges of preeclampsia during three pregnancies, Nasia knows firsthand the immense impact this condition can have on a family. She is now committed to sharing her heartfelt story with others, both to educate and to help individuals plan a life that fights against the odds of being diagnosed with
preeclampsia.
As a member of the patient advisory board, Nasia brings valuable insights from her personal experiences, as well as her exceptional skills in organization and communication. Her passion for connecting people and her determination to make a difference will undoubtedly contribute to Comanche’s mission of raising awareness and improving outcomes for those affected by preeclampsia.
Valerie lives in Indianapolis with her husband of 27 years, and they have twin daughters who are in their sophomore year at the University of Alabama. She began to show signs of preeclampsia at 28 weeks pregnant and was admitted to the hospital at 33 weeks when she developed HELLP syndrome. Madeline and Molly were born at 34 weeks and spent two weeks in the NICU, while Valerie spent one week in the hospital recovering. She is determined to create a future free of this disease.
Our Board of Directors
In 2020, Felix broke records after winning her bronze and gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics - her fifth and final Olympic games. She continued to make history during the games, by sporting racing spikes created by her company – lifestyle and footwear brand, Saysh – becoming the first Track & Field athlete to do so. Publicly launched post Games in June 2021, Saysh not only aims to create an encouraging and supportive community for women, but it also designs and manufactures athletic-inspired footwear made for and by women, unlike most brands, whose shoes are created based off of men’s feet and footwear. Running in her own spikes on the largest stage in the world, Felix exemplified that she is about more than just medals – she was running for change, equity and acceptance for women and girls everywhere. In keeping with its mission to empower and serve women, Saysh sought out women-led, women-funded partners for the brand’s recent Series A fundraising round, which brought in $8 million and included the Gap Inc.-owned Athleta brand. Current products include the Saysh One, the Saysh Two and the Scarf by Saysh.
Off the track, Felix is a fierce advocate for maternity rights for all women. In 2019, she wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times that called out Nike, her former sponsor, for not providing guaranteed protections for pregnant athletes and new moms. (Felix gave birth to her daughter Camryn in 2018.) The public reaction to the piece put pregnancy discrimination in athletics in the spotlight, and the practice was heavily criticized. More female athletes came to Felix’s side, offering up their stories. During the 2020 Olympics, Felix alongside her new sponsor Athleta, created the Power of She Fund: Child Care Grant – a fund to assist mom-athletes with childcare while competing at the games.
Ann received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School, after receiving her B.A. in Biology magna cum laude from the University of California, San Diego. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine, and her fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Massachusetts General Hospital, before joining the faculty there.
She is passionate about bringing the patient voice to everything she does and has a particular interest in health equity and women’s health.
In addition to Comanche, she serves on the Boards of Terns Pharmaceuticals and UnLearn AI, as well as two non-profits, the New England Advisory Board of the Trust for Public Land and the Yleana Leadership foundation, which is improving the racial wealth gap by getting underserved kids into better colleges, with better financial aid packages, higher graduation rates, and better paying jobs. She also serves as Co-Chair of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation.
Since joining Atlas in 2010, David has co-founded and served as CEO of numerous companies including Arteaus acquired by Eli Lilly in 2014, Annovation Biopharma acquired by The Medicines Company in 2015, and was a founding board member of both Delinia, acquired by Celgene in 2017, and Cadent acquired by Novartis in 2021. David is a co-founder and board member of Q32 Bio and Vima Therapeutics, and also sits on the boards of Affinia, Aerovate (NASDAQ: AVTE), and TRIANA Biomedicines.
David serves as an advisor to several organizations including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s (MSKCC) Technology Development Fund, as well as the American Heart Association’s One Brave Idea. He earned his B.A. from Stanford University, M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and completed his internship and residency training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also a founding board member of Acera: The Massachusetts School for Science, Creativity, and Leadership, a STEM focused K-8 school, which his wife Courtney founded in 2009.
Before GV, Brendan’s career focused on applied statistics and machine learning research in genetics and biotechnology. He designed machine learning models for personalized immuno-oncology therapeutics at Gritstone Oncology and developed methods for statistical genetics research at the Broad Institute. Brendan’s work has been published in journals including Nature, Science, Nature Biotechnology, and Nature Genetics. In his free time, Brendan enjoys reviewing data and reading scientific journals. Brendan is interested in innovative therapeutic biotechnology and diagnostics across all stages and therapeutic areas.
Brendan has a B.A. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in statistical genetics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Dr. Patel focuses on investing in therapeutics and medical device companies and has served on the Board of Directors of ABK Biomedical, Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACRS), Avalyn Pharma, Caplin Steriles, Comanche Biopharma, Eywa Pharma, Ivenix (acquired by Fresenius Kabi), Laurus Labs (NSE:LAURUSLABS), Medwell Ventures, Menlo Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MNLO), NextWave Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer), NFlection Therapeutics, Pediatrix Therapeutics, Rallybio (NASDAQ:RLYB), and Vicept Therapeutics (acquired by Allergan).
Dr. Patel is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, where he received both his MD and MBA as part of that institution’s Healthcare Management Program and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his undergraduate studies in biology and economics with highest honors at Rutgers University.
Scott holds a B.S. in chemistry (Phi Beta Kappa) and an M.D. (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the University of Alabama. His academic career included faculty positions at Harvard Medical School, the University of Colorado Medical School, and the University of South Alabama. He has been Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Disorders Medicine. He currently is a Board member at Atalanta Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the application of RNA interference to diseases of neurodegeneration.
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