What is Immunophotonics?
Immunophotonics, Inc. is a privately owned clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the field of Interventional Immuno-Oncology™. IP-001, the first asset from the company’s intellectual property platform, has the potential to overcome the local defenses of the tumor microenvironment to enable a tumor-specific anticancer immune response in multiple solid tumor indications. The company is in phase 2 development and is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA with subsidiaries in Bern, Switzerland and Tianjin, China.
Company Leadership
Lu Alleruzzo
President
Lu earned his degree in Biological/Biomedical Engineering from University of Missouri-Columbia, and holds an MBA from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Lu brings experience working with Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and the University of Missouri to his position with Immunophotonics.
Tomas Hode
Chief innovation officer & President
Tomas holds a PhD in Astrobiology from Stockholm University, and brings experience working as a researcher with Portland State University to his position with Immunophotonics. Tomas also serves on the Board of Directors of Irradia.
Samuel Lam
Vice President of Research & Science
He earned his degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Johns Hopkins University, and holds a degree in Immunology from Washington University in St. Louis. His research has been focused on tumor immunology and tumor vaccine development, and he previously worked at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center on the development of whole cell tumor vaccines. He has also worked as Immunoassay Scientist at the The Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs (CHiiPs) of Washington University School of Medicine.
Theresa Visarius
vice president business development
She holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Switzerland, degrees in biology and chemistry from the USA, and has conducted biochemistry, molecular toxicology, as well as cancer research. She applies her competencies to direct pre-clinical and clinical research, takes on active roles in facilitating market access of innovative medical technologies, in Health Technology Assessment, supplies evidence based creative intelligence, guides publications in the life sciences, serves as scientific advisor and editor, and moderates scientific meetings.
Joseph Raker
senior vp of cmc
Joseph Raker is the Chief Drug Development Officer of Immunophotonics, a 2013 Arch Grants recipient.
Dr. Raker is a fully trained synthetic organic/medicinal chemist with 15+ years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He was previously responsible for multiple GMP/CMC projects at Kinentia Biosciences and AMRI Burlington and has extensive experience leading international medicinal chemistry teams for a variety of disease indications. He has significant experience and expertise in sterile fill finish process development, analytical method development, program management, and regulatory/compliance oversight. Dr. Raker received a B.S. in chemistry from Utica College of Syracuse University and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University.
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