About ZymagenX
ZymagenX, Inc. is a clinical-stage company that is the successor to ImmunogenX, which was dissolved following a merger last year into a publicly traded company. ZymagenX reacquired all assets and is now carrying forward, as a private company, with the critical mission of developing latiglutenase, a first-in-class therapeutic treatment for celiac disease.
Our research efforts are focused on therapeutic treatment and disease management. The only current recourse for an individual with celiac disease is a lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). The first area of development is a therapy for the treatment of patients exercising a diligent GFD. Latiglutenase is a digestive enzyme that degrades unintended ingestion of gluten in the body as an adjunct to a GFD. The second area of development involves a method of monitoring intestinal villi atrophy by measuring the level of a drug metabolite that is strongly dependent on the villi health. Even on a GFD the recovery of celiac intestinal damage is a slow process for which there is currently no effective means to monitoring improvement.
ZymagenX is supported by a team of world-renowned scientists and collaborators that are making substantial contributions to the scientific basis of celiac disease and developing sophisticated analysis methods for improving on the accuracy and statistical precision of clinical outcome measures for clinical studies.
CEO and Co-Founder
Jack A. Syage, PhD
Jack has over 30 years of experience in creating and leading the development of innovative technologies in the analytical instrumentation field. He is regarded as a leading expert in mass spectrometry and trace chemical detection. Previously he founded Syagen Technology, Inc. and led its growth culminating in the successful acquisition in 2011 by the $20B/yr French company Safran.
Jack sits on the Board of Directors of GridAI Technologies (Nasdaq: GRDX), Advanced Telesensors, Analytical Detection, and Appellation Ventures. Jack has published over 140 papers, delivered about 100 invited talks, has over 30 U.S. patents issued or pending, and appears on the list of the Most Highly Cited Chemists.
His honorary positions include Fellow of the American Physical Society, Visiting Professor at UC Irvine, Visiting Professor at the Université de Paris-Sud, Editorial Board member of the Journal of Physical Chemistry, and invitee to the Nobel Symposium in Chemistry. He has received a Tibbets Award (SBIR) and was recently inducted into the Orange County OC 500 Directory of Influence. He received BA and PhD degrees from Hamilton College and Brown University, respectively, where he won several academic awards including Best Thesis. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech under Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail.
CEO and Co-Founder
Jack A. Syage, Ph.D.
Jack has over 30 years of experience in creating and leading the development of innovative technologies in the analytical instrumentation field. He is regarded as a leading expert in mass spectrometry and trace chemical detection. Previously he founded Syagen Technology, Inc. and led its growth culminating in the successful acquisition in 2011 by the $20B/yr French company Safran.
Jack sits on the Board of Directors of Flamentera AG, Advanced Telesensors, PhageTech, Analytical Detection, and Appellation Ventures. Jack has published over 130 papers, delivered about 100 invited talks, has over 30 U.S. patents issued or pending, and appears on the list of the Most Highly Cited Chemists.
His honorary positions include Fellow of the American Physical Society, Visiting Professor at UC Irvine, Visiting Professor at the Université de Paris-Sud, Editorial Board member of the Journal of Physical Chemistry, and invitee to the Nobel Symposium in Chemistry. He has received a Tibbets Award (SBIR) and was recently inducted into the Orange County OC 500 Directory of Influence. He received BA and PhD degrees from Hamilton College and Brown University, respectively, where he won several academic awards including Best Thesis. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech under Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail.
CSO and Co-Founder
Jennifer Sealey-Voyksner, PhD
Jennifer has over 30 years of experience in academic and commercial research and development in pharmaceutical, environmental and food sciences. Her expertise is the study and analysis of protein biomarkers and allergenic proteins.
She has most recently co-founded LCMS Limited, an independent analytical laboratory located in RTP, North Carolina and served as Director of R&D. Previously, she worked for Purdue Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim, responsible for developing mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of new drug candidates in biological matrices. Before that she served on the scientific staff with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment where she developed separation and mass spectrometric methods for the detection and analysis of environmentally significant compounds.
She received her honours B.Sc. in Chemistry at McMaster University (Canada) and her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jennifer Sealey-Voyksner, Ph.D., CSO and Co-Founder
Jennifer has over 30 years of experience in academic and commercial research and development in pharmaceutical, environmental and food sciences. Her expertise is the study and analysis of protein biomarkers and allergenic proteins.
She has most recently co-founded LCMS Limited, an independent analytical laboratory located in RTP, North Carolina and served as Director of R&D. Previously, she worked for Purdue Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim, responsible for developing mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of new drug candidates in biological matrices. Before that she served on the scientific staff with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment where she developed separation and mass spectrometric methods for the detection and analysis of environmentally significant compounds.
She received her honours B.Sc. in Chemistry at McMaster University (Canada) and her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
CMO
Gail M. Comer, MD
Gail M. Comer, MD is a Gastroenterologist with a strong foundation in academic medicine with 25 years of industry experience focusing primarily on all phases of drug development of GI products in a variety of settings and leadership roles from large pharmaceutical companies including Medical Director in Abbott International, Senior Medical Director at Wyeth Research in Inflammation/Internal Medicine and Senior Director Inflammation and Bio Therapeutics Pfizer World Wide Research and development. She was Chief Medical officer at Synergy Pharmaceuticals and has also worked with Provention Bio, Inc. and other small start-up companies.
Dr Comer is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and American College of Gastroenterology. She is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. While in an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at S.U.N.Y Stony Brook, she served on the GI Advisory of the FDA.
She received her Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She trained in Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx NY and Gastroenterology at St.Luke’s-Roosevelt Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Acting CMO
Gail M. Comer
Gail M. Comer, MD is a Gastroenterologist with a strong foundation in academic medicine with 25 years of industry experience focusing primarily on all phases of drug development of GI products in a variety of settings and leadership roles from large pharmaceutical companies including Medical Director in Abbott International, Senior Medical Director at Wyeth Research in Inflammation/Internal Medicine and Senior Director Inflammation and Bio Therapeutics Pfizer World Wide Research and development. She was Chief Medical officer at Synergy Pharmaceuticals and has also worked with Provention Bio, Inc. and other small start-up companies.
Dr Comer is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and American College of Gastroenterology. She is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. While in an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at S.U.N.Y Stony Brook, she served on the GI Advisory of the FDA.
She received her Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She trained in Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx NY and Gastroenterology at St.Luke’s-Roosevelt Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY.
CBO
David H. Crean, PhD
David H. Crean has +30 years buy- and sell-side expertise of mergers & acquisitions (M&A), partnering and investing within the life sciences and healthcare sectors working within strategic biopharmaceutical companies, investment banking, private equity, and venture capital firms. Within strategic biopharma, David served in executive roles for more than 15 years within corporate and business development for Allergan (Abbvie) and private equity-backed Aqua Pharmaceuticals (Almirall). He currently serves in leading Boards of Director roles for Histogen, Inc., Paracrine Inc., Almon Therapeutics, California Life Sciences (CLS), and BIOCOM California.
Dr. Crean holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licenses and is a Registered Investment Banking Representative of BA Securities LLC, Member FINRA SIPC. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Biophysics and a Masters of Science (MS) Degree in Oncology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Biology/ Pre-Med from Canisius College. Additionally, Dr. Crean holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Degree with a finance concentration from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Management.
PhD - CBO
David H. Crean
David H. Crean has +30 years buy- and sell-side expertise of mergers & acquisitions (M&A), partnering and investing within the life sciences and healthcare sectors working within strategic biopharmaceutical companies, investment banking, private equity, and venture capital firms. Within strategic biopharma, David served in executive roles for more than 15 years within corporate and business development for Allergan (Abbvie) and private equity-backed Aqua Pharmaceuticals (Almirall). He currently serves in leading Boards of Director roles for Histogen, Inc., Paracrine Inc., Almon Therapeutics, California Life Sciences (CLS), and BIOCOM California.
Dr. Crean holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licenses and is a Registered Investment Banking Representative of BA Securities LLC, Member FINRA SIPC. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Biophysics and a Masters of Science (MS) Degree in Oncology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Biology/ Pre-Med from Canisius College. Additionally, Dr. Crean holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Degree with a finance concentration from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Management.
Joseph A. Murray, MD
Dr. Murray is Professor of Medicine and Immunology and a Consultant Gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He received his medical training in Ireland and GI training at the University of Iowa, where he founded the celiac disease clinic in 1992. In 1998 he joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic, where he has a large clinical practice focused largely on celiac disease. In addition, he runs the celiac disease research and clinical program that focuses on disease epidemiology and complications and mouse models of gluten sensitivity. His programs are supported by the NIH. He is a senior associate editor of American Journal Of Gastroenterology as well as an expert reviewer for many scientific journals and has published over 170 scientific articles.
Joseph A. Murray, M.D.
Dr. Murray is Professor of Medicine and Immunology and a Consultant Gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He received his medical training in Ireland and GI training at the University of Iowa, where he founded the celiac disease clinic in 1992. In 1998 he joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic, where he has a large clinical practice focused largely on celiac disease. In addition, he runs the celiac disease research and clinical program that focuses on disease epidemiology and complications and mouse models of gluten sensitivity. His programs are supported by the NIH. He is a senior associate editor of American Journal Of Gastroenterology as well as an expert reviewer for many scientific journals and has published over 170 scientific articles.
Peter H. R. Green, MD
Dr. Green is the Director of The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. He is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Green received his medical degree from University of Sydney, Australia. After completing his Residency and GI fellowship in Sydney he became a Research fellow at Harvard Medical School and in the Gastroenterology Department at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the American College of Gastroenterology as well as a Member of the American Gastroenterologic Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Peter H. R. Green, M.D.
Dr. Green is the Director of The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. He is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Green received his medical degree from University of Sydney, Australia. After completing his Residency and GI fellowship in Sydney he became a Research fellow at Harvard Medical School and in the Gastroenterology Department at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the American College of Gastroenterology as well as a Member of the American Gastroenterologic Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Markku Mäki, MD, PhD
Dr. Mäki is professor (emeritus) at the University of Tampere and presently research director at the Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. He has an extensive track record in celiac disease research and research leadership. Prof. Mäki’s research has been inspired by the needs of the celiac sufferers; he has also been the President of the Finnish Celiac Society. Lately Professor Mäki has been involved in novel drug trials in celiac disease and his interest is especially in outcome measures. In 2010, Professor Mäki received the Wm. K. Warren Jr. Prize in Celiac Disease in Clinical/Translational Research, San Diego, USA. Dr. Mäki is a permanent member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the President of Finland has granted him the honour of Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 2006.
Markku Mäki, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Mäki is professor (emeritus) at the University of Tampere and presently research director at the Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. He has an extensive track record in celiac disease research and research leadership. Prof. Mäki’s research has been inspired by the needs of the celiac sufferers; he has also been the President of the Finnish Celiac Society. Lately Professor Mäki has been involved in novel drug trials in celiac disease and his interest is especially in outcome measures. In 2010, Professor Mäki received the Wm. K. Warren Jr. Prize in Celiac Disease in Clinical/Translational Research, San Diego, USA. Dr. Mäki is a permanent member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the President of Finland has granted him the honour of Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 2006.
Former Associate Commissioner, FDA
Janice Soreth, MD
With more than twenty-five years of public health experience, Dr. Soreth has served in senior regulatory roles, including as the Food and Drug Administration’s Director of Anti-Infectives, U.S. Liaison to the European Medicines Agency, and FDA Associate Commissioner for Special Medical Programs. She has championed drug development with well-developed Target Product Profiles, fostering clear communication between regulators and industry, harmonizing regulatory standards, and encouraging new product development.
Since leaving government service, Dr. Soreth has served on corporate boards and advised companies and non-profits on the clinical and strategic programs needed to develop new therapeutics. She has special expertise in reviewing clinical trial designs, ensuring the trials are rigorously crafted to pass regulatory scrutiny and enhance the informativeness of global health clinical trials.
As a clinician, she served in the U.S. Public Health Service in Micronesia, and as staff with Kaiser Permanente. She continues her clinical practice by volunteering in medically underserved areas. Dr. Soreth received a B.A. in biology summa cum laude from Temple University, and an M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. She trained in internal medicine at the George Washington University Hospital and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Janice Soreth, Former Associate Commissioner, FDA
Janice is a physician with more than 25 years of public health service. She joined the FDA as a medical officer and served in senior roles as Director of Anti-Infectives, U.S. Liaison to the European Medicines Agency, and Associate Commissioner for Special Medical Programs. Janice encouraged clear communication between regulators and industry, harmonizing regulatory standards, and approaching new product development with effective outcomes in mind.
Since leaving government service, she has served on corporate boards and advised pharmaceutical companies and non-profits on the strategic programs needed to develop new therapeutics. Her background in the practice of internal medicine includes serving in the U.S. Public Health Service in Micronesia and with Kaiser Permanente.
She received a B.A. in biology summa cum laude from Temple University and an M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Janice trained in internal medicine at the George Washington University Hospital and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.