Latest news with #UsmanAhmed
Business Upturn
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Quetzal Therapeutics Debuts with Expert Leadership, High-Impact Pipeline and $50 Million of Committed Capital
CHICAGO, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quetzal Therapeutics, a newly formed biopharmaceutical company, announced its official launch today with $50 million of committed capital. Founded to address urgent unmet needs in rare and life-threatening diseases, Quetzal brings together a team of seasoned executives, scientific pioneers, and biotech & pharmaceutical veterans committed to delivering transformative therapies to patients around the world. At the core of Quetzal's mission is a belief that cutting-edge science, guided by proven leadership, can redefine what's possible in treatment for conditions like Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ('APL') and invasive infections. The company has formed around a multi-asset pipeline, initially including: QTX-2101: A novel oral arsenic trioxide therapy for the treatment of APL expected to enter Phase III clinical trials by late 2025, supported by encouraging comparative pharmacokinetic data from a Phase 1b trial sponsored by Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. QTX-2102, a next-generation antifungal and antiparasitic therapy in preclinical development, designed to improve efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Built on Leadership Excellence Quetzal is led by an executive team with deep expertise in drug development, clinical strategy, and operational execution. 'Our team was brought together by a shared conviction: that patients with rare diseases deserve the same urgency and innovation as those with more common conditions,' said Usman Ahmed, CEO. 'Quetzal Therapeutics is built to deliver on that promise with the right science, the right strategy, and the right people.' Usman Ahmed, CEO & Chairman – A proven leader with over two decades of leadership in pharmaceuticals and start-up innovation. During his tenure at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Usman led the execution of complex transactions, spearheaded operational improvements, and championed cost efficiencies in the highly specialized and challenging field of specialty and generic injectables. Dr. Sridhar Desikan, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer – An industry veteran with 28 years of experience in NCE and generics development. Sridhar began his career at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and subsequently worked at DuPont Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Reddy's, and most recently at Nexus Pharmaceuticals as Chief Scientific Officer. Sridhar holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has accreditations from Harvard Medical School's HMX Pro program. Sara Mathews, Vice President Program Leadership – With nearly 15 years of experience in the biotech industry, Sara is a seasoned asset leader with a proven track record of bringing cross-functional teams together and leading novel oncology therapeutics through global clinical programs from IND filing through late-stage development, filing preparation, and commercial launch planning. Christina Liwski, General Counsel & CHRO – With over a decade of diverse and sophisticated legal experience, Christina brings deep legal acumen to the team. Christina's experience spans multiple practice areas, including transactions and litigation. She most recently served as Assistant General Counsel at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Massachusetts, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Guided by an Accomplished Board of Directors The company's Board of Directors features industry leaders with a track record of building, funding, and guiding successful companies: Aman Ahmed – With nearly a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Aman brings deep expertise in sales operations, DEA and FDA regulatory compliance, international sales, and therapeutic portfolio management. Dr. Jonathan Cheng – Dr. Jonathan Cheng is a physician-scientist and oncology drug development expert with a distinguished career across both industry and academia. As Chief Medical Officer at Systimmune, he leads the clinical development of a diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics, including innovative antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the company's first-in-class EGFR-HER3 bispecific ADC currently in Phase 3 trials. Todd Chermak, Ph.D – Todd Chermak is a life sciences executive with 30 years of experience spanning the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics, and nutrition industries. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Global Business Head of Immunology and Proteomics at CellCarta. Mike Warmuth – Mike Warmuth is currently working on various Boards: for profit, academic, and not-for-profit. From 2018 to 2023 Mr. Warmuth worked for EW Healthcare as an Operating Partner in their New York office. Prior to EW, Mr. Warmuth spent 30 years at Abbott in various senior executive capacities, where he led multiple divisions and business units. Strategic Talent Acquisition Partnership Quetzal Therapeutics proudly acknowledges the role of Heidrick & Struggles, a premier global leadership advisory firm, in identifying and recruiting Dr. Jonathan Cheng to the company's Board of Directors. Their expertise and commitment to excellence were instrumental in securing a highly respected thought leader whose insight will help shape Quetzal's long-term scientific and clinical strategy. For more information, please visit: Media Contact: [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Quetzal Therapeutics Debuts with Expert Leadership, High-Impact Pipeline and $50 Million of Committed Capital
CHICAGO, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quetzal Therapeutics, a newly formed biopharmaceutical company, announced its official launch today with $50 million of committed capital. Founded to address urgent unmet needs in rare and life-threatening diseases, Quetzal brings together a team of seasoned executives, scientific pioneers, and biotech & pharmaceutical veterans committed to delivering transformative therapies to patients around the world. At the core of Quetzal's mission is a belief that cutting-edge science, guided by proven leadership, can redefine what's possible in treatment for conditions like Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ('APL') and invasive infections. The company has formed around a multi-asset pipeline, initially including: Built on Leadership Excellence Quetzal is led by an executive team with deep expertise in drug development, clinical strategy, and operational execution. 'Our team was brought together by a shared conviction: that patients with rare diseases deserve the same urgency and innovation as those with more common conditions,' said Usman Ahmed, CEO. 'Quetzal Therapeutics is built to deliver on that promise with the right science, the right strategy, and the right people.' Usman Ahmed, CEO & Chairman – A proven leader with over two decades of leadership in pharmaceuticals and start-up innovation. During his tenure at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Usman led the execution of complex transactions, spearheaded operational improvements, and championed cost efficiencies in the highly specialized and challenging field of specialty and generic injectables. Dr. Sridhar Desikan, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer – An industry veteran with 28 years of experience in NCE and generics development. Sridhar began his career at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and subsequently worked at DuPont Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Reddy's, and most recently at Nexus Pharmaceuticals as Chief Scientific Officer. Sridhar holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has accreditations from Harvard Medical School's HMX Pro program. Sara Mathews, Vice President Program Leadership – With nearly 15 years of experience in the biotech industry, Sara is a seasoned asset leader with a proven track record of bringing cross-functional teams together and leading novel oncology therapeutics through global clinical programs from IND filing through late-stage development, filing preparation, and commercial launch planning. Christina Liwski, General Counsel & CHRO – With over a decade of diverse and sophisticated legal experience, Christina brings deep legal acumen to the team. Christina's experience spans multiple practice areas, including transactions and litigation. She most recently served as Assistant General Counsel at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Massachusetts, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Guided by an Accomplished Board of Directors The company's Board of Directors features industry leaders with a track record of building, funding, and guiding successful companies: Aman Ahmed – With nearly a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Aman brings deep expertise in sales operations, DEA and FDA regulatory compliance, international sales, and therapeutic portfolio management. Dr. Jonathan Cheng – Dr. Jonathan Cheng is a physician-scientist and oncology drug development expert with a distinguished career across both industry and academia. As Chief Medical Officer at Systimmune, he leads the clinical development of a diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics, including innovative antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the company's first-in-class EGFR-HER3 bispecific ADC currently in Phase 3 trials. Todd Chermak, Ph.D – Todd Chermak is a life sciences executive with 30 years of experience spanning the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics, and nutrition industries. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Global Business Head of Immunology and Proteomics at CellCarta. Mike Warmuth – Mike Warmuth is currently working on various Boards: for profit, academic, and not-for-profit. From 2018 to 2023 Mr. Warmuth worked for EW Healthcare as an Operating Partner in their New York office. Prior to EW, Mr. Warmuth spent 30 years at Abbott in various senior executive capacities, where he led multiple divisions and business units. Strategic Talent Acquisition Partnership Quetzal Therapeutics proudly acknowledges the role of Heidrick & Struggles, a premier global leadership advisory firm, in identifying and recruiting Dr. Jonathan Cheng to the company's Board of Directors. Their expertise and commitment to excellence were instrumental in securing a highly respected thought leader whose insight will help shape Quetzal's long-term scientific and clinical strategy. For more information, please visit: Media Contact: [email protected]
Daily Tribune
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
NBB Launches Fourth Edition of the EVOLVE Summer Internship Programme
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has officially launched the fourth edition of EVOLVE, its flagship summer internship programme. This initiative is designed to equip high school and university students with practical, hands-on experience, enabling them to build essential professional skills across the banking and financial services sector. This year's programme will be delivered in two distinct phases. The EVOLVE School segment will run from 8th July to 7th August, followed by EVOLVE University segment, which will take place from 10th August to 11th September. More than 130 school and university students will take part in this year's intake, embarking on an intensive learning journey consisting of classroombased sessions led by NBB employees and external subject matter experts. This will be followed by two weeks of on-the-job training, allowing participants to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios. Commenting on the occasion, Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer of NBB said: 'Through EVOLVE, we continue to deepen our commitment towards empowering young Bahrainis with practical experiences that extend beyond academic learning. By offering students enriched hands-on experiences, we aim to spark an interest in financial services and help nurture and equip the next generation to meet the evolving needs of this dynamic sector.' EVOLVE offers a comprehensive curriculum that goes beyond traditional vocational training. Participants gain direct exposure to NBB's diverse divisions—including high-impact areas such as fintech and cybersecurity— enabling them to explore realworld applications of innovation in financial services. The programme also emphasises holistic development through engaging team - building activities, cultural awareness sessions, first-aid certification, and sign language instruction, nurturing well-rounded, socially conscious future professionals. As part of it son going commitment to national talent development, NBB will continue to formalise partnerships with leading academic and training institutions across the Kingdom to ensure a robust and transformative experience for all attendees. EVOLVE reflects NBB's ongoing commitment to contributing to Bahrain's human capital development in alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. As a key pillar of the Bank's longterm national development strategy, the programme stands as a legacy initiative dedicated to empowering future leaders. By nurturing a generation equipped to drive innovation and lead with purpose, EVOLVE continues to deliver long-term value to individuals, industries, and the broader economy.
Al Bawaba
13-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
NBB Launches Fourth Edition of the EVOLVE Summer Internship Programme
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has officially launched the fourth edition of EVOLVE, its flagship summer internship programme. This initiative is designed to equip high school and university students with practical, hands-on experience, enabling them to build essential professional skills across the banking and financial services year's programme will be delivered in two distinct phases. The EVOLVE School segment will run from 8th July to 7th August, followed by EVOLVE University segment, which will take place from 10th August to 11th September. More than 130 school and university students will take part in this year's intake, embarking on an intensive learning journey consisting of classroom-based sessions led by NBB employees and external subject matter experts. This will be followed by two weeks of on-the-job training, allowing participants to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world on the occasion, Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer of NBB said: 'Through EVOLVE, we continue to deepen our commitment towards empowering young Bahrainis with practical experiences that extend beyond academic learning. By offering students enriched hands-on experiences, we aim to spark an interest in financial services and help nurture and equip the next generation to meet the evolving needs of this dynamic sector.'EVOLVE offers a comprehensive curriculum that goes beyond traditional vocational training. Participants gain direct exposure to NBB's diverse divisions—including high-impact areas such as fintech and cybersecurity—enabling them to explore real-world applications of innovation in financial services. The programme also emphasises holistic development through engaging team-building activities, cultural awareness sessions, first-aid certification, and sign language instruction, nurturing well-rounded, socially conscious future professionals. As part of its ongoing commitment to national talent development, NBB will continue to formalise partnerships with leading academic and training institutions across the Kingdom to ensure a robust and transformative experience for all attendees. EVOLVE reflects NBB's ongoing commitment to contributing to Bahrain's human capital development in alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. As a key pillar of the Bank's long-term national development strategy, the programme stands as a legacy initiative dedicated to empowering future leaders. By nurturing a generation equipped to drive innovation and lead with purpose, EVOLVE continues to deliver long-term value to individuals, industries, and the broader economy.
Biz Bahrain
13-07-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
NBB Launches Fourth Edition of the EVOLVE Summer Internship Programme
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has officially launched the fourth edition of EVOLVE, its flagship summer internship programme. This initiative is designed to equip high school and university students with practical, hands-on experience, enabling them to build essential professional skills across the banking and financial services sector. This year's programme will be delivered in two distinct phases. The EVOLVE School segment will run from 8th July to 7th August, followed by EVOLVE University segment, which will take place from 10th August to 11th September. More than 130 school and university students will take part in this year's intake, embarking on an intensive learning journey consisting of classroom-based sessions led by NBB employees and external subject matter experts. This will be followed by two weeks of on-the-job training, allowing participants to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world scenarios. Commenting on the occasion, Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer of NBB said: 'Through EVOLVE, we continue to deepen our commitment towards empowering young Bahrainis with practical experiences that extend beyond academic learning. By offering students enriched hands-on experiences, we aim to spark an interest in financial services and help nurture and equip the next generation to meet the evolving needs of this dynamic sector.' EVOLVE offers a comprehensive curriculum that goes beyond traditional vocational training. Participants gain direct exposure to NBB's diverse divisions—including high-impact areas such as fintech and cybersecurity—enabling them to explore real-world applications of innovation in financial services. The programme also emphasises holistic development through engaging team-building activities, cultural awareness sessions, first-aid certification, and sign language instruction, nurturing well-rounded, socially conscious future professionals. As part of its ongoing commitment to national talent development, NBB will continue to formalise partnerships with leading academic and training institutions across the Kingdom to ensure a robust and transformative experience for all attendees. EVOLVE reflects NBB's ongoing commitment to contributing to Bahrain's human capital development in alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. As a key pillar of the Bank's long-term national development strategy, the programme stands as a legacy initiative dedicated to empowering future leaders. By nurturing a generation equipped to drive innovation and lead with purpose, EVOLVE continues to deliver long-term value to individuals, industries, and the broader economy.
