Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc {NASDAQ: INO} were delighted to announce that their COO, Dr. Ninjan Sardesai, has been awarded the title of one of PharmaVoice’s “top 100 inspiring leaders of 2015”
This is a reward for his innovation, positive contributions, and innovative thinking.
Inovio’s Chief Operating Officer Selected by PharmaVoice as one of the Most Inspirational Leaders in the Global Industry
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – September 15, 2015 – Inovio Pharmaceuticals {NASDAQ: INO} announced today that PharmaVoice, one of the leading industry publications in the life sciences industry, has selected Dr. Niranjan Sardesai as one of its 100 most inspiring leaders of 2015.
Dr. Sardesai is the Chief Operating Officer of Inovio, a leading developer of innovative cancer and infectious disease treatment and preventive therapies. Those chosen for this elite group are selected for their positive contributions as leaders who think differently, address the big challenges facing the industry, and lead teams through inspiration. These leaders will gather in New York City on September 17, 2015 for a celebration of their selection.
Dr. Sardesai has broad operating and consulting experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. He is responsible for leading the company’s product development programs in infectious disease and cancer immunotherapies and delivery systems. He has secured over $130 million in non-dilutive funding through government and NGO grants and contracts and was Inovio’s lead executive in completing Inovio’s two big pharma licensing deals with Roche and MedImmune in the last two years.
Under his leadership the company has advanced immunotherapy programs for cervical dysplasia, HIV, and cancers that are now in clinical studies. He currently serves as the principal investigator on an NIAID-funded HVDDT contract for the development of HIV vaccines and DARPA-funded Ebola vaccine and therapeutics programs.
Prior to Inovio, Dr. Sardesai oversaw R&D and expansion of the oncology portfolio at Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. Products developed under his leadership include new-to-the-world tests for mesothelioma (MESOMARK™), bladder cancer and a multi-marker test for ovarian cancer. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications, presented at over 75 invited lectures and presentations, and filed several patents.
Dr. Sardesai said, “I am honored to be named as one of the 100 most inspiring people in the life science industry. This prestigious recognition by PharmaVoice has been possible because of the dedication of the Inovio people in our R&D, business development and commercial functions.”
Dr. J. Joseph Kim, President and CEO, said, “According to PharmaVOICE, their 100 Award is a means to celebrate the men and women who provide inspiration to their peers, colleagues, and companies through their innovative and motivation approaches to addressing the industry’s myriad challenges. We knew that about Niranjan already, and all of us at Inovio are proud that he has been counted among these honoured few.”
Established more than 10 years ago by PharmaVoice magazine, the PharmaVoice 100 is an annual list of individuals recognized for their positive contributions to the life science industry. Selected from thousands of nominations, the distinguished honorees are selected based on substantive accounts describing how they have inspired or motivated their colleagues, peers, and even competitors, have affected positive changes in their own organizations, as well as give back to their communities and other philanthropic causes.
About Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Inovio is taking immunotherapy to the next level in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. We are the only immunotherapy company that is generating T cells, in vivo, in high quantity that are fully functional whose killing capacity correlates with relevant clinical outcomes with a favorable safety profile. With an expanding portfolio of immune therapies, the company is advancing a growing preclinical and clinical stage product pipeline. Partners and collaborators include MedImmune, Roche, University of Pennsylvania, DARPA, GeneOne Life Science, Drexel University, NIH, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, and University of Manitoba.
For more information, visit www.inovio.com
CONTACTS:
Investors: Bernie Hertel, Inovio Pharmaceuticals
+1 858 410 3101
bhertel@inovio.com