About

Mr. Kaupinen brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial life sciences experience as an operating executive, early-stage investor, including having worked closely with several companies that have secured FDA approvals of novel treatments for high unmet indications. Prior to Palvella, Mr. Kaupinen served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Commercialization at Insmed (NASDAQ: INSM), a global commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases. Previously, Mr. Kaupinen was a Principal at Quaker Partners, a life sciences venture capital firm with $700mm under management, where he worked on several public and private investments, including recruiting new leadership to Insmed to execute on a rare disease strategy. Mr. Kaupinen has served as a board director or observer for more than 10 companies, including leading Series A investments in Intact Vascular and TELA Bio (NASDAQ: TELA). Mr. Kaupinen earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Korenberg is a seasoned executive with significant operational and financial leadership experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to Palvella, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of public biotechnology company Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: LGND) since November 2022 and, prior to that, as the company’s Chief Financial Officer since August 2015. Prior to Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Korenberg was the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of NeuroCircuit Therapeutics, a company focused on developing drugs to treat genetic disorders of the brain with an initial focus on Down syndrome. Prior to founding NeuroCircuit Therapeutics, Mr. Korenberg served as a Managing Director and member of the healthcare investment banking team at The Goldman Sachs Group from July 1999 to August 2013. During his 14-year tenure at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Korenberg focused on advising and financing companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Mr. Korenberg has served on the board of multiple public and private companies and currently serves on the board of directors, including the audit committee, of Lifecore Biomedical Inc. (NASDAQ: LFCR), a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Martini brings nearly 20 years of leadership roles in R&D and corporate development.

Prior to Palvella, Dr. Martini served as Executive Director of Business Development and Corporate Strategy at Marinus Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for rare diseases. Previously, Dr. Martini was Project Champion at Teva Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Cephalon Pharmaceuticals where he led the cross-functional development teams for several therapeutic areas and was responsible for program strategy and delivery. Prior experiences include research scientist roles at GSK and Centocor and as an investment consultant at Ben Franklin Technology Partners where he led the due diligence for early stage investments. Dr. Martini has experience leading programs at all stages of development, including IND submission through NDA approval and product launch. Dr. Martini holds a B.S. from Penn State University and a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology from Jefferson University.

With a positive and relentless spirit, Ms. Goin builds and coaches high-performing and successful clinical development teams.

Since 1998, Ms. Goin served many patient populations by developing drugs and devices to treat different cancers, heart disease/abnormalities, and pain conditions. As Vice President, Clinical Operations at Trevena, Inc., she shaped trial execution strategies across all programs by promoting meaningful and streamlined interactions between sites and sponsor representatives and employing modern processes for lean yet highly effective trial execution. These approaches led to helping the company start and finish three Phase III studies in just under two years. In 2017, she joined colleagues to start Clinical Works, a progressive specialty consulting firm focused on helping emerging and small biotech/pharmaceutical companies start their clinical programs and execute trials. Ms. Goin holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from College Misericordia.

From 1987 to 2005, Mr. Jenkins was a general partner of Apax Partners, a leading global private equity firm where he served as chief operating officer overseeing a multi-billion dollar venture capital and private equity investment portfolio. Since 2006, Mr. Jenkins has been an active private investor primarily funding technology-based start-ups. Mr. Jenkins has been or currently serves as a board member of numerous public and private companies, including SkinMedica (acquired by Allergan), Colorescience, Flower Orthopedics, Power Survey, Sunglass Hut, and Spyder Active Sports. Prior to joining Apax, Mr. Jenkins was a banker managing banking facilities in Europe. Mr. Jenkins earned a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from Lafayette College where he currently serves as a Trustee.

Mr. Davis is a founding Managing Director at HealthCare Royalty Partners, a global healthcare investment firm. He has 30 years of experience working in and investing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Over the course of his career, Mr. Davis has been involved in over $2 billion in healthcare deals and nearly $1 billion in royalty financings. He has also led, structured and closed over 40 additional intellectual property licenses, as well as growth equity, and debt deals. Previously, Mr. Davis was a partner at Paul Capital Partners, where he co-managed that firm’s royalty investments as a member of the royalty management committee. He also served as a partner responsible for biopharmaceutical growth equity investments at Apax Partners. Prior to beginning his principal investment career in 2001, Mr. Davis held various sales and product management roles at Abbott Laboratories and worked in business development, operations and licensing at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Davis holds a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. He currently serves on the board of Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LGND).

Tadd S. Wessel is the founder and Managing Partner of Petrichor. Mr. Wessel was formerly a Managing Director at OrbiMed Advisors, where he led the build-out of the healthcare special situations and structured finance business. Prior to OrbiMed, Mr. Wessel was a Vice President in the Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund at Fortress Investment Group, focused on healthcare investments. Mr. Wessel began his career in investment banking at Robertson Stephens, where he worked in the life sciences group. Mr. Wessel holds an A.B. in Biology from Princeton University.

Mr. Kaupinen brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial life sciences experience as an operating executive, early-stage investor, including having worked closely with several companies that have secured FDA approvals of novel treatments for high unmet indications. Prior to Palvella, Mr. Kaupinen served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Commercialization at Insmed (NASDAQ: INSM), a global commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases. Previously, Mr. Kaupinen was a Principal at Quaker Partners, a life sciences venture capital firm with $700mm under management, where he worked on several public and private investments, including recruiting new leadership to Insmed to execute on a rare disease strategy. Mr. Kaupinen has served as a board director or observer for more than 10 companies, including leading Series A investments in Intact Vascular and TELA Bio (NASDAQ: TELA). Mr. Kaupinen earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Kiritsy is founder and managing member of Precision Kapital, LLC, a private investment and advisory firm. Prior to forming Precision Kapital, Mr. Kiritsy teamed up with the late pharmaceutical legend, Michael Jaharis, to co-found Arisaph Pharmaceuticals and served as Arisaph’s President and Chief Executive Officer from 2005 through 2018. Prior to Arisaph, Mr. Kiritsy served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer of Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he played a key operating role in building the company from start-up to highly profitable, publicly traded, commercial company, in which Kos internally developed and commercialized the blockbuster Niaspan® franchise. Mr. Kiritsy spearheaded more than 10 major corporate development transactions and raised approximately $500 million in public equity, including Kos’ initial public offering. Kos was acquired by Abbott Laboratories for $3.7 billion in 2016. Additionally, Mr. Kiritsy has broad corporate governance experience, previously serving as board member and various committee chairs of multiple public and private companies. Mr. Kiritsy also serves as an advisor to Red Sky Partners, LLC. Mr. Kiritsy is a seasoned entrepreneur, who possesses 30 years of industry experience, building emerging biopharmaceutical companies with expertise in R&D, business development and finance.

Elaine J. Heron, Ph.D. rejoined our Board in December 2024. She previously served on our Board from July 2018 to August 2022. From February 2009 to October 2015, Dr. Heron served as Chair and CEO of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a private drug development company acquired by Pfizer, Inc. in April 2021.

Dr. Heron currently serves on the boards of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN), a commercial stage company with eight marketed products including seven with orphan designation, Vaxart, Inc. (VXRT), a public clinical-stage biotechnology company which is developing oral vaccines, Visgenx, Inc., a private early-stage ophthalmology company, BlueWhale Bio, a private early-stage company developing products for cell therapy manufacturing, and Watershed Therapeutics, Inc., a private early-stage urology company. Dr. Heron is also an advisor to K2X Technology and Life Science, Inc., a FinTech company developing a vehicle for investing in early-stage companies.

From July 2001 to October 2008, Dr. Heron was Chair and CEO of Labcyte Inc., a private biotechnology tools company. Before joining Labcyte Inc., she spent six years in positions of increasing responsibility at the Applied Biosystems Group of Applera Corporation, a biotechnology tools company, including the positions of General Manager and Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Dr. Heron holds a B.S. in Chemistry with highest distinction and a Ph.D. in Analytical Biochemistry from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.