Our Values
Rise Therapeutics is built on the foundation that life changing products are developed
through key values that drive us as individuals in our personal and professional life.
These core values are focused on innovation, integrity, trust, dedication, scientific
excellence, and quality. We believe every employee’s unique background and
experiences contribute to shaping the future of our company.
Innovation
To accomplish the seemingly impossible.
Integrity
To hold ourselves accountable for our actions and deliver responsibly on our commitments.
Trust
Dedication
To stay focused, driven, and resilient.
Scientific Excellence
To attain the highest quality outcomes in our drug development endeavors.
Quality
To produce and provide the highest standards in our work product.
Our Leadership
GARY FANGER, PHD
Founder, President & CEO
Gary Fanger, PhD, has 20+ years of experience in the biotechnology industry developing novel therapeutics, establishing drug development alliances, and leading M&A activities. He serves as a director on the boards of Virtici and formerly OncoImmune, where Gary helped support the $425M acquisition by Merck in 2020.
In his previous role as Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Amplimmune, Gary helped build this start-up out of Johns Hopkins University and led the $500 million acquisition by Medimmune/AstraZeneca in 2013. Prior to joining Amplimmune, Gary was Vice President of Business Development at MacroGenics where he directed partnering activities that included establishing MacroGenics’ strategic alliance with Eli Lilly & Company. Before MacroGenics, Gary was responsible for a diverse array of corporate functions at Corixa Corporation, including heading up business development, establishing and directing the therapeutic antibody development program, and managing numerous pharma strategic alliances.
Gary has co-authored over 50 articles, book chapters and reviews in peer-reviewed journals in the areas of monoclonal antibody development, cell biology and cancer research. He has also been awarded 35 patents. Gary received his MBA from Seattle University, PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Dartmouth Medical School, and his BS in Chemistry from Denison University.
CHRISTIAN FURLAN FREGUIA, PHD
VP of Research
Christian Furlan Freguia, PhD, has over 10 years of experience in the biotechnology sector with a successful track record in developing new drugs and translating programs to human clinical trials.
In his previous role as Director of Research at Synthetic Biologics, Christian led the discovery and development activities of a novel oral biological drugs, now in clinical trials. As part of this effort, he was responsible for GMP/GLP analytical development and GMP manufacturing. Prior to Synthetic Biologics, Christian was a Director of Immunology at Imquest Biosciences where he developed a new anti-HIV small molecule, now in the clinic, and novel cancer drugs, which resulted in several successful IND filings. Christian is the inventor of new technologies, some of which resulted in founding of microbiome-based companies. Christian has authored more than 15 research and review articles, and he is an inventor on several patents. He holds a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry from the University of Ferrara (Italy).
SATHYA JANARDHANAN, MS
VP of Manufacturing
Sathya Janardhanan, MS, has over a decade of experience in setting up drug development programs and progressing those programs into Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. He has successfully contributed to multiple IND applications to the FDA, as well as to the EMA. Sathya specializes in early-stage programs and rapidly accelerating development timelines, cGMP manufacturing planning, facility development, and CDMO management. His background combines chemical engineering that aids with process research and molecular and chemical biology that aids with drug quality method development.
Most recently, Sathya founded and managed Apsis Healthcare, a Process & Analytical Technology startup that worked on design, development and consulting in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology areas. Here he secured NIH grants and partnerships in the area of online quality attribute detection for biopharmaceutical production processes. Previously, Sathya was a senior scientist at NextCure, where he worked on all aspects of process, analytical and manufacturing development while also leading a team that produced the facility’s Process Automation. Sathya is an active reviewer of biomanufacturing guidance documents at the American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) and leads consortiums related to process quality detections at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Sathya secured a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from National Institute of Technology in India.
JANET STEPHENS, PhD
VP of Operations
Dr. Stephens is a healthcare risk manager by training and has over 30 years of operational experience in the healthcare and medical research fields. Prior to Rise Therapeutics, she held executive management positions in Operations, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, Clinical Trials Management, and Human Resources.
Most recently, Janet was the Health Service Regional Manager and Compliance Auditor for The GEO Group, Inc., where she led and directed health services for >2500 individuals covering 4 different states. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Quality Assurance/Risk Management for Southern Health Partners, Inc., where Janet established the risk management department. During her role at Healthsouth Corp., she rose through six positions from director to Senior Vice President of Operations ultimately overseeing a staff of 7000 over 30 states. She has held clinical trial project management, operational, and administrative roles in early-stage clinical research organizations, as well as serving as an independent consultant managing clinical operations. She is a Certified Healthcare Risk Manager, a member of RAPS, SOCRA, and ASHRM, and is also a Certified Professional Coach and a Certified Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist. Janet earned a PhD in Philosophy from the AIHT in Birmingham, Alabama.
Careers
We are always looking for extraordinary people with exceptional creativity
and enthusiasm. In our collaborative, high performing, and entrepreneurial
environment, we work as a team to develop life saving products and treatments.
Business Development Director
Rise Therapeutics is recruiting a full-time business development professional to lead its partnering and corporate strategy development efforts. This position offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurial minded professional to advance an executive-track career. The Business Development Director will be responsible for securing funding to advance innovative therapeutic programs and evolution of product development strategies. He/she will also build new relationships and establish communication networks with pharma and biotech executives to identify and execute on strategic partnership opportunities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead sell-side partnering activities
Negotiate technology in-licensing transactions
Help set corporate strategy and execute on business-related initiatives
Negotiate productive, corporate growth-oriented deals
Research and identify new business opportunities
Required Qualifications
Degree (BS, MS, and/or PhD) in the life sciences and/or business administration
Strong writing, presentation, and networking capabilities
Track record of sell-side transactions
Effective communication skills with the ability to contribute in a fast-paced business environment
Comfort with collaboration in a team-based environment
Driven to translate cutting-edge technologies into life-changing products
Ability to produce results in a highly independent environment
Strong sense of responsibility for deadlines and deliverables
Benefits
Support initiatives to develop novel therapeutics with the potential to treat a broad range of diseases
Build business development experience working in biotechnology
Mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and business executives
Gain broad biotech experience in other business areas including intellectual property, tech transfer/licensing, business development, and project management
Expand network of leading academic innovators
Expand relationships/connections with leading biotechnology and pharma executives
Please email your CV or resume to: HR@risetherapeutics.com
About Rise Therapeutics
Rise Therapeutics is an emerging, privately held company located in Rockville, Maryland which leverages its expertise in synthetic biology and immunological drug development to create novel cellular-based immune therapies. With a strong emphasis on product development and its internal clinical GMP manufacturing infrastructure, Rise is focused on developing immunological-based biological medicines using a unique and proprietary oral biologics delivery platform. Our drug development focus is driven by new microbiome-related discoveries enabling development of targeted, first-in-class immune modulatory drugs for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer, and infection. In the context of its expertise in synthetic biology medicine, proprietary TPX oral drug delivery platform, and clinical GMP manufacturing capabilities, Rise is creating and rapidly advancing life changing cellular-based medicines to the market. For more information, go to www.risetherapeutics.com.
Research Assistant
Rise Therapeutics is recruiting a full-time research assistant with experience with in vitro and in vivo murine studies to work in our Rockville, MD laboratory. The candidate will be responsible for performing a variety of in vitro testing and in vivo murine technical procedures to support research experiments. This position offers a unique opportunity to advance skills and experience necessary for a successful career in the biotechnology industry.
Duties and Responsibilities
Support the design and execution of in vivo murine research studies.
Provide murine in vivo pharmacology and disease model expertise across multiple projects within our drug discovery portfolio.
Perform daily animal husbandry tasks.
Responsibilities include performing technical procedures such as animal identification, collecting biological samples, assisting scientists with requirements related to their research animals, and administering medicines/compounds.
Responsible for receiving animals and stocking facility supplies.
Perform analytical testing and analysis of biological specimens.
Perform in vitro studies, including cytokine and protein analyses, and microbiology testing.
Perform molecular biology techniques.
Responsible for documenting daily tasks and communicating progress appropriately to the manager.
Required Qualifications
Degree (BS, MS) in the life sciences or biomedical engineering.
Previous experience working in animal research using murine disease models.
Background in analytical assay work, cell culture, microbiology, and molecular biology.
Effective communication skills with the ability to contribute in a fast-paced environment.
Strong sense of responsibility for deadlines and data accuracy.
Rigor and attention to detail including laboratory notebook documentation.
Comfort with collaboration in a team-based environment.
Benefits
Support initiatives to develop new treatments for autoimmunity, infection, and cancer
Gain experience working in an industry-leading biotech company
Mentorship from seasoned research entrepreneurs and business executives
Expand relationships/connections with leading biotechnology researchers
Please email your CV or resume to: HR@risetherapeutics.com
About Rise Therapeutics
Rise Therapeutics is an emerging, privately held company located in Rockville, Maryland which leverages its expertise in synthetic biology and immunological drug development to create novel cellular-based immune therapies. With a strong emphasis on product development and its internal clinical GMP manufacturing infrastructure, Rise is focused on developing immunological-based biological medicines using a unique and proprietary oral biologics delivery platform. Our drug development focus is driven by new microbiome-related discoveries enabling development of targeted, first-in-class immune modulatory drugs for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer, and infection. In the context of its expertise in synthetic biology medicine, proprietary TPX oral drug delivery platform, and clinical GMP manufacturing capabilities, Rise is creating and rapidly advancing life changing cellular-based medicines to the market. For more information, go to www.risetherapeutics.com.
Translational Research Assistant
Rise Therapeutics is recruiting a full-time research assistant experienced with in vivo murine studies and in vitro molecular biology techniques in our Rockville, MD laboratory. The candidate will be responsible for performing a variety of in vitro testing and in vivo murine technical procedures to support Rise` programs. This position offers a unique opportunity to advance skills and experience necessary for a successful career in the biotechnology industry.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Support the design and execution of in vivo murine research studies.
Provide murine in vivo pharmacology and disease model expertise across multiple projects within our drug discovery portfolio.
Perform daily animal husbandry tasks.
Responsibilities include performing technical procedures such as animal identification, collecting biological samples, assisting scientists with requirements related to their research animals, and administering medicines/compounds.
Responsible for receiving animals and stocking facility supplies.
Perform analytical testing and analysis of biological specimens.
Perform in vitro studies, including cytokine and protein analyses, and microbiology testing.
Perform molecular biology techniques.
Responsible for documenting daily tasks and communicating progress appropriately to the manager.
Required Qualifications
Degree (BS, MS) in the life sciences or biomedical engineering.
Previous experience working in animal research using murine disease models.
Background in analytical assay work, cell culture, microbiology, and molecular biology.
Effective communication skills with the ability to contribute in a fast-paced environment.
Strong sense of responsibility for deadlines and data accuracy.
Rigor and attention to detail including laboratory notebook documentation.
Comfort with collaboration in a team-based environment.
Benefits
Support initiatives to develop new treatments for autoimmunity, infection, and cancer
Gain experience working in an industry-leading biotech company
Mentorship from seasoned research entrepreneurs and business executives
Expand relationships/connections with leading biotechnology researchers
Please email your CV or resume to: HR@risetherapeutics.com
About Rise Therapeutics
Rise Therapeutics is an emerging, privately held company located in Rockville, Maryland which leverages its expertise in synthetic biology and immunological drug development to create novel cellular-based immune therapies. With a strong emphasis on product development and its internal clinical GMP manufacturing infrastructure, Rise is focused on developing immunological-based biological medicines using a unique and proprietary oral biologics delivery platform. Our drug development focus is driven by new microbiome-related discoveries enabling development of targeted, first-in-class immune modulatory drugs for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, cancer, and infection. In the context of its expertise in synthetic biology medicine, proprietary TPX oral drug delivery platform, and clinical GMP manufacturing capabilities, Rise is creating and rapidly advancing life changing cellular-based medicines to the market. For more information, go to www.risetherapeutics.com.