Management Team

Dr. Merchant is a biotech veteran with 30 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Medicenna. Previously he was President and CEO of Protox Therapeutics Inc. where he transitioned a pre-clinical start-up to a Phase 3 ready uro-oncology company in six years (2005-2011). In 1992, he co-founded IntelliGene Expressions, Inc., a biologics cGMP compliant CDMO, and built it to one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada ensuring profitability during his tenure as CEO. In 2000, by strategic in-licensing, he co-founded Avicenna Medica, Inc., a clinical stage oncology company, and sold it a year later to KS Biomedix (LSE) for $90 million. Fahar was CTO and Director of KS Biomedix until its acquisition by Xenova (NASDAQ and LSE) in 2003. He has raised over $150 million from public and private sources to fund the development of targeted therapies for oncology and closed corporate transactions valued at over $250 million. Fahar holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Pharmacology from Aston University, MSc in Biotechnology from Birmingham University, and a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from Western University.

David Hyman is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator with over 25 years of financial experience spanning public practice, capital markets, private equity, and industry. Mr. Hyman is a Partner with Tandem Accounting Group where he provides fractional CFO services to small and medium-size businesses, which has included multiple life science companies. Prior thereto, Mr. Hyman spent seven years in private equity as part of a team that invested over $400 million in early-stage energy companies, and four years as a publishing equity analyst at a leading energy-focused investment bank. Mr. Hyman holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.

Ms. Merchant has over 30 years of experience in the development of biopharmaceuticals. Prior to co-founding Medicenna, Ms. Merchant was Senior VP of Development and Regulatory Affairs at Protox Therapeutics, Inc (TSX), and responsible for the development of PRX302 (Topsalysin) a PSA activated protoxin for localized prostate cancer and BPH. She transitioned PRX302, a discovery project to Phase 3 readiness in 6 years. During that time, she executed multiple clinical trials, managed Canadian and the United States regulatory filings, and led all CMC related outsourcing activities in the United States and Europe. In 1992, Nina co-founded, IntelliGene Expressions, Inc., a biologics cGMP compliant CDMO, where she was VP of Manufacturing and Chief Operating Officer. Nina also held a variety of senior-level positions at KS Biomedix, GE LifeSciences, Alberta Innovates, Bioniche, and Sanofi Pasteur. She holds a B.Sc in Pharmacology and Chemistry from Aston University, MSc in Applied Organic Chemistry from Birmingham University, and M.E.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering from Western University.

Director of Clinical Strategy and Chair of Development Advisory Committee

Dr. Arash Yavari is a physician-scientist with over 20 years of broad clinical, scientific and industry drug development experience. He has extensive expertise in early clinical development and scientific strategy across a range of therapeutic areas, including immuno-oncology, hemato-oncology, inflammation, autoimmunity, cardiometabolic and rare disease. Dr Yavari is a University Research Lecturer and Principal Investigator at the Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, CSO of Imbria Pharmaceuticals, and serves as Senior Drug Development Clinician with Weatherden, a London-based biotech-focused consulting organization. Dr. Yavari holds a BSc and MBBS from the University of London, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford.