More THAN 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN the Biotechnolgy industry

Dr. Blaschuk has worked in the fields of cell biology and translational research for over three decades. He was a tenured Associate Professor on the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University from 1987-2021 (retired). Before starting Zonula, Dr. Blaschuk co-founded Adherex Incorporated in 1996, a publicly traded, McGill spin-off oncology company, where he served as Chief Scientist (1996-2005) and consultant (2005-2009). Adherex developed anti-cancer drugs targeting cell adhesion molecules (i.e. biological glues) based on intellectual property generated in Dr. Blaschuk's laboratory at McGill University. The Adherex drug ADH-1 (a cyclic peptide targeting the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin) reached Phase II clinical trials as an anti-cancer agent and was given orphan drug status by the FDA for the treatment of melanoma. Dr. Blaschuk thus has proven expertise in drug discovery and development from the laboratory to the clinic. He has authored 88 scientific articles (citations 6,000+) and is an inventor on 51 U.S. patents.

Dr. Vaisburg has more than 30 years of drug discovery and development experience in the areas of infectious diseases, ophthalmology and oncology. He has authored 40 publications and is inventor of 42 patent applications. 

Dr. Vaisburg has held senior positions at:

1. MethylGene/Mirati Therapeutics in Montreal where his team delivered the clinical compounds, Glesatinib and Sitravatinib for the treatment of cancer.

2. NuChem Sciences (now part of Sygnature Discovery), and

3. Cyclenium Pharma, the North American Division of SpiroChem AG.