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.

Mr. Caravella has over 20 years of global healthcare financial and operational experience. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Biotheryx where led the finance, investor relations and operations functions. Prior to joining Biotheryx, he served as Vice President of Finance at Tango Therapeutics, a publicly traded biotechnology company where he built and led the finance and accounting organization. He has also held finance roles across commercial, business development and operations functions at other publicly held companies, including Editas Medicine, Charles River Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Caravella earned his M.B.A. and B.S. from Syracuse University.

Brent Meadows has over 20 years of experience in biotech commercialization and business development leadership. Prior to joining Medicenna, Mr. Meadows served as CBO at OncoOne, where he defined the company's overall business strategy with his cross-functional leadership and oversaw business development, including deal execution. He has also held senior-level positions in business development, commercial strategy and marketing at Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen and several senior positions at Johnson and Johnson. While at AVEO Oncology and Baxalta/Shire, he led or co-led multiple transactions, each worth over $1 billion. He has an MBA from Babson College and a BSc in Finance from University of Richmond.

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.

Dr. Martin Bexon has worked as a strategic adviser, study medical expert, and medical monitor in a number of oncology programs in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. While at CSL Behring (Bern, Switzerland), he led multiple global clinical studies across a range of indications. At Hoffman-La Roche (U.K. and Switzerland), Martin designed and executed multiple global clinical trials enrolling more than 10,000 subjects to support product commercialization. He obtained his MBBS (MD equivalent) from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. Most recently, Dr. Bexon has worked for BioNTech as consult medical expert in their COVID-19 vaccine program and early human studies.