Leading a healthcare domain requires comprehensive scientific understanding, business acumen and the ability to assemble a top team. With a background spanning chemical engineering, molecular biology, electrophysiology, pharmacology, and drug delivery systems, Dr. Lior Shaltiel possesses multidisciplinary expertise that sets him apart in the biotech field. As CEO at NurExone Biologic Inc., Lior brings extensive and unique international business experience combined with exceptional communication, organizational, and scientific skills to his role.
Before his tenure at NurExone, Lior held the position of Vice President and Partner at a specialized Chinese investment bank in Israel, where he analyzed the investment terrain and potential within the Israeli pharmaceutical sector. Additionally, he gained experience working with various synthetic nano-drug delivery firms including LipoCure and Ayana Pharma. Lior also led the establishment of the BioMed-MBA program at the Hebrew University Business School (HUBS) since 2016, aiming to teach and train the future leadership in Israel in companies across the spectrum of the biomedical sector, including biotechnology companies, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical device. In parallel to his position as NurExone’s CEO, Lior serves as the academic head of the BioMed-MBA program and Co-Chairman and Elective board member of the MedTech association at the Association of Engineers, Architects and Graduates in Technological Sciences in Israel (AEAI).
What attracted him to NurExone was both the groundbreaking science of a natural drug delivery system and the company’s status as a young startup spun off from the labs of world-renowned Professor Shulamit Levenberg at Israel’s elite Technion and Professor Daniel Offen at Tel Aviv University. He saw an opportunity to lead a fledgling company with an excellent pedigree to public listings in Canada, Frankfurt and the United States. Lior is determined to elevate NurExone Biologic Inc to new heights and to transform regenerative medicine.
Lior’s story serves as a guide for aspiring professionals looking to make a meaningful impact in the biotechnology sector.
A Mission to Transform Lives
NurExone Biologic Inc.’s mission is to transform regenerative medicine through its ExoTherapy platform technology, which focuses on creating biological nanodrugs by loading high-quality Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) or in simplified terms – Exosomes with therapeutic cargo. This platform incorporates innovative technologies and intellectual property (IP) that can be licensed and spun off for various applications and clinical indications. Lior notes that this strategy aims to generate early revenues and enhance shareholder value.
The company’s first product under development is ExoPTEN, a nanodrug designed to restore functionality in patients who have experienced acute spinal cord injury (SCI). This encompasses not just motor recovery but also improvements in sensory reflexes, bladder control, and overall quality of life. Every small step towards restoring functionality brings hope and meaning to the lives of patients, and Lior emphasizes that the company is dedicated to using technology to improve patient outcomes in this difficult field.
Game Changer in Neurological Treatments
NurExone Biologic Inc. distinguishes itself in the biopharmaceutical industry for several reasons. First, through its unique focus on utilizing loaded exosomes for neurological indications and neuron regeneration. This specialization sets the company apart from others in the field, providing it with a distinct advantage. The company is not aware of other publicly traded companies harnessing loaded exosomes for these specific indications.
Second is the sector chosen. NurExone addresses a critical gap in the market by targeting acute spinal cord injuries, where there is currently no approved drug available. This focus on addressing unmet medical needs underscores the company’s commitment to pioneering groundbreaking science and delivering transformative solutions to patients who lack viable treatment options.
Targeting acute spinal cord injury has enabled the Company to apply for and receive FDA Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for ExoPTEN. They will enable the company to conduct expedited and cost-effective clinical trials. The smaller patient cohort required for such indications compared to others like strokes is expected to streamline the clinical validation process, resulting in accelerated time to market and significant cost savings for ExoPTEN. A similar process has begun in Europe with the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Revolutionizing Treatment
Lior emphasizes NurExone Biologic Inc.’s pioneering use of exosomes for targeted and noninvasive drug delivery method of nanodrugs. The ExoTherapy platform produces potent exosomes and then loads them with specific active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
NurExone’s loading technique involve a post-production approach that avoids cell or gene modification. This approach ensures precise delivery of therapeutic payloads without altering the exosome’s natural properties. This post production loading approach may strategically help the NurExone to tackle with critical regulatory demands.
For its ExoPTEN nanodrug targeting acute spinal cord injury, NurExone uses a short interfering RNA sequence designed to downregulate PTEN as its active pharmaceutical ingredient. This approach holds promise for a new class of nanodrugs that are designed to penetrate the Blood Brain Barrier for a wide variety of unmet medical needs and neurological disorders.
The company’s proprietary production and loading techniques and composition of matter are safeguarded by a strong intellectual property portfolio.
As NurExone explores the potential of its products, the company is seeking licensing opportunities and partnerships based on its innovative ExoTherapy platform. By leveraging its expertise and technology, NurExone seeks to collaborate with industry partners to further expand the application of exosome-based therapies and deliver transformative solutions to patients worldwide.
Insights into Exosome-Based Therapy
Lior highlights the opportunities for exosome-based therapies. Over the past five years, he has seen exponential growth in research publications and the emergence of numerous companies in this field for various applications. This underscores the increasing interest and optimism surrounding the therapeutic benefits of exosomes. Encouraging results presented at conferences, coupled with low toxicity levels, further validate the potential benefits of exosomes in therapeutic applications.
As a leading biopharmaceutical company, NurExone Biologic Inc. maintains high standards and adheres to FDA and EMA regulations in its pursuit of using loaded exosomes for clinical indications. Beyond acute spinal cord injury, NurExone is actively looking for collaborations to leverage its ExoTherapy platform technology and enhance patient outcomes. Collaborations with companies like Inteligex and Polyrizon demonstrate NurExone’s commitment to exploring combined therapies and innovative delivery methods to effectively address both acute and chronic conditions.
The Road to Resilience
Lior discusses the challenges faced in developing and commercializing exosome-based therapies, focusing on both funding and technical aspects. Navigating the complex landscape of funding for small companies is essential, as securing adequate resources is crucial for research and development efforts.
To address these challenges, Lior explored innovative financing methods and ultimately decided to take NurExone Biologic Inc. public. While this approach entailed risks, Lior believes that with the right expertise and support, it can lead to remarkable success and provide the necessary funding for the company’s growth and development.
On the technical front, a critical challenge NurExone faces is translating to humans the intranasal administration of nanodrugs that was successful in laboratory animals. This requires overcoming structural differences between human and animal nasal passages, presenting technical hurdles. However, Lior expresses confidence in the company’s ability to address these challenges and successfully achieve minimally invasive therapies through diligent research and innovation.
Plans for Advancing ExoTherapy
Lior underlined the importance of the evolution of the company’s ExoTherapy platform as the company uses the platform to develop nanodrugs. While the primary focus is on creating ExoPTEN, their initial drug, Lior highlights the importance of expanding and refining the platform concurrently. This evolution serves not only the immediate needs of the first drug but also lays the groundwork for broader innovation that aligns with the company’s business strategy and opportunities.
By maintaining synergy between scientific advancements and drug development, NurExone ensures that each step forward contributes not only to the progress of individual drugs but also to the long-term growth and success of the company. This balanced approach allows them to leverage their platform’s capabilities effectively and maximize the impact of their research and development efforts.
Team Dynamics
Lior’s leadership style is marked by a blend of scientific expertise, business insight, and the capacity to assemble and lead a strong team. This approach is crucial for fostering innovation and achieving success in the biotechnology field.
NurExone’s skilled and experienced team includes CFO Eran Ovadya, whose meticulous professionalism and extensive experience from Johnson and Johnson bolster the company’s financial strategy. Dr. Noa Avni, R&D Leader, brings pioneering expertise in advanced drug delivery systems and deep scientific insight, driving innovation. Dr. Ina Sarel, Head of CMC, Quality and Regulatory, with specialized knowledge in designing and managing clinical trials in SCI, facilitating the regulatory pathway. Collectively, the team will shape NurExone’s success.
In Lior’s view, the role of a CEO extends beyond individual capabilities to encompass the ability to build and guide a proficient team. By recognizing the importance of assembling a talented team and empowering them to excel in their respective roles, Lior underscores the collaborative nature of leadership and its pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and advancement in the biotechnology sector. He has assembled excellent R&D, Financial, Regulatory and Scientific leadership for his top-notch team
Revolutionizing Medicine
Lior believes that using exosomes as a targeted delivery mechanism for therapeutic molecules could revolutionize regenerative medicine and yield promising treatment options for a wide array of disorders. Exosomes naturally home to inflammation because our bodies are naturally designed to bring them there to aid regeneration and recovery. ExoPTEN for spinal cord injury is just the beginning of what’s possible.
One recent milestone that Lior takes pride in is the successful transition of NurExone Biologic Inc. into a publicly traded company. Achieving this milestone within a relatively short timeframe of less than one and a half years since his appointment as CEO speaks volumes about the dedication and strategic vision of the team and board.
Also, Lior highlights the groundbreaking results achieved in their research, particularly in witnessing consistent regeneration of neurons and motor restoration in rats. These results, replicated across multiple experiments within the company, are remarkable and signify a significant validation of their scientific approach. The reproducibility of these results instills confidence in the company’s ability to translate their findings into tangible benefits for human patients.
Vision for NurExone Biologic Inc.’s Evolution
Lior envisions the ExoTherapy platform as a gateway to creating a new class of nanodrugs capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB), unlocking immense potential for various therapeutic applications. Looking ahead, he sees NurExone evolving into a holding company for multiple cutting-edge technology firms, each specializing in nanodrugs tailored to address different indications related to central nervous system disorders.
These companies, potentially in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners, would share production resources and focus on specific areas such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or ophthalmology. By adopting a collaborative approach, NurExone aims to harness its regenerative medicine expertise and resources to drive breakthroughs in treating these challenging conditions for patients worldwide.
In essence, these recent milestones underscore NurExone Biologic Inc.’s commitment to advancing scientific innovation and bringing meaningful solutions to the forefront of biotechnology, promising transformative outcomes for patients and stakeholders alike.
Guidance for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Scientists
Lior’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and scientists is to embrace strategic risks and push their limits without fear and always innovate. While not all risks result in success, failures have valuable learnings that contribute to personal and professional growth. It’s crucial to have confidence in oneself and recognize individual strengths, but also to remain open to seeking assistance, consultation and collaborating with others. By working as a team, individuals can leverage diverse perspectives and skills to accelerate the development and impact of their innovations.
