Arena Therapeutics is a start-up dedicated to developing Targeted Brain Modulation as a treatment for patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In the U.S., approximately 90,000 individuals receive a Parkinson's diagnosis each year, contributing to a total of about 1.2 million people living with the condition. Currently approved therapies primarily address symptoms rather than altering the disease's progression. Arena Therapeutics’ Targeted Brain Modulation therapy is focused on slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease in early-stage patients while improving upon the efficacy, side-effect profile, and durability of brain modulation in mid and later-stage Parkinson’s disease
The company’s novel therapy is based on research and Class II clinical evidence, performed at Vanderbilt University by Drs. David Charles and Mallory Hacker. While currently approved Parkinson’s disease therapies are established for symptomatic treatment in Parkinson’s disease, brain modulation precisely applied to specific brain targets shows exciting potential to slow the loss of motor control and other related symptoms. Analyses from a clinical study completed by Drs. Charles and Hacker provided Class II evidence that Targeted Brain Modulation in early-stage Parkinson’s disease slows rest tremor progression while decreasing the risk of disease progression and polypharmacy compared to optimal drug therapy (Charles et al., 2014; Hacker et al., 2015; Hacker et al., 2016). In addition, Dr Hacker completed research to identify the “sweet spot” and fiber tracks believed to be responsible for slowing motor progression in Parkinson’s disease patients (Hacker et al., 2023). Arena Therapeutics was established to commercialize Targeted Brain Modulation by leveraging an exclusive license to all pre-clinical, clinical, and intellectual property from Vanderbilt University. The company is preparing to launch a pivotal trial in early-stage Parkinson’s disease to gather the evidence for gaining FDA approval for the first Parkinson’s disease modifying therapy.
Further analysis of Arena Therapeutic’s Targeted Brain Modulation’s potential use in mid and later-stage Parkinson’s patients suggests the potential for superior outcomes (Hacker et al., 2024). Although currently approved brain modulation therapies have demonstrated efficacy in improving motor symptoms in mid and advanced-stage Parkinson’s patients, opportunities remain to further increase efficacy, reduce side effects, and prolong its durability. The company believes its Targeted Brain Modulation therapy will overcome these remaining challenges in mid and later-stage Parkinson’s patients. Arena Therapeutics will seek FDA approval for its therapy in mid and advanced -stage patients and seek to demonstrate superior outcomes compared to currently approved therapies.
Our Leadership Team
Our team consists of dedicated and experienced leaders in neuroscience, medical devices, and business. Together, we are committed to building a premier therapy company focused on all stages of Parkinson's disease.
CHAIRMAN
David Charles, M.D.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Tim DeLapp
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Since retiring from Medtronic, Tim has led an executive management advisory firm, partnering with MedTech companies to unlock growth opportunities and address complex business challenges.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Jeff Erb, MBA
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In his last 10 years at Medtronic, Jeff led Strategy and Business Development for Medtronic’s Neuromodulation sector which included Brain Stimulation, Pain Stimulation and Pelvic Health. After leaving Medtronic, he has served in executive roles at multiple early-stage neuromodulation companies including CEO, Board of Directors, Chief Business Officer, and Strategic Advisory roles. Jeff has undergraduate degrees in economics and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Mallory Hacker, Ph.D., M.S.C.I.
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Dr. Hacker has over 11 years of extensive experience in designing and leading clinical trials, with a specific focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. She has successfully led key analyses and NIH-funded studies, which provided critical evidence on the potential disease-modifying effects of early DBS intervention in PD. She also has expertise in FDA regulatory approval of medical devices for use in clinical investigation. Dr. Hacker received the 2019 Kumar New Investigator Award from the North American Neuromodulation Society, and she has been awarded research grants from the NIH, the Department of Defense, the American Parkinson Disease Association, the Consolidated Anti-Aging Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
PUBLICATIONS:
Pilot Study Suggests Parkinson’s Disease Progression Can Be Slowed
DBS Treatment May Slow the Progression of Parkinson's Tremor in Early-Stage Patients
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Sandi Klemann, MBA
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Recently, Ms. Klemann has used her depth of experience to provide fractional CFO services to companies primarily in the Medical Device and Pharmaceutical industry ranging from R&D start-ups, business turnarounds, and the strategic Company sales. Ms. Klemann holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business and received a Bachelor in Business Administration majoring in Accounting and Finance from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She sat for and passed the CPA examination in Wisconsin in 1993.
BOARD DIRECTOR
Brian Kennedy, J.D.
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For over two decades, Brian’s professional career has spanned the practice of law, campaign politics, and corporate public affairs. He has served as the organizer, manager and/or a strategic consultant to dozens of non-profit organizations, coalitions, and associations, including the Alliance for Patient Access. He has served on the national political staff of two presidential campaigns and is a past Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association.
Brian is an alumnus of Iowa State University and earned his J.D. from Drake University Law School. He is a long-standing member of the Iowa State Bar Association.
BOARD DIRECTOR
Todd Langevin
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Todd spent 20 years at Medtronic with increasing leadership roles across a variety of therapeutic areas, product lines, and geographies ranging from product and new therapy development, sales and marketing, and general management. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and received his MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Our Board of Scientific Advisors
Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD
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Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD, holds the Nancy A. Keegan and Donald R. Voelte Jr. Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is a tenured professor of neurosurgery, the inaugural chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and serves as Co-Director of Nebraska Medicine Neurosciences Services.
Kevin R. Cannard, M.D.
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Since 2012, Dr. Cannard has served as the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit. A U.S. Army veteran, Col (Ret.) Cannard has provided neurological care from combat hospitals to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he specializes in Movement Disorders. A leader in Parkinson’s disease research and deep brain stimulation (DBS), he trained under DBS pioneer Dr. Mahlon DeLong at Emory and introduced DBS to Washington, DC, in 1998. Dr. Cannard is a dedicated educator, fellowship-trained in Clinical Pharmacology, and has collaborated with the Vanderbilt DBS research team for over two decades.
Robert Gross, MD, PhD
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Dr. Robert Gross is Henry Rutgers Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson and New Jersey Medical Schools and Senior VP for Neurosurgical Services at RWJ Barnabas Health. His research focuses on electrical, cellular, and gene therapies for Parkinson Disease and epilepsy in animal models and in patients.
Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD
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Dr. Joohi Jimenez-Shahed is Medical Director of Movement Disorders Neuromodulation and Brain Circuit Therapeutics and an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), neurology residency training at Duke University Medical Center and fellowship training in movement disorders at Baylor College of Medicine. She serves as Co-Chair of the Parkinson Study Group and Councilor on the Executive Board of the International Association of Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.
Peter Konrad, MD, PhD
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Dr. Peter Konrad is a functional neurosurgeon and performs deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants, epilepsy surgery, trigeminal neuralgia surgery, and surgery for complex pain. His research interests are focused on neuroprosthetics for restoring mobility and function in humans with spinal cord injury and amputations, the potential neuroprotective effect of DBS in Parkinson’s disease, use of lasers for stimulation of neural tissue, and the development of a universal brain atlas for management of DBS implants.
Leo Verhagen, MD, PhD
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Dr. Leo Verhagen is a movement disorders specialist and currently serves as Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University, where he joined the NW Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center in July 2022, bringing decades of experience and knowledge with him. Prior to this, Dr. Verhagen served as Professor within the Rush University Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program, from where he holds the honorary title of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurological Sciences. Dr. Verhagen has extensive experience in the use of deep brain stimulation and MRI guided focused ultrasound for the treatment of movement disorders and is an active leader in clinical trials for new medications, gene therapy, biologics, and cell-based therapies.
Jill Ostrem, MD
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Dr. Jill Ostrem is a neurologist with a special interest in treating movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor. She is medical director and division chief of the UCSF Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation Center.
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