Dr Kopsidas is a Founding member of Imunexus and the original developer of Imunexus’ technology platform and product pipeline. He is a practiced molecular biologist and biotechnologist with over 20 years’ experience in protein and antibody engineering (he has engineered 26 potential antibody products). He also has 5 years’ experience in the fields of molecular ageing and mitochondrial diseases where he held a position on the editorial board for the Bio-Gerontology Journal, and well over 10 years’ experience elucidating the mechanisms of DNA repair. He held academic positions with RMIT and La Trobe Universities and held a Research Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health USA (NIH).

In the commercial sector, he held senior roles as the Senior Scientist with the Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine, the Director of Protein Technologies at Evogenix Ltd, and the Vice-President of Protein Technologies at both Arana Therapeutics and Cephalon Australia. He was the driving force behind the development of the technology platforms of these companies and has a proven track record for developing a number of commercially validated technologies. He was a foundation scientist at Evogenix and the main contributor to the development of their technology platform and product engineering approaches that were later adopted by Arana and Cephalon.

He also has a very strong track for developing drugs over multiple projects with a major role in the engineering of these company’s pipeline products while he continued to develop and expand their technology platforms. He has multiple international publications and patents around antibody therapeutics including joint patents with GSK, Teva and Vegenics. He has a strong track record delivering back to investors in previous enterprises including the technical and product development leading to the Evogenix IPO, and the takeover of Evogenix by Peptech to form Arana Therapeutics. Recently he had founded and managed a successful biotechnology consulting company, Melicept Pty Ltd, which consulted around therapeutic targets, protein scaffolds, antibody based therapeutics, biotechnology, protein engineering and molecular biology. He also developed strategic business plans, budgets and resource development and performed due diligence on accessible IP around platforms for novel immunotherapy approaches.

Chris Elliot has 20 years’ experience as a finance and management executive within both chartered accounting and commercial firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, APN Outdoor Group Limited (ASX:APO) and Mandoe Media Pty Ltd. Chris is a director of Accension Pty Ltd which is engaged to provide CFO and Company Secretary services to Imunexus. He has extensive experience across the finance, media and digital technology industries, including executive, finance, commercial, business development and operational roles across these industry sectors. Chris is a graduate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia where he is currently a member.

Paul Field is supporting Imunexus to engage with biopharmaceutical companies seeking new bispecific and trispecific antibody technologies. He has over 25 years of business development experience across a range of therapeutic areas, and a deep network in the global biopharmaceutical industry. His current roles include corporate advisory positions at Alsonex, Marinova, Achiko and GARDP, and he is member of the Investment Committee at the Horizon 3 Biotech Fund in Melbourne. Paul has served on a number of Boards, and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD).

Simon is a highly experienced biotechnology executive and entrepreneur, focusing on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel medicines. He completed his PhD in the field of immunology at the University of Melbourne in 1992 and has worked at Genentech, Novartis, Chiron and CSL Limited, where he was Senior Vice President of Global Plasma R&D and General Manager of Manufacturing Operations in Australia and Germany.  

Simon is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Immunosis Pty Ltd, a biotech start-up company focused on improved diagnostic outcomes for patients with immune deficiencies. Simon’s breadth of skills covers R&D drug development, corporate due diligence, acquisitions and integration, strategic planning, portfolio management, financial management, intellectual property management, risk management, business development, contract management and organizational design.

Simon is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has Non-Executive Director experience in ASX listed companies including Clover Corporation (2020 – present) and Acrux Pty Ltd (2016-2019). He is also a Venture Partner at BioScience Managers, a health care investment firm.

Simon has worked closely with the Imunexus team to review the core science, patent portfolio, provide advice on the drug development process and identification of lead product candidates.