SPECIALIZED IN DESIGNING NEW BIOPHARMA-
CEUTICALS
VRG THERAPEUTICS IS A LEADER IN PHARMA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
WITH A WORLD-CLASS DIRECTED EVOLUTION PLATFORM TO CREATE PROTEINS/PEPTIDES TO BE UTILIZED IN CGT APPLICATIONS
Our mission is to cure diseases via targets and mechanism of actions (MoAs) that cannot be reached with traditional approaches.
Using our unique platform, we optimize peptides/proteins of natural origin using directed evolution to create cutting-edge cell and gene therapy (CGT) products or peptide-based pharmaceuticals. Since this platform forms the very essence of all our peptide/protein-based projects, it enables us to handle a diverse portfolio, hence ensures the long-term stability of our R&D activities. Whereas on the fundamentally different parts of our projects, we cooperate with companies or academic laboratories having outstanding expertise on the subject.
VRG Therapeutics's management and staff members were selected based on their international research experience and outstanding pharma industry achievements. Our people have outstanding professional expertise in preclinical/clinical R&D and scientific project management, pharmacology, chemistry manufacturing and controls (CMC), regulatory, business development and medical marketing. For years, they have worked in the most prestigious academic institutes, such as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Karolinska Institute, Harvard University, Weizmann Institute of Science, and several leading pharma companies.
Using our unique platform, we optimize peptides/proteins of natural origin using directed evolution to create cutting-edge cell and gene therapy (CGT) products or peptide-based pharmaceuticals. Since this platform forms the very essence of all our peptide/protein-based projects, it enables us to handle a diverse portfolio, hence ensures the long-term stability of our R&D activities. Whereas on the fundamentally different parts of our projects, we cooperate with companies or academic laboratories having outstanding expertise on the subject.
VRG Therapeutics's management and staff members were selected based on their international research experience and outstanding pharma industry achievements. Our people have outstanding professional expertise in preclinical/clinical R&D and scientific project management, pharmacology, chemistry manufacturing and controls (CMC), regulatory, business development and medical marketing. For years, they have worked in the most prestigious academic institutes, such as Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Karolinska Institute, Harvard University, Weizmann Institute of Science, and several leading pharma companies.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
ZALÁN
PÉTERFI
PÉTERFI
MD, PhD
ZALÁN IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF VRG THERAPEUTICS, HIS ROLE IS TO BUILD VRGT’S STRATEGY AND TO OVERSEE THE COMPANY’S OPERATIONS.
With MD and PhD degrees from Semmelweis University, postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School; Zalán is a Life-science focused manager, Harvard-trained scientist, ex-Mckinsey consultant with extensive experience in pharma and biotech strategy.
With MD and PhD degrees from Semmelweis University, postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School; Zalán is a Life-science focused manager, Harvard-trained scientist, ex-Mckinsey consultant with extensive experience in pharma and biotech strategy.
He is passionate about and experienced in topics where both scientific/medical expertise and management/business excellence are essential to drive maximum impact; a strong people leader with the ability to recruit, train, and manage high-performing teams demonstrated by 10+ years of leadership in academic and business settings. He has extensive life science research experience verified by a track record of peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Nature Chemical Biology and Molecular Cell.
SÁNDOR
FARKAS
FARKAS
MD, PhD
SÁNDOR IS THE LEAD RESEARCHER AT VRG THERAPEUTICS AND HIS ROLE IS TO ENSURE SCIENCE IN LINE WITH INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS.
A non-clinical pharmacologist and drug development scientist, with over 33 years of experience in the Pharma Industry. He received his MD and PhD degrees, at the Semmelweis University Budapest and the University of Pécs, respectively, and worked as a research scientist at the University of Tokyo, Japan; particular areas of expertise include all phases of early drug development from target identification to non-clinical support of clinical development;
A non-clinical pharmacologist and drug development scientist, with over 33 years of experience in the Pharma Industry. He received his MD and PhD degrees, at the Semmelweis University Budapest and the University of Pécs, respectively, and worked as a research scientist at the University of Tokyo, Japan; particular areas of expertise include all phases of early drug development from target identification to non-clinical support of clinical development;
He has expertise in electrophysiology, pain- and migraine research, safety pharmacology, integrated and balanced evaluation of efficacy, safety, and ADME data, also expertise in preparing relevant sections of regulatory documentation. He has provided training and education of doctors and scientists in pharmaceutical medicine and has received training in GLP and GCP.
Author of 38 scientific publications and co-author of 22 patent applications involving 6 drug candidates reaching clinical development.
Author of 38 scientific publications and co-author of 22 patent applications involving 6 drug candidates reaching clinical development.
ATTILA
BRUNYÁNSZKI
BRUNYÁNSZKI
PHD
ATTILA IS THE LABORATORY MANAGER AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE QUALITY OF RESEARCH AT VRG THERAPEUTICS.
He is a biologist and biotechnologist. He earned his MSc from the Kossuth Lajos University of Science in Debrecen and PhD from the Medical University of Debrecen, and then TSTM (Translational Science Team Management) certificate as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
He is a biologist and biotechnologist. He earned his MSc from the Kossuth Lajos University of Science in Debrecen and PhD from the Medical University of Debrecen, and then TSTM (Translational Science Team Management) certificate as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
More than 10 years of experience in molecular biology and cell biology in the field of life sciences research; more than 3 years of project coordination; scientific leading and management experience in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical R&D. He has over 20 international publications, more than 1,000 citations.
TAMÁS
KITKA
KITKA
PHD
TAMÁS IS PROJECT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND HIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO GUIDE OUR PROJECTS TO FULFILL THE FOLLOWING DIVERSE REQUIREMENTS: BEING SCIENTIFICALLY SOLID, MEETING THE NEEDS OF A SUCCESSFUL PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CREATING BUSINESS VALUE.
He is an experienced pharmacologist with sound biology background. He received his MSc in Neurobiology from the Eötvös Loránd University and PhD in Neurobiology from the Semmelweis University.
He is an experienced pharmacologist with sound biology background. He received his MSc in Neurobiology from the Eötvös Loránd University and PhD in Neurobiology from the Semmelweis University.
He has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in various positions: researcher/developer, project manager, research team leader, and business development manager. Spending around a similar time in original research and preclinical development, his experience embraces the full non-clinical R&D process. Thanks to having been involved in development processes in various types of projects (small molecules, biologics, mRNA-s, cell-based therapeutics, medical devices), he provides valuable support to the VRG Therapeutics's diverse R&D portfolio.
PÉTER
KOVÁCS
KOVÁCS
PHD
PÉTER IS THE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT THE VRG THERAPEUTICS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING EFFORTS TO OPTIMIZE THE COMPANY’S PRECLINICAL RESEARCH PORTFOLIO.
He is a biologist-chemist, preclinical pharmacologist, medico-marketing expert; he earned his MSc in biology, BSc in Chemistry and PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Pécs; he worked as an academic researcher for 3.5 years at Penn State University, College of Medicine, in the USA; he has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, about half of which is in the field of pharmaceutical R&D, and the other half is on the scientific-medical positioning of marketed medicines in several therapeutic areas;
He is a biologist-chemist, preclinical pharmacologist, medico-marketing expert; he earned his MSc in biology, BSc in Chemistry and PhD in Neurobiology from the University of Pécs; he worked as an academic researcher for 3.5 years at Penn State University, College of Medicine, in the USA; he has more than 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, about half of which is in the field of pharmaceutical R&D, and the other half is on the scientific-medical positioning of marketed medicines in several therapeutic areas;
His former team has launched several preclinical drug discovery programmes, 2 of which have reached the human clinical stage; he was managing several phase 1 and phase 4 clinical programs in Hungary and internationally, as a pharmacologist, project manager, or project coordinator; he has 18 international publications, several scientific book chapters, 1 international pharmaceutical patent and nearly 100 congress presentations at scientific and medical congresses;
MÁRTON
MEGYERI
MEGYERI
PhD, MBA
Márton is the Head of Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) development and provides a regulatory perspective for late-stage research and a smooth transformation into clinical stage.
Studies: He is a bioengineer and holds a PhD in structural biochemistry and protein science. He completed his MSc in Bioengineering specializing in Industrial Biotechnology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE), and at University of Lund (LTH), Sweden. He received his PhD from Eötvös Lóránd University and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Alongside academic studies he earned an MBA at Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
Studies: He is a bioengineer and holds a PhD in structural biochemistry and protein science. He completed his MSc in Bioengineering specializing in Industrial Biotechnology at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE), and at University of Lund (LTH), Sweden. He received his PhD from Eötvös Lóránd University and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Alongside academic studies he earned an MBA at Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
Experience:
With 9+ years of bio-pharmaceutical experience and 15+ years of academic track record he has managed biosimilar projects by integrating process development, analytical development and regulatory in order to deliver successful CMC development. He has hands-on experience covering all areas of biologics drug substance and drug product development pipeline with supporting analytics. He has participated in several BPD Tpye2 meetings with FDA and Scientific Advice with EMA and his team authored CMC sections of successful IND submissions. He co-led the CMC- and quality evaluation of in-licensed biologics projects and scientifically supported business negotiations. He has several scientific peer-reviewed publications.
TAMÁS
CSIKAI
CSIKAI
TAMÁS IS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL AND OPERATING OFFICER OF VRG THERAPEUTICS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL STABILITY AS WELL AS INVESTOR RELATIONS.
Tamás holds a degree in finance and accounting from the Corvinus University of Budapest and has 10+ years of finance, strategy and operations experience. He started his career at KBC Group as a corporate finance analyst. Later he was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies in Europe and North America. Recently, he was a subsidiary finance and operations director at OTP Group.
Tamás holds a degree in finance and accounting from the Corvinus University of Budapest and has 10+ years of finance, strategy and operations experience. He started his career at KBC Group as a corporate finance analyst. Later he was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies in Europe and North America. Recently, he was a subsidiary finance and operations director at OTP Group.
He has previously laid the strategy and successfully built a new venture at OTP Group from scratch via a mix of organic and inorganic (M&A) activities.
In his capacity, he was responsible for financial, legal, HR, and business intelligence (BI) matters and led M&A projects in line with the go-to-market and growth strategy.
Our labs
The new three-story 600 sqm research facility of the VRG Therapeutics, was opened in 2021 equipped with state-of-the-art technology. It is located in Budapest, in the immediate vicinity of Semmelweis University and Pázmány Péter University at Füvészkert str. 3.
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