Decorative

Team

  • Our Mission

    To unlock the pharmaceutical potential of the endocannabinoid system to treat diseases with significant unmet needs for patients around the world.

  • Our Values

    Collaboration
    We support a collaborative environment and know it takes people with different ideas, strengths, interests, and cultural backgrounds to make our company succeed.

    Passion
    Passion is at the heart of our company and drives every initiative. It is through our passion that we have fostered a unique relationship between business, medicine, and people; one that is personal and authentic.

    Integrity
    We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all that we do.

    Accountability
    We are accountable to each other and the patients we serve.

    Quality
    We take pride in advancing high-quality science that could translate into potentially transformative therapies for diseases with unmet needs.

  • Management

    Punit Dhillon

    Punit Dhillon

    Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

    Mr. Dhillon is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bioscience, and has a 20-year track record as an executive and investor in the life sciences industry.

    He is the co-founder and former CEO at OncoSec Medical (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company focused on the development of cancer immunotherapies, and raised more than $200 million in dilutive and non-dilutive capital, establishing immuno-oncology collaborations with Merck and Genentech and lead the transition to appointing his successor in 2017. Punit specializes in start-up through IND enablement and clinical proof of concept stage products and building, restructuring and operating businesses/publicly-traded companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.  His experience spans leadership development, corporate finance (M&A, raising capital), operations, and business development (in/out-licensing, strategic partnerships with pharma & academic institutions). Prior to becoming CEO and Chair of Skye (August 2020), he was a Managing Director of a private San Diego based pharmaceutical company and launched an Asia-focused licensing business unit evaluating opportunities in Korea, China, Japan, and the US (completed partnership with BMS); former Director of Emerald group of companies responsible for private equity investments, operations and business development across several portfolio companies in North America and Europe; and (prior to 2011) former Vice President of Finance and Operations at Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INO) (completed licensing deals with Merck, Wyeth (now Pfizer) and Roche).

    Punit is a co-founder and director of YELL Canada a hands-on, experiential accelerator program for high school students interested in gaining knowledge and development experience in all areas of business and entrepreneurship. He is a recipient of several awards of distinction including Biocom Catalyst Award, BASS Alumni Community Impact Award and was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” competition. Punit holds a BA (Honors) in political science and a minor in business administration from Simon Fraser University.

  • Kaitlyn Arsenault,CPA

    Chief Financial Officer

    Ms. Arsenault brings over 14 years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial reporting, mergers and acquisitions, as well as business operations in the life science and technology sectors.

    Prior to her appointment as CFO of Skye, she served as an independent consultant for emerging public and private companies, including Skye, for the past six years, providing expertise and addressing complex issues related to SEC reporting, technical accounting, stock-based compensation, and revenue recognition, among other subjects. She also served as Assurance Manager in Marcum’s (formerly Friedman LLP’s) SEC practice, gaining public and private audit engagement experience across multiple industries. Ms. Arsenault received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Ramapo College of New Jersey and is a Certified Public Accountant.

  • Tu Diep,MSc

    Chief Development Officer

    Mr. Tu Diep brings more than 15 years of scientific and clinical research experience to Skye. He was a founding employee of OncoSec Medical Inc., and in his last role was SVP, Head of Operations.

    He led the development and initiation of the Company’s lead program, tavokinogene telsaplasmid (TAVO), an intratumoral gene therapy using DNA plasmid encoding interleukin-12, and spearheaded a clinical collaboration with Merck to evaluate the combination of TAVO plus pembrolizumab, Merck’s anti-PD-1 antibody for metastatic melanoma. Mr. Diep was previously at Protox Therapeutics Inc. (now Sophiris Bio Inc.), holding roles in preclinical research and development, clinical protocol development and design, clinical operations, and biologics manufacturing related to their cancer treatment. He was also integrally involved in solidifying a $75M partnership with a Japanese pharmaceutical company and a $35M investment from Warburg Pincus. Mr. Diep holds a Master of Science in physiology from the University of Toronto.

  • Chris Twitty,PhD

    Chief Scientific Officer

    Dr. Twitty brings over 25 years of life science research and drug development experience to Skye.

    Dr. Twitty has over 25 years of experience leading R&D and translational efforts to expand drug pipelines and has supported multiple IND filings for novel therapeutics. He has additionally contributed to CMC, non-clinical, regulatory and clinical development efforts necessary to initiate clinical trials. He has significant experience in biomarker discovery and clinical biomarker strategies. Dr. Twitty was previously Chief Scientific Officer at Onchilles Pharma. Prior to that he was Director and Head of Clinical Sciences and then VP of R&D and CSO at Oncosec Medical. He began his career at Bayer and worked in research at Cell Genesys and Tocagen. He is a co-author of 19 publications and a named inventor on three patents. Dr. Twitty holds a PhD Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from Oregon Health Sciences University. He was a post-doctoral fellow with the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute.

Board of Directors

  • Punit Dhillon

    Chairman

    Punit Dhillon, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bioscience, and has a 20-year track record as an executive and investor in the life sciences industry.

    Punit Dhillon, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bioscience, and has a 20-year track record as an executive and investor in the life sciences industry. He is the co-founder and former CEO at OncoSec Medical (NASDAQ: ONCS), a company focused on the development of cancer immunotherapies, and raised more than $200 million in dilutive and non-dilutive capital, establishing immuno-oncology collaborations with Merck and Genentech and lead the transition to appointing his successor in 2017. Punit specializes in start-up through IND enablement and clinical proof of concept stage products and building, restructuring and operating businesses/publicly-traded companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.  His experience spans leadership development, corporate finance (M&A, raising capital), operations, and business development (in/out-licensing, strategic partnerships with pharma & academic institutions). Prior to becoming CEO and Chair of Skye (August 2020), he was a Managing Director of a private San Diego based pharmaceutical company and launched an Asia-focused licensing business unit evaluating opportunities in Korea, China, Japan, and the US (completed partnership with BMS); former Director of Emerald group of companies responsible for private equity investments, operations and business development across several portfolio companies in North America and Europe; and (prior to 2011) former Vice President of Finance and Operations at Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INO) (completed licensing deals with Merck, Wyeth (now Pfizer) and Roche).

    Punit is a co-founder and director of YELL Canada a hands-on, experiential accelerator program for high school students interested in gaining knowledge and development experience in all areas of business and entrepreneurship. He is a recipient of several awards of distinction including Biocom Catalyst Award, BASS Alumni Community Impact Award and was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” competition. Punit holds a BA (Honors) in political science and a minor in business administration from Simon Fraser University.

  • Margaret Dalesandro,PhD

    Director

    Dr. Dalesandro is the President of Brecon Pharma Consulting, a full-service biotech consultancy firm focused on identifying and obtaining critical information early in product development.

    With Brecon, Dr. Dalesandro has completed technical and commercial due diligence for biotechnology companies interested in in-licensing molecules for ocular indications.

    Dr. Dalesandro previously served as Business Director of Corning Integrative Pharmacology. Prior to that, as Vice President of Business Development and Portfolio Management at ImClone Systems Inc., she led the building of comprehensive development plans (from toxicology to market) for the use of Ramucirumab (a fully human VEGFR2 antibody) in age-related macular degeneration, and subsequently led negotiations to out-license a Ramicirumab Fab fragment to a major pharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmic drug indications. At ImClone Systems she led the management of comprehensive development plans for Erbitux (Cetuximab) and made significant contributions to the $6.5 billion-dollar sale of the company to Eli Lilly in 2008.

    Previous to ImClone, Dr. Dalesandro served as an Executive Director at GlaxoSmithKline, managing cardiovascular, urology, and oncology drug product commercialization. Before GSK, Dr. Dalesandro was a senior consultant at Cambridge Pharma Consultancy. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Immunobiology and Diagnostic Research at Centocor and Assistant Director of Immunobiology. Dr. Dalesandro holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Biochemistry from Bryn Mawr College and an A.B. in Biology and Chemistry from Rosemont College, where she graduated summa cum laude.

  • Praveen Tyle,PhD

    Director

    Dr. Tyle is currently the founder of Potens Pharmaceuticals and until April 2023 served as President & Chief Executive Officer and a director of Invectys, Inc, an immuno-oncology company.

    Dr. Tyle brings over 39 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with over 37 years in senior executive leadership positions encompassing research and development, clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory, business development and operations as well as roles as a board director and scientific advisory board member.

    He was previously President & Chief Executive Officer and a director of Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corp, focused on central nervous system drug development. In past roles Dr. Tyle served at Novartis OTC as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Business Development and Licensing as well as Senior Vice President & Global Head of Research and Development. Earlier in his career he was Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Bausch & Lomb.

    Dr. Tyle was also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester Eye Institute Medical Center, among other current and past academic roles. He has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed academic papers and presentations and is named on multiple patents, including patents related to ophthalmic innovations, drug delivery and glaucoma.

  • Keith W. Ward,PhD

    Director

    Keith W. Ward, PhD, has over 25 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

    Dr. Ward serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of InterveXion Therapeutics, a private clinical-stage biotech company developing immunotherapies for substance use disorders. Prior to joining InterveXion, Dr. Ward served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Reata Pharmaceuticals, where he led research and development, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and project management. Before that, Dr. Ward developed ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and medical devices as Global Vice President of Pharmaceutical R&D for Bausch & Lomb. Dr. Ward has also held positions within GlaxoSmithKline and SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ward earned a BSc in toxicology with a minor in chemistry from Northeast Louisiana University and a PhD in toxicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

  • Deborah Charych,PhD

    Director

    Deborah Charych, PhD has over 20 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

    Dr. Deborah Charych brings extensive experience in scientific leadership to her role as a co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of RayzeBio, an oncology company focused on targeted delivery of radionuclides. She conceived and led the scientific and operational R&D strategy for RayzeBio, which led to a successful $45M Series A financing and launch in August, 2020, and subsequent Series B, C and D rounds, with capital raised amounting to $418M. Previously, at Nektar Therapeutics Dr. Charych conceived and led the preclinical and early clinical development of an immuno-oncology pipeline, leading to a $1.8B upfront deal with Bristol Myers Squibb. She also contributed to basic research exploring GPCR receptor biology including the cannabinoid receptor system. At FivePrime Therapeutics, Deborah led a team developing biologics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. While at Chiron Corporation she initiated and led a large proteomics effort to guide oncology target discovery. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, she led an academic team as a tenured principal investigator, focusing on new biomaterials. Dr. Charych has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and a B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon University.

  • Andy Schwab

    Director

    Andy Schwab has an established career in the life sciences industry, bringing decades of experience to his role as a Founder and Managing Partner of 5AM Ventures.

    Mr. Schwab has led investments in numerous biotech companies such as Bird Rock Bio, Camp4 Therapeutics, DVS (acquired by Fluidigm), Enliven (NASDAQ ELVN), Escient Pharmaceuticals, and Flexion Therapeutics (acquired by Pacira), among others. Before the formation of 5AM in 2002, Schwab was a Principal at Bay City Capital where he contributed to the growth of companies like Cubist, PTC Therapeutics, and Syrrx. His past roles also include Vice President of Business Development at Digital Gene Technologies and a vice president in the life science investment banking group of Montgomery Securities. In 2021, he became a board member at Pear Therapeutics. Concurrently, he has been serving as co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of 5:01 Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: FVAM) since its inception in August 2020. Schwab earned a BS with Honors in Genetics & Ethics from Davidson College and currently serves on its board of trustees as well as the Board of Trustees of the California Academy of Sciences.

  • Paul Grayson,MBA

    Director

    Paul Grayson brings over 25 years’ experience in the biotech sector.

    Paul Grayson, MBA, carries extensive expertise in the creation and development of start-ups, IND enablement, CMC, and clinical proof-of-concept stage products. He is a Partner at Versant Ventures. As a co-founder of Tentarix, he also presently serves as the company's President and CEO. Grayson was also President and CEO of Bird Rock Bio, a company focused on fibrotic, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. Earlier in his career, he was the founding CEO of Fate Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FATE), a company involved in cellular immunotherapy, and served as managing director at Sanderling Ventures. Before Sanderling, Grayson was the founding Chairman and CEO of Senomyx (NASDAQ: SNMX). Mr. Grayson earned his MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and a BA in Computer Science and Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles.

  • Annalisa Jenkins,M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P.

    Director

    Annalisa Jenkins, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P. is a biopharma thought leader whose career spans over 25 years in the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industries.

    Dr. Jenkins has broad leadership experience that have resulted in the advancement of new products and cures across multiple disease areas from discovery through to clinical development, regulatory approval, commercialization as well as business exits worldwide. Dr. Jenkins currently provides board level and consulting services to organizations across the life science and healthcare industry. She previously served as President and CEO of Plaquetec Therapeutics and of Dimension Therapeutics, leading efforts to develop novel approaches in coronary vascular and rare diseases that included a significant worldwide partnership for a gene therapy approach to hemophilia A with Bayer Pharmaceuticals. She led Dimension Therapeutics through a public listing on NASDAQ and acquisition by Ultragenyx. In prior leadership roles she was Head of Global Research and Development and Executive Vice President Global Development and Medical at Merck Serono and held several senior positions at Bristol Myers-Squibb over 15 years – including serving as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Medical Affairs.

    Dr. Jenkins sits on a number of boards across the public and private sectors and as a trustee of nonprofit organizations globally, including AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, MEREO Biopharmaceuticals, AFFIMED, The British Heart Foundation, The King’s Fund, Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England and Faster Cures at the Milken Institute. As a pharmaceutical thought leader, Dr. Jenkins routinely contributes publicly on leadership with purpose, social entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation.

    Dr. Jenkins was commissioned by the British Royal Navy as a Surgeon Sub Lieutenant prior to graduating in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the U.K. Dr. Jenkins served as a medical officer in the British Royal Navy for nine years, achieving the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant Commander.

Scientific Advisory Board

  • Eduardo Muñoz,MD, PhD

    Scientific Advisor

    Dr. Muñoz is a Professor of Immunology in the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology of the University of Córdoba, Spain.

    He is also the director of the inflammation and cancer research group at the Institute Maimonides for Biomedical Research of Córdoba. Dr. Muñoz has more than 30 years of experience in biomedical research and is the author of nearly 200 articles, patents, and book chapters with almost 5,000 citations. He is an expert in the mechanisms of action of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids as well as the development of cannabinoid-based new chemical entities. Dr. Muñoz belongs to the editorial board of several scientific journals and is a co-founder of two biotech companies, VivaCell Biotechnology (Spain) and Glactone Pharma AB (Sweden). Dr. Muñoz received a PhD in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Córdoba, and was an associate researcher at Tufts University in Boston and at the Institute Pasteur in Paris.

  • Giovanni Appendino,PhD

    Scientific Advisor

    Dr. Appendino is a professor of organic chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont in Novara, Italy.

    He has researched natural products for over 40 years, leading to the discovery and isolation of over 200 novel compounds, including novel phytocannabinoids and chemistry for cannabinoid-derived molecules. Dr. Appendino is a Professor of Organic Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy, where his research activities focus on isolation, chemical modification, and bioactive natural products synthesis. He was awarded the Rhône-Poulenc Rorer Award of the Phytochemical Society of Europe in 1991, the Quilico Medal of the Italian Chemical Society in 2009, and the Bruker Prize of the Phytochemical Society of Europe in 2014. In 2018, he was elected to the Italian Academy of Sciences for his achievements in chemistry. Dr. Appendino has authored over 400 peer-reviewed articles, 15 book chapters, and 32 patents on natural products chemistry and bioactivity. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Fitoterapia and editorial board member of the journals Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, Pharma Nutrition, Natural Products Research, Chinese Herbal Medicines, and the book series Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products.

Clinical Advisory Board

  • Jeffrey Goldberg,MD, PhD

    Ophthalmology Clinical Advisor

    Dr. Goldberg is a professor and Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of the Spencer Center for Vision Research at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University.

    He directs an NIH-funded research laboratory and has developed significant expertise in implementing clinical trials addressing optic nerve neuroprotection and regeneration. His laboratory is developing novel nanotherapeutic approaches for eye repair in addition to validating biomarkers associated with neuroprotection. He received the Cogan award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in 2012 and was elected in 2010 to the American Society of Clinical Investigation, an honorary society of physician scientists. Dr Goldberg received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Yale University, and his M.D./Ph.D. from Stanford University.

  • Louis Pasquale,MD, FARVO

    Ophthalmology Clinical Advisor

    Dr. Pasquale is the Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

    He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Manhattan College and earned his M.D. degree from SUNY Stony Brook where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor medical society. Dr. Pasquale is Site Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Vice Chair of Translational Ophthalmology Research for the Mount Sinai Healthcare System. He currently serves as Glaucoma Trustee for the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and is a member of the National Institute of Health’s National Advisory Eye Council. He is a member of multiple editorial boards, including the Journal of Glaucoma, the American Journal of Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmology Glaucoma. Dr. Pasquale is an NIH Principal Investigator with continuous support since 2006.

  • Robert Ritch,MD

    Ophthalmology Clinical Advisor

    Dr. Ritch holds the Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology and is Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Mt. Sinai Medical School and Surgeon Director Emeritus.

    He is Chief of Glaucoma Services at New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. He founded the Glaucoma Foundation and contributed to multiple textbooks of ophthalmology, including more than 1500 published medical and scientific articles and abstracts. Dr. Ritch has given over 50 named lectures and received 60 national and international awards. Dr. Ritch has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals including the Journal of Glaucoma, the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, and the Archives of Ophthalmology. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Royal College of Ophthalmology. Dr. Ritch received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and an M.D. degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.