Jan-Anders Karlsson

Verona Pharma Plc operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases. It's product include, RPL554, is a dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent in a single compound. The firm develops RPL554 for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and potentially asthma. The company was founded by Michael J. A. Walker and Clive P. Page on February 24, 2005 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

S*BIO is a privately-held biotech company focused on the research and clinical development of novel targeted small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer with leading programs around histone deacetylases (HDAC) and kinases. S*BIO's lead candidate, SB939, entered the clinic in 2007. SB1518, S*BIO's potent and orally-active JAK2 inhibitor, entered the clinic in 2008 and has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. FDA. S*BIO has entered into a development collaboration, and option & license agreement with Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and commercialize SB1518 and its other novel JAK2 inhibitor, SB1578. S*BIO's SB1317, a novel multikinase inhibitor, is in pre-clinical development and under a worldwide exclusive license with Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for its development and commercialization.In line with its vision to be a leading fully-integrated oncology-focused biotech company in Asia Pacific, S*BIO has established a state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure, complemented by a strong clinical development team. S*BIO has strong links with a network of medical oncologists in Asia Pacific and its investors include EDB Investments' biomedical sciences subsidiary Bio*One Capital, Aravis Ventures, Novartis Bioventures and other international funds. In 2009, S*BIO received the BioSpectrum Editor's Choice, Emerging BioScience Company of Singapore Award.