About Us

What We Do
San Diego-based Asphelia Pharmaceuticals is a fast-growing immunotherapeutic company focused on the development of therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) and other immunological and inflammatory disorders, including multiple sclerosis and asthma.

Our lead compounds target the cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, not just its symptoms, to change the course of the diseases and give patients new freedoms. We also have a unique topically administered therapy for allergic disorders that is currently in development.

We expect to enter Phase IIa clinical trials with all three of our programs in 2008.

Executive Team

Francois-Xavier Frapaise MD
President and CEO
Dr. Frapaise joined ASPHELIA as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of its board of directors, in august 2007. Prior thereto, from April 2006 to July 2007, Dr. Frapaise was Chief Medical Officer at Ocera Therapeutics Inc, where he led the development of a small molecule in different indications including Inflammatory Bowel Disease. From October 2001 to April 2006, Dr. Frapaise was the Corporate Officer and Vice-President R&D at TAP Pharmaceuticals, where he led the clinical development of different compounds with a main focus on Gastroenterology. Prior thereto, Dr. Frapaise was Vice-President Scientific Affairs at Abbott International Division based in Abbott Park, Illinois, from January 1999 to October 2001.Previous positions include Head of Medical Affairs at Bayer Europe, Medical Director at Bayer France, VP of R&D at Delagrange, Head of Anti-thrombotics Strategic Marketing at Sanofi, Medical Director at Choay. His development and regulatory experience include gastroenterology, anti-thrombotics, anti-infectives, diabetes, cardio-vascular products.

Dr. Frapaise holds a M.D. degree from Faculté de Médecine René Descartes Paris France, and is a INSEAD alumni. Dr. Frapaise held an academic position at the Thrombosis Research Center at the Loyola Medical Center in Maywood (IL).

Bertrand C. Liang, M.D., M.B.A.
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dr. Bertrand C. Liang joined the board of directors of Asphelia in March 2005. Since April 2006, Dr. Liang has been the Vice Chairman of PBS. Prior thereto, from March 2005 to April 2006, Dr. Liang was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Asphelia. Prior thereto, since July 2002, Dr. Liang several posts with Biogen Idec including vice president of New Ventures and site head of development in San Diego. Prior to the merger of the Biogen and Idec companies, he was vice president of development, managing the hematology and oncology portfolio. Dr. Liang joined Idec from Amgen, where he led the development of various cytokines in the hematology/oncology franchise, including the clinical development and launch of Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), whose sales have reached over $1B since introduction to the market in 2002.

Dr. Liang served as study section member as well as section chair of a NCI Organizational Review Group, which evaluated all programs within the NCI and set recommendations for future direction of resource allocation for the institute. Dr. Liang serves on the boards of several private pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Dr. Liang received his M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School and his MBA from Regis University, and completed his clinical training in Internal Medicine, Neurology and Oncology at Brown University and the University of Michigan. His post-doctoral work in molecular genetics was conducted at the University of Michigan and the National Center for Human Genome Research/NIH, with molecular pharmacology work at the NCI. Dr. Liang has held academic positions at the NCI, University of Colorado and University of Vermont, where he led the Human Medical Genetics Division. His previous research involved the role of mitochondria and the mitochondrial genome in human cancers, translational research in cancer patients, and patented platform technology work in genomics discovery.

J. Jay Lobell, J.D.
Director
Since January 2005, J. Jay Lobell has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of PBS. He also has served as Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and a directors of Paramount Acquisition Corp. since June 2005. Mr. Lobell serves on the board of directors of Novadel Pharma Inc. (AMEX: NVD) and Innovive Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC: IVPH), and is on the boards of several private biotechnology companies. From 1996 through 2005, he was a partner in the law firm Covington & Burling LLP, where he advised companies and individuals on a variety of business and litigation matters.. Mr. Lobell received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was senior editor of the Yale Law Journal.