We work side by side with our partners to enable greater access to life improving pharmaceuticals
PharmaJet’s Needle-free Systems provide increased vaccine effectiveness, a preferred patient and caregiver experience, and a proven path to commercialization. They are also safe, fast, and easy-to-use.
The PharmaJet Tropis® device for intradermal injections received authorization to apply the CE Mark in May 2016. An FDA Master File was established in August of 2017 as a precursor to 510(k) and Tropis received WHO Pre-Qualification (PQS) in June of 2018.
The innovative PharmaJet Stratis® Needle-Free Injector has U.S. FDA 510(k) marketing clearance, CE Mark and WHO PQS certification to deliver medications and vaccines intramuscularly or subcutaneously. In August 2014, the PharmaJet Stratis Needle-free Injector was approved for delivery of an influenza vaccine to deliver needle-free flu shots.
The PharmaJet Team
Chris Cappello
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Cappello was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2018, and President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020. In this position, he is responsible for running all facets of the business. Chris has over 15 years of direct management experience in medical device development and sales, and has spent his career managing the successful design, development, clearance and launch of both reusable and high volume disposable medical devices. Prior to joining PharmaJet, he drove the development of disruptive medical device technologies at companies such as AlloSource and Applied Medical. Chris has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and his Project Management Professional certification.
Jeffrey A. Jordan
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Jordan has more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance. In his previous role, he directed the global finance functions for the Laboratory Products Group of Thermo Fisher Scientific, supporting $1.9B in annual revenue and 10,000 employees. Jeff has worked in several industries including life science tools, telecommunications and industrial chemicals. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, forecasting, significant capital investments, acquisitions and integration activities. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
Darin Zehrung
Chief Business Development Officer
Mr. Zehrung has 25+ years of experience driving forward global public health innovations, leading medical device and health technology development, and as a member of the Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access leadership team at PATH. With over 35 peer-reviewed publications, Darin is globally recognized as having expertise with alternative delivery technologies for vaccines and other essential medicines, including needle-free jet injection technology. He has led and contributed to numerous projects on alternative delivery and packaging technology, funded by a wide array of global donors and governmental agencies, to conduct pre-clinical, clinical, economic analyses and programmatic research to inform decision making on design development, regulatory and policy issues related to this technology area. Darin holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in human biology from Western Washington University.
Erin K. Spiegel, Ph.D.
Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
As a molecular geneticist with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Spiegel’s research, publications, and patents span gene mapping, molecular mechanisms of disease, and delivery mechanisms of DNA and adenovirus-based vaccines. She has established Quality Systems and GMP production for design and manufacturing of vaccines and devices and provided Regulatory and Clinical strategic planning for various drugs, biologics and medical devices. As Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at PharmaJet, she combines her scientific knowledge with her regulatory and clinical experience to advance needle-free injection technology and its promise for widespread vaccinations. She has served on multiple IACUC and IRB committees. Erin received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska and her PhD in Biophysics and Genetics from the University of Colorado.
Paul LaBarre
Vice President, Global Business Development
Mr. LaBarre has 25 years of Medical Technology experience across the innovation value chain including regulatory, strategy, research, product development, and market analysis. He has held key business development roles at prominent healthcare organizations including UNICEF and PATH, as well as other health innovation organizations. Most recently he was Senior Vice President, Access and Innovation for SightLife, the world’s leading eye bank. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, a Master of Medical Engineering from the University of Washington, and an MBA from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Laurence J. Marton, M.D.
Dr. Marton serves as a consultant to industry and to nonprofit, government, and academic institutions. In the nonprofit sector, Dr. Marton is an Emeritus Member of the Board of Trustees of the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation and is on the Board of Directors of Cancer Commons. In the for-profit sector, he serves on the Boards of Directors of Cellsonics, Matternet, Microsonic Systems, Nanotics, Omniox (also serving as Executive Chair), RenovoRx, and xCures and is an advisor to Assurance Health Data, PharmaJet, and the Precision Medicine World Conference.
Previously, Dr. Marton was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School and Chaired the Department of Laboratory Medicine at UCSF, where he was a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Neurological Surgery. Dr. Marton received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Cornelia L. Dekker, M.D.
Medical Director, Stanford-LPCH Vaccine Program and Professor of Pediatrics (Infections Diseases), Stanford University School of Medicine. Vaccine development, clinical research and vaccine safety are core elements of Corry’s 32-year career. The first two decades were spent with Wellcome Research Labs, Lederle Biologicals and finally a nine-year term with Chiron Corporation, where she served as Medical Director, then VP, Clinical Research and Medical Affairs for the Vaccine Division. Corry then blended her vaccine experience with an academic position at Stanford University School of Medicine in 1999 where she does applied research in vaccines through NIH-sponsored vaccine clinical trials and conducted vaccine safety research funded by CDC. Dr. Dekker received her BS and MD from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and residency and specialization in Pediatric Infectious Disease at Duke University Medical Center.
Paul Mendelman, M.D.
As a physician/scientist Paul has researched and published extensively on the role antibiotic resistance mechanisms play in infectious disease, particularly with Haemophilus influenza. As a pediatrician, his contributions include vaccine safety, efficacy, effectiveness and immunogenicity studies in influenza, hepatitis B, Haemophilus type B, pneumococcal conjugate and other vaccines. While serving as VP Clinical Research at Aviron, then VP and Group Leader, Clinical Development at MedImmune, Paul was integral to the clinical and commercial development of the intranasal influenza vaccine FluMist. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer and Executive VP of LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biologic drug development company focused on respiratory and gastrointestinal indications utilizing a proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) technology. Dr. Mendelman received his BS and MD from The Ohio State University, and is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
Melissa Malhame
Ms. Malhame has over 25 years of experience in business development, strategic sales, and marketing for major global vaccine providers such as Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, Dynavax and Merck. She has supported global health investments in new vaccine candidates and expanded access to existing vaccines, working with the WHO, UNICEF and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously she was head of Market Shaping at Gavi, where she managed $1 billion of annual vaccine funding, and was accountable for ensuring the supply of vaccines at affordable prices, setting long-term access strategies, and leading Alliance relationships with the vaccine industry. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics & International Affairs from Lafayette College, and an MBA from Cornell University.
Marie Mazur, Ph.D.
Dr. Mazur is a global business executive with 30+ years of experience growing revenue and profits for major vaccine and pharmaceutical companies. Since 2006, Marie held executive roles at the influenza vaccine company, Seqirus (part of CSL Limited), most recently as Vice President, Pandemic Response Solutions where she had global commercial responsibility for pandemic and pre-pandemic contracts. Previously she held successive global commercial leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline Biologics, 3M Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Pasteur. Marie holds a doctorate in Pharmacy and master’s degree in Regulatory Affairs from Paris (France) University of Pharmacy, and an International Executive Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD (IEP).
Chris Cappello
Mr. Cappello was appointed Chief Operating Officer of PharmaJet in 2018, and President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020. In this position, he is responsible for running all facets of the business. Mr. Cappello has over 15 years of direct management experience in medical device development and sales, and has spent his career managing the successful design, development, clearance and launch of both reusable and high volume disposable medical devices. Previously Chris drove the development of disruptive medical device technologies at companies such as AlloSource and Applied Medical. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and his Project Management Professional certification.
Ron Lowy
Mr. Lowy was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PharmaJet in early 2013 and Executive Chairman in 2020. He serves on the boards and as an advisor to several medical device, education and information technology companies. Ron previously served as the President and CEO of the Biosciences division of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Prior to that he was President of Global Connectivity Solutions for ADC Telecommunications. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer at the KRONE Group. Ron spent the first 15 years of his career in operations, technology and general management positions at GE Healthcare. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.
Erin K. Spiegel, Ph.D.
As a molecular geneticist with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Spiegel’s research, publications, and patents span gene mapping, molecular mechanisms of disease, and delivery mechanisms of DNA and adenovirus-based vaccines. She has established Quality Systems and GMP production for design and manufacturing of vaccines and devices and provided Regulatory and Clinical strategic planning for various drugs, biologics and medical devices. As Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs at PharmaJet, she combines her scientific knowledge with her regulatory and clinical experience to advance needle-free injection technology and its promise for widespread vaccinations. She has served on multiple IACUC and IRB committees. Erin received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska and her PhD in Biophysics and Genetics from the University of Colorado.
Ron Lowy
Executive Chairman
Mr. Lowy was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in early 2013 and Executive Chairman in 2020. He serves on the boards and as an advisor to several medical device, education and information technology companies. Ron previously served as the President and CEO of the Biosciences division of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Prior to that he was President of Global Connectivity Solutions for ADC Telecommunications. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer at the KRONE Group. Ron spent the first 15 years of his career in operations, technology and general management positions at GE Healthcare. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.
Chris Cappello
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Cappello was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2018, and President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020. In this position, he is responsible for running all facets of the business. Mr. Cappello has over 15 years of direct management experience in medical device development and sales, and has spent his career managing the successful design, development, clearance and launch of both reusable and high volume disposable medical devices. Previously Chris drove the development of disruptive medical device technologies at companies such as AlloSource and Applied Medical. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and his Project Management Professional certification.
Heather Callender-Potters
Chief Advocate & Shareholder Relations Officer
One of the co-founders and active in the management of PharmaJet, Heather has 23 years of private equity fund management and international investment experience across multiple jurisdictions, managing individual investments and financial investment consortiums. She has a BA in International Management from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania.
Tony Allard
Mr. Allard is President of Hearthstone Investments. He holds a BA and LLB from the University of Alberta.
Spike Buckley
Mr. Buckley has a background as a commercial real estate developer, with investments spanning the US and Canada. He is an active angel investor in high- tech and bio-tech companies, which includes medical devices and tools that aid in drug delivery and diagnostic activities. Spike is an active board participant in the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation, Alameda Corridor Business Improvement District and CryptoMill Technologies. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado.
Gordon Clancy
Mr. Clancy is a private investor, and a former Managing Partner of Citigroup Venture Capital International, a global private equity fund that invested primarily in emerging markets in a wide variety of industries including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Prior to his involvement in private equity, he worked in various roles in the Citigroup capital markets and trading businesses. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Commerce and Economics from University of Toronto and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Marie Mazur, PhD
Dr. Mazur is a global business executive with 30+ years of experience growing revenue and profits for major vaccine and pharmaceutical companies. Since 2006, Marie held executive roles at the influenza vaccine company, Seqirus (part of CSL Limited), most recently as Vice President, Pandemic Response Solutions where she had global commercial responsibility for pandemic and pre-pandemic contracts. Previously she held successive global commercial leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline Biologics, 3M Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Pasteur. Marie holds a doctorate in Pharmacy and master’s degree in Regulatory Affairs from Paris (France) University of Pharmacy, and an International Executive Degree in Business Administration from INSEAD (IEP).
Markus Pedriks
Mr. Pedriks is an investor, as well as a professional private equity fund manager. He is skilled in operational leadership and entrepreneurial activities, in Europe and North America, in health, media, telecommunications, entertainment and real estate. He holds a BA in Economics from McGill University and an MBA from IMD, Lausanne.
Cody Smith
Mr. Smith is a private investor and a former Partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co, having spent 23 years advising on mergers and acquisitions in a variety of industries. He holds a BA in Management Engineering from Claremont McKenna College, a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Rodney Smith
Mr. Smith is a private investor and advisor to private equity, venture capital and entrepreneurs across healthcare, medical devices, instrument services and environmental monitoring. Previously he held several division President roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific. He also served as Chief Financial Officer for Krone Group, and as a consultant for Anderson Consulting (now Accenture). Rodney has over 20 years of experience in distributor leadership and driving strategic growth in the APAC and EMEA regions. He holds a BS and M.Eng. in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Marian Wentworth
Ms. Wentworth, a seasoned global health executive, is President and CEO of Management Sciences for Health, a nonprofit organization that works with low- and middle-income markets across 30 countries to strengthen their health systems. Previously she held executive roles at Merck & Co., most recently as Vice President, Global Vaccines Strategy and Innovation, where she was responsible for strategy for the $6 billion global vaccines business. She is also Chair of the Board of Medsource, a privately held group purchasing organization in Kenya. Marian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Harvard University.