(from January 2017 to March 2022), Recros Medica, Inc. (from August 2014 to April 2021), Adigica Health, Inc. (from February 2016 to March 2021), Clarify Medical, Inc. (from August 2014 to December 2016), Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCT) (from March 2016 to May 2016), MDRejuvena, Inc. (from August 2014 to August 2016) and BioSurplus, Inc. (from March 2010 to November 2014). Ms. Scott also previously served as a partner at RA Capital Advisors LLC, a San Diego private investment bank providing financial advisory services. She spent over 15 years with RA Capital Advisors, completing mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings for a broad range of corporate clients. Ms. Scott started her career as an auditor in Arthur Andersen’s San Diego office, focusing on both public and private clients. Ms. Scott serves on the boards of directors of Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRMA), where she has served since August 2021, the YMCA of San Diego County and Corporate Directors Forum, and previously served as a member of the board of Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. from November 2019 to May 2020. Ms. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in economics/business from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a CPA and CFA charter holder.
Sarina Tanimoto, M.D., M.B.A., is a co-founder of ARS Pharma and has served as its Chief Medical Officer since September 2018. From August 2015 to September 2018, Dr. Tanimoto served as a member of the ARS Pharma Board. From August 2015 to November 2007, Dr. Tanimoto served as Chief Medical Officer of Pacific-Link Regulatory Consulting and Research, Inc., a medicinal product development consultancy, where she supported multiple programs from Phase 1 to Phase 3 clinical trials in various therapeutic areas, including several intranasal products. Prior to Pacific-Link Regulatory Consulting and Research, Inc., Dr. Tanimoto held roles in clinical and business development during her tenure at AnGes Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and also served as a clinical scientist at Roche, a research healthcare company, where she was involved in global clinical development. Dr. Tanimoto earned an M.D. from University of Toyama, followed by internal medicine training at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo. She holds an M.B.A. from McGill University.
Eric Karas, has served as the Chief Commercial Officer of ARS Pharma since April 2022. From October 2018 to March 2022, Mr. Karas served as Vice President and General Manager of Commercial, North America at Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS). Prior to that, from December 2016 to October 2018, Mr. Karas led commercial initiatives for NARCAN® Nasal Spray at Adapt Pharma, Inc., which was acquired by Emergent BioSolutions in 2018. Prior to Adapt Pharma, Mr. Karas spent eight years at Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. overseeing all global commercial objectives related to its urology portfolio. He also led the launch readiness planning and go-to-market strategy for the launch of XIAFLEX® for Peyronie’s disease. Auxilium Pharmaceuticals was acquired in 2015 by Endo International plc (Nasdaq: ENDP). Mr. Karas has also held cross-functional roles in government affairs, public relations, patient advocacy and sales leadership roles at Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK). Industry associations have recognized him for numerous disease awareness and branded campaigns targeting healthcare professionals and consumers. Mr. Karas received his M.B.A. in integrated management from Michigan State University, Broad School of Management, and a B.S. in accounting from Rutgers University.
Justin Chakma, has served as the Chief Business Officer of ARS Pharma since June 2019. From May 2018 to May 2019, Mr. Chakma served as VP, Head of Business Development and Strategy at Vedanta Biosciences, a biotechnology company developing medicines to modulate immune responses. Before that, from November 2015 to May 2018, he was a Senior Director of Business Development at Celgene Corporation (formerly Nasdaq: CELG) (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company). Prior to joining Celgene, Mr. Chakma held various roles in biotech and pharmaceutical business development, financing and investments at Receptos, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: RCPT) (acquired by Celgene), Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: ASPX) (acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.), and Thomas, McNerney & Partners, a venture capital firm. Mr. Chakma holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and bachelor degrees in neuroscience and economics from the University of Toronto.