Moving Medicine Forward, Smartly
Vascarta is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the effectiveness of established therapies through three core innovations:
- Vasporta™ – A patented transdermal delivery technology designed to improve absorption and eliminate the need for injections. Currently in clinical use for Sickle Cell Disease and Osteoarthritis, with promising preclinical results in Red Blood Cell Preservation, Hypertension, and Aging.
- VAS-101 (Vasceptor®) - Harnesses the established anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of curcumin through transdermal delivery which overcomes the limited bioavailability and suboptimal effectiveness of oral dosing.
- In the Scientific Advisors section create sub listing for Sickle Cell Disease. Carry this forward into the menu item dropdown between Scientific Advisors and Scientific Collaborators.
- Oncology Linker Platform – Exclusively licensed technology that links curcumin with existing cancer drugs to improve efficacy and reduce side effects. Strong preclinical outcomes in Brain Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer support broader application in oncology.
Martin Dummy
Chairman and founder
Leadership Team
Dr. Prince’s 40-year career in industry includes multivariate management & executive roles, spanning start-up to commercial companies, small molecule and large molecule programs, as well as being on both the service and product sectors of the healthcare industry.
Dr. Joel M. Friedman is a research scientist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a Professor and the former Chairman of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, where he holds the Young Men’s Division Chair in Cardiovascular Physiology. He brings deep expertise in biomolecular and translational medicine, including protein dynamics, hemoglobin, transfusion medicine, anti-inflammatory strategies, wound healing, and transdermal/IV drug delivery platforms.
Mark brings over 30 years of leadership in biopharma and finance. He has led early-stage and global pharmaceutical companies. In 2017, he commercialized Endari, the first FDA-approved therapy for sickle cell disease, with Emmaus Life Sciences. He also has experience as a healthcare investment banker.
Travis L. Gering is an international corporate and securities lawyer. With over 30 years of experience, he has advised institutional clients globally and served as legal counsel across corporate, regulatory, and business matters.
30+ years in healthcare in various executive positions in private/public companies (e.g., CFO; General Counsel; VC Fund Manager; Hospital Boards).
SICKLE CELL DISEASE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
Nirmish Shah is an Associate Professor of Medicine & Pediatrics. He is the Director of Duke’s sickle cell transition program where his practice focuses on treating children and adults with SCD. Dr. Shah focuses on providing the medical, social and psychological support that patients need to remain healthy. His research aims to increase engagement of sickle cell patients with their own care using mobile technology.
Dr. Shah obtained his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean, his residency & fellowship was at East Carolina University and Duke University School of Medicine.
Dr. Desai is the director of the Adult Sickle Cell Enterprise at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute. She has received multiple grants and funding for sickle cell disease research, including a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for the Atrium Health Sickle Cell Program. Dr. Desai is board certified in internal medicine and hematology. She has clinical interests in sickle cell disease and benign hematology, such as bleeding and clotting.
Dr. Desai received her bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University and her medical degree and residency at the University of Louisville. She obtained her Fellowship at the University of North Carolina.
Dr. Saraf is the director of the Adult Sickle Cell program at the University of Illinois-Chicago and an Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Saraf has conducted extensive research on how sickle cell disease impacts organ function with a primary focus on the kidneys and lungs.
Dr. Saraf received his B.S. in Biology at Penn State University and Medical Degree at Temple University. He trained as a resident and fellow in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Illinois Medical Center.
Wally R. Smith is a Professor of Medicine and the director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Adult Sickle Cell Program. He serves as the Vice-Chairman for Research of the Division of General Internal Medicine and is the former Scientific Director of the Center on Health Disparities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Smith has been associated with the development of two potential lead compounds for sickle cell disease at VCU and is one of the leading experts on pain in sickle cell disease.
Dr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, he attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine.
Julia Xu is an adult hematologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, specializing in the care of patients with sickle cell disease. She has conducted studies of the trajectory of renal function decline in SCD and led clinical trials evaluating novel drug therapies for the treatment of patients with SCD. Dr. Xu’s research focuses on new drug therapies and biomarkers for improving anemia and other chronic complications in SCD. She is dedicated to improving anemia-related outcomes for individuals living with SCD in the US and globally by optimizing treatment strategies for anemia and expanding global access to treatments.
Dr. XU received her BS & MS degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, her medical degree from Columbia University and her MScGH from Duke University. She was a resident at Duke University and a Fellow at the National Institutes of Health.
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATORS
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Worldwide exclusive license agreement.
- Areas of collaboration: Red cell stabilization, pain management, inflammaging, chronic endothelial dysfunction.
- City University of New York, USA – College of Staten Island
- Worldwide exclusive license agreement.
- Novel hybrid molecule enabling both transdermal chemotherapeutics and synergistic anticancer activity.
- Song Biotechnologies, Maryland, USA
- Areas of collaboration: Sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis, chronic endothelial dysfunction.
- US Food and Drug Administration
- 3-year Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA).
Focus: Transfusion medicine – RBC stabilization, blood storage, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- 3-year Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA).
- US National Institute of Health
- Sickle Cell Genetics and Pathophysiology.
- US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
40 Years in healthcare pharmacy, marketing, and advertising at leading companies including Procter & Gamble Healthcare, Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare, and Grey Healthcare Group.
40 Years at GSK Consumer Healthcare in Innovation, Rx-to-OTC Switch, Business Development, External Innovation, and Brand Management.
Charlie has 35+ years of experience in drug development. Initially at The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA and USC. He was a Director at Pfizer, Dendreon, and Bavarian Nordic. He’s an Executive V.P. at Emmaus Medical for the past 11 years. Dr. Stark developed and obtained FDA approval for the second therapy ever for sickle cell disease. Charlie has been an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Drug Development at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy since 1991.