Team
YONA LEVY
CEO
In addition to Yona’s 5 years at the helm of Alvit, Yona also has over 20 years of experience in business management and investment banking. Mr. Levy is the founder of Levy Capital Group, a boutique investment house that specializes is providing investment opportunities in the U.S. and Israeli markets to both large Israeli banks and high net worth individuals. Levy Capital's investments include US stocks, private companies, start-ups, and Israeli real estate development projects. Since 1996, Yona has also been the acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem of Gold nursing home.
NACHSHOL COHEN
CSO
Nachshol has over 10 years of experience in industrial scale cultivation of cannabis. Mr. Cohen is the founder of integral hydroponics, a company that specializes in providing technology and solutions for controlled cultivation of plants. In addition, Nachshol is the founder of Mycolivia medicinal mushrooms, and was the breeder and grower of IMC (Israel medicinal cannabis). Nachshol studied medicinal chemistry in Ariel University, and was a researcher in the lab of organic chemistry and natural ingredients of Professor Shimon Shatzmiller.
DR. ERAN BLAUGRUND
HEAD OF PHARMACOLOGY
Dr. Blaugrund worked for 20 years with Teva Pharmaceuticals R&D. He started off as a Pharmacology lead, playing an active role in the development and registration of Azilect for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. He then established and managed the Pharmacology department in Teva, after which he headed the preclinical project leadership group. Next Dr. Blaugrund headed the project leadership group for CNS & Pain, a group that was responsible for leading projects such as Copaxone, Laquinimod, Azilect, Pridopidine, Nuvigil and many others.
DR. ITSCHAK LAMENSDORF
FOUNDER
Dr. Lamensdorf is the founder of Pharmaseed, Israel’s largest pre-clinical CRO. He was also the founder and CEO of PharmaSense in 2001, a biotechnology company that specialized in the treatment of CNS disorders. Dr. Lamensdorf holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Faculty of Medicine of the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, and a B.S. and M.Sc. in Clinical Pharmacy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Medical School. He held postdoctoral positions at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland and at the Molecular Genetics Department of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science.
DR. YORAM SELA
FOUNDER
Dr. Sela has more than 28 years of experience in the development of formulations and drug delivery systems. Previously, Dr. Sela founded, and for a period of nine years managed, the drug-delivery unit at Teva (NYSE: TEVA). In addition, Dr. Sela co-founded and served as a director of Karma-Pharm Ltd., and was VP R&D of Lycored Ltd from 2004 to 2008. From 2008 to 2010 Dr. Sela served as VP of R&D at Nesher Solutions, Israel. In December 2010, Dr. Sela founded GC group Ltd. and serves as its CEO. Dr. Sela earned his PhD. and M.Sc. in Chemistry and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Sela has developed and commercialized several complex generic products, mostly extended release dosage forms. In addition Dr. Sela managed the Botanical Drug activities of Lycored Ltd. Dr. Sela passed away on September 26, 2018.
Board of Advisors
GAVIN B. SAMUELS, M.D., MBA
ADVISOR
Gavin has 16 years of diverse pharmaceutical experience in large Pharma and small biotech settings. He has significant business development and commercial experience complemented by medical training and experience in product development, clinical development and scientific evaluation. Gavin also served as Vice-President of Global Business Development & Strategy at Teva Pharmaceuticals. He previously held positions at Quark Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. Gavin’s business development experience includes early and late stage licensing, M&A and Corporate Venture. Gavin received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), a postgraduate diploma in Health Economics from Monash University (Australia) and a MBA from the University of New England (Australia).
PROF. DAN PEER
ADVISOR
Director of the Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine at Tel Aviv University and Director of a national nanomedicine initiative project. A pioneer in the use of RNA interference (RNAi) for in vivo validation of new drug targets within the immune system, with more than 50 pending and granted patents.
Board of Observers
GARY LIEBLER
BOARD OBSERVER
Gary is the managing partner and founder of Shavit Capital, and has managed over $500 million spread over six funds. He has been involved in many successful technology companies including over 15 companies that completed successful IPOs in the US or other public markets. Portfolio companies led by Gary were sold to leading multinational companies including Microsoft, AOL, Amdocs and Alcatel-Lucent.
Gary has additionally served as director of various high-tech and investment advisory companies. Gary was also the founder and managing partner of AIG Orion Venture Capital Fund, which was managed in partnership with the international private equity practice of American International Group (NYSE: AIG). The AIG Orion Fund, with investors including Microsoft, Comcast and the World Bank, was one of Israel’s most successful venture capital funds from the 1999/2000 vintage.
Gary also served as a global manager of the private equity practice of AIG which at the time managed the world’s largest investment firm that specialized in emerging economies. Gary also has experience as an attorney and accountant. Gary is active in many non-profit organizations including the Jerusalem Foundation and the Israel National Library. He was an officer in the IDF (res). Gary holds an LL.B and Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, Australia.