Management

Jon Pilcher, BSc (Hons), FCA

Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director

Jon joined Neuren in August 2013 as CFO and was appointed CEO in May 2020. He has played a central role in all aspects of Neuren's R&D, commercial and corporate activities. Before joining Neuren he was a member of the leadership team at Acrux (ASX: ACR) throughout a period that included Acrux's IPO and listing on the ASX, the development and FDA approval of three novel pharmaceutical products and a transforming licensing deal with Eli Lilly in 2010. He formerly spent seven years in a series of senior financial positions in the R&D and corporate functions of international pharmaceutical groups Medeva and Celltech, which are now part of UCB. Jon is a Chartered Accountant and holds a degree in Biotechnology from the University of Reading in the UK.

Larry Glass, BA (Biology)

Chief Science Officer

Larry joined Neuren in 2004 and was an Executive Director from 2012 to 2018. He directs Neuren’s scientific and non-clinical development, as well as playing a leading role in clinical and regulatory strategy. He has more than 30 years' experience in the life sciences industry, including clinical trials, basic and applied research, epidemiologic studies, diagnostics and pharmaceutical product development. Before he joined Neuren, he worked as an independent consultant for a number of biotech companies in the US and internationally provided management, strategic and business development services. Prior to that, he was CEO of a contract research organisation that provided preclinical research and clinical trials support for major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and the US government. For a number of years, the CRO operated as a subsidiary of a NYSE-listed company and was subsequently sold to a European biopharmaceutical enterprise which was then acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Larry is a biologist with additional graduate training in epidemiology and biostatistics.

Liza Squires, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Liza joined Neuren in 2022 and has medical oversight of Neuren’s development programs, as well as a leading role in clinical and regulatory strategy. Liza is a board certified physician in General Pediatrics and Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology. Over the past 20 years, she has held positions of increasing responsibilities in both early and late-stage drug development at Johnson and Johnson, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lumos Pharma, Aevi Genomic Medicine and Origin Biosciences. She has led and contributed to multiple New Drug Applications resulting in global regulatory approvals and has extensive experience in orphan drug development. Liza received her B.S. from the University of Michigan and M.D. from Michigan State University. She trained in general pediatrics at Yale University and did her residency in Child Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

DrNancy Jones, PhD

Vice President, Clinical Development

Nancy joined Neuren in 2013. She leads the design and implementation of Neuren's clinical studies in neurodevelopmental disorders. Prior to joining Neuren, Nancy held a senior position at Autism Speaks, the largest science and advocacy organization in the US focused on autism spectrum and related disorders. She was at Autism Speaks for 6 years, directing the overall operations of the Autism Treatment Network, a network of hospitals and medical centers dedicated to improving access to comprehensive, coordinated medical care for individuals with ASD. She also oversaw the Autism Clinical Trials Network, a network developed to promote and expedite clinical trials in ASD, and played a lead role in an initiative to enhance the development of syndrome-specific outcome measures for treatment trials in ASD. Nancy received her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles where she focused on the neurobiology of language and developmental disorders.

Clive Blower, BSc (Hons), PhD

Vice President, Product Development

Clive joined Neuren in 2014, bringing over twenty years of global drug development experience. He has led all aspects of CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls) development of both trofinetide and NNZ-2591. Before joining Neuren, Clive was at Acrux (ASX:ACR) for seven years as Director of Product Development and Technical Affairs and then Chief Operating Officer. During this period he led the CMC development of the company’s lead product through Phase 3 clinical trials, FDA approval and commercial launch. Clive formerly served in senior management positions at Hospira Inc. (previously Faulding Pharmaceuticals, then Mayne Pharma), including leading the Injectable Drug Development Group. He earned a Doctorate in Chemistry from Monash University in 1992 and has experience in all stages of drug development, from concept to commercialisation, having contributed to the development and launch of more than 25 pharmaceutical products.

James Shaw, BSc (Hons), MBA

Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Operations

James joined Neuren in 2013, bringing twenty years of development and commercialisation experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry, having worked for both large Pharma and Clinical Research Organisations. He leads the clinical and regulatory execution of Neuren’s programs. Before joining Neuren, he was CEO of a Clinical Research and Site Management Organisation providing full service clinical trial support in ANZ. Prior to that he spent 7 years with Quintiles in Sydney and Singapore working across Business Development and Operational leadership roles. James brings a global focus to drug development, having led product teams from Phase 2 through to FDA submission and commercialisation during six years with AstraZeneca at their Global headquarters in the UK.

Lauren Frazer, BBus (Acc), CA

Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary

Lauren joined Neuren in 2020 and brings over fifteen years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior to joining Neuren, Lauren was at Boundary Bend, one of Australia's leading agribusinesses and owner of Australian olive oil brands Cobram Estate and Red Island. Lauren was at Boundary Bend for ten years as Financial Controller and then Senior Manager of Accounting & Tax. Lauren is a Chartered Accountant and began her career with Pitcher Partners.

Gerry Zhao, B Com (Hons Finance), B Law (Hons)

Vice President, Corporate Development

Gerry joined Neuren in 2022 and has more than 16 years of global investment banking and financial services experience, with approximately 12 years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch responsible for healthcare investment banking coverage. He has advised numerous local and international corporations and private equity funds on public and private mergers and acquisitions, capital management and financing. Since 2019, Gerry has been consulting to several Australian and global biotech companies regarding strategic projects, including successfully facilitating the A$400m strategic licence and commercial partnership between China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings and Telix Pharmaceuticals in November 2020.

Virginie Durez, MSc, MBA, PMP®

Senior Director, Product Development & Project Management

Virginie joined Neuren in 2021 and brings over twenty years of global pharmaceutical experience ranging from product ideation to product launch. Prior to joining Neuren, she worked with Pfizer for seventeen years through the legacy of Hospira and Mayne Pharma, in the Program Management, Commercial and Early Stage Development Groups and most recently worked as the Pipeline Development Lead for the Hospital Business Unit. Virginie has assessed, developed, and led over 100 global product strategies (US, EU, CAN, ANZ, China and Japan) and launched 3 products to the market. She is focused on bringing novel therapies that change patients’ lives. Virginie received her Master of Chemistry and her Master of Chemical Engineering in France (University of Aix-Marseilles and Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Toulouse), earned an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, and is a PMP® practitioner.

Rebecca Simamora

Vice President, Development & Operations Strategy

Rebecca joined Neuren in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience across modalities and indications in companies small to large, in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and venture studio & venture capital environments. Rebecca is well versed in several modalities from small and large molecule, gene & cell therapy, diagnostic/device across a variety of indications: immunology, transplant, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology, neurodegenerative and rare diseases (adult & pediatric). Prior to joining Neuren, Rebecca held senior leadership roles at MedImmune/AstraZeneca, REGENXBIO, Regio Biosciences and Bloom Sciences. While at MedImmune, Rebecca built the cardiovascular & metabolic clinical operations department to deliver on the early-stage biologics portfolio. Rebecca expanded her scope as Chief Operating Officer in start-up biotech company Regio, to build the company from the foundation to enable a sponsor transfer of a clinical stage asset.