Team

Manijeh Goldberg, PH.D., M.B.A., M.S.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Manijeh is the Founder and CEO of Privo, a biopharmaceutical company revolutionizing localized drug delivery for oncology. With over 25 years of experience spanning large corporations and startups (one acquired for $475M), she brings a proven track record of leadership and innovation.

As CEO, Manijeh has cultivated strategic partnerships, including close collaborations with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). She successfully lobbied for Privo’s flagship product, PRV111, to be included in an NIH-funded clinical study and has overseen its development into second-generation products. Currently, PRV111 (a topical treatment for early carcinomas) and PRV211 (designed for intraoperative use to reduce residual cancer cells) are in human clinical trials, while PRV131, an intratumoral injectable for solid tumors, is being studied in companion animals, showing promising results.

Manijeh is driving Privo’s growth through business development, clinical trial execution, and the expansion of its transformative pipeline. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, an MS in Health Sciences and Technology from Harvard Medical School, an MBA from MIT Sloan, and an MS in Computer Science and Mathematics.

James Mackay, PH.D

Chief Advisor

Dr. Mackay is the founder, president, and CEO of Aristea Therapeutics, an immunology company focused on developing treatments for orphan diseases. Prior to founding Aristea Therapeutics, Dr. Mackay led the successful $1.2B acquisition and transition of Ardea Biosciences into AstraZeneca. He was President & CEO of Ardea Biosciences from 2013 to 2018. He set up an innovative model for Ardea that retained the biotech’s independence and accountability for the development of the gout franchise while developing a collaborative relationship with the parent company, AstraZeneca. Prior to Ardea Biosciences, Dr. Mackay was Global Product Vice President for Diabetes franchise at AstraZeneca where he played a critical role in the successful development of the AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb diabetes alliance. He held a number of senior roles in AstraZeneca’s Clinical Development Function including portfolio management of all AstraZeneca Clinical resources and budget worldwide and management of AstraZeneca’s strategic partnerships with drug development CROs.

Albert Collinson, PH.D

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR

Dr. Collinson has over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He was the president and Chief Executive Officer at Theracos, Inc. from July 2009-July 2023, a pharmaceutical research and development company focusing on mid- to late- stage assets for the treatment of human diseases including type-2 diabetes. In July 2023, their asset Brenzavvy™ was approved for commercial use. Prior to Theracos Inc., Dr. Collinson founded and served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Opsonic Therapeutics from 2009 to June 2014, a privately held biotechnology company engaged in the development of the next generation of antibody therapeutics. Dr. Collinson also served as the Chief Business Officer of Rib-X Pharmaceuticals from 2004 to 2009, the senior vice president of business development at Phylos, Inc. from 2000 to 2004, and the vice president of global research & development licensing at BASF Pharma from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Collinson began his career as a scientist at ImmunoGen, Inc.

Vera Martin

Head of Clinical Operations

Vera Martin has 35+ years of diverse and extensive work experience in the field of clinical operations, program, and project management. Vera serves as Privo Technologies’ Head of Clinical Operations starting in December 2023. Prior to this, she served as a consultant to Privo Technologies beginning in 2021.

In 2014, Vera founded Encours Consulting LLC providing her leadership and drug development skills to support development of start-up biotech infrastructure, biotech efficiency and BIMO/PAI preparedness.. Between 2016 to 2020, Vera served as the Clinical Project Leader for MGH-Harvard/Theracos leading to the approval of Brenzavvy™ (bexagliflozin). Before that, she worked at various medium and large CROs, inclusive of Pharm-Olam leading the Sponsor’s program approval of rolapitant (Varubi™). Vera served as PPD’s Project Lead for the Zomig™, Nexium™ as well as Solaris™ programs collaboration with the Sponsor. In 2010 to 2013, Vera served as the Senior Director for the virtual $1 Billion for the development and approval of alogliptin. Overall, Vera’s work experience spans various companies and has firsthand experience working in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East- North Africa. Vera Martin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and Mastering Certificate, Project Management from Villanova University.

Cuthbert Thomas, CPA/ABV, CGMA

CONSULTING CFO

Cuthbert (Cutty) is Sr. Manager in Withum’s Boston office and leads their OASyS practice (Outsourced Accounting Systems and Services). Cutty has extensive experience in areas of financial reporting, financial management, financial systems, and operating consulting. He works with C-Suite executives and he is an expert at assisting start-ups through various stages of growth. He is an active member of the Firm’s Life Sciences Services Team. In addition, Cutty provides business valuation, litigation support and consulting services for closely-held businesses. Cutty received his MBA with Finance concentration from Drake University and his B.A in Accounting from Grand View University. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as well as member of Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants (ISCPA) and Massachusetts Society of Public Accountants (MSCPA). Cutty is also Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) by the AICPA.

Nishant Agrawal, MD

Chief Medical Advisor

Dr. Nishant Agrawal is the director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine. Dr. Agrawal specializes in the management of patients with benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck. His work has achieved international recognition in the field of head and neck surgical oncology, and head and neck cancer genetics. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Dr. Agrawal was an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Agrawal’s lab is devoted to the study of the genetics and molecular diagnostics of head and neck cancer. The group has described the genomic landscape of head & neck squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal cancer and medullary thyroid cancer, and has developed assays using tumor DNA as a biomarker in saliva and plasma. His lab’s research is focused on the application of cancer genetics to design diagnostic approaches to reduce morbidity and mortality from head and neck cancer.