BALTIMORE, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Lentigen Corporation, a privately held biotechnology company focused on the manufacturing and development of research and therapeutic grade lentiviral vectors, today announced the appointment of its team of executives who will lead manufacturing, business development, operations, research and development.
Boro Dropulic, Ph.D. M.B.A
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Boro Dropulic founded Lentigen in December 2004 and serves as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Dropulic is one of the leading experts in lentiviral vector technology. Dr. Dropulic was Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of VIRxSYS Corporation where he successfully led a multidisciplinary team to initiate and complete the first ever lentiviral vector clinical trial in humans. Prior to VIRxSYS, Dr. Dropulic was an Instructor and Adjunct Assistant Professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he was the first to develop an HIV-based vector targeted to inhibit the replication of the HIV/AIDS virus.
Dr. Dropulic was a Fogarty Fellow at the National Institutes of Health where he worked on developing transgenic animals using embryonic stem cell technology, understanding molecular aspects of HIV replication and gene therapy for HIV/AIDS. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Western Australia and his M.B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University.
Yung Nien Chang, Ph.D.
Vice President of Vector Development
Dr. Chang has almost 20 years of experience in vector design, HIV research and molecular and cellular biology. Dr. Chang was formerly the Vice President for Research and Development at VIRxSYS Corporation. Prior to VIRxSYS, Dr. Chang was Senior Scientist and a Group Leader at Genetic Therapy, Inc. (later merged with Novartis, Inc.). Dr. Chang was formerly a Visiting Scientist at The Johns Hopkins University and a staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Chang received his doctorate in biochemistry at the University of North Texas, his Master’s degree from the National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan and his Bachelor’s degree from Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Gregory J. Feulner, J.D., Ph.D.
Vice President of Business Development
Before joining Lentigen, Dr. Feulner was Vice President of Business Development for Galileo Genomics and Director of Business Development and Transactions at Gene Logic Inc. Dr. Feulner has negotiated and closed numerous transactions totaling over one hundred million dollars in sales. Dr. Feulner received a BS degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1985, a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry specializing in Molecular Biology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1990, a postdoctoral fellow from the National Institutes of Health in 1991, a postdoctoral fellow from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1993, and a law degree from the Syracuse College of Law in 1995. He is a registered patent attorney and a member of the Minnesota State Bar.
John Woolford, M.B.A.
Director, Business Planning
Mr. Woolford was most recently Vice President/Equity Analyst at Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., following the Biotechnology/Life Science sector. Mr. Woolford also held positions in the Contract Manufacturing Division of MedImmune, Inc. and in various roles at Primedica Corporation, now a subsidiary of Charles River Laboratories. Mr. Woolford received his M.B.A from the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and a B.S. degree in Microbiology, also from the University of Maryland at College Park.
About Lentiviral Vectors
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are vehicles that can deliver genes or RNAi into cells with up to 100% efficiency and stability. Previous viral vector systems such as non-viral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors could achieve high, but not stable, gene delivery into dividing cells. Other vectors such as murine retroviral vectors can deliver genes stably, but not efficiently.
Gene delivery is accomplished by the binding and fusing of the LV pseudotyped envelope protein to the target cell membrane. The LV RNA containing the gene or gene silencing sequence is then incorporated into the cell via reverse transcription creating a DNA complex. This complex enters the nucleus incorporating into the chromosomal DNA creating a stable molecule. The gene sequence is integrated in the chromosome and is copied along with the DNA during ongoing cell division.
About Lentigen Corporation
Lentigen Corporation is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on the manufacturing and development of lentiviral vectors using its proprietary gene delivery technology for a wide range of applications in biotechnology and medicine. Lentiviral vectors are highly adapted delivery vehicles that can transport genes or gene silencing sequences into cells with high efficiency and stability. Lentigen is positioning itself to become the leading provider of Lentiviral vector products and services for academic, government, biotechnology and pharmaceutical researchers. For further information, visit www.Lentigen.com.
Lentigen Corporation
CONTACT: Greg Feulner, VP Business Development, Lentigen Corporation, +1-443-543-5318, or greg.feulner@lentigen.com; or Media: Gregory Tiberend,Richard Lewis Communications, Inc., +1-212-827-0020, orgtiberend@rlcinc.com; or Investor: Tara Spiess, TS Communications Group,LLC, +1-914-921-5900, or spiess@biotechirpr.com
Web site: http://www.Lentigen.com/
