Despite advances in the immuno-oncology field, 70-80% of patients do not respond or have a limited response to existing therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors.
Portage Biotech aims to change this with a unique approach that drives the development of first-in-class immuno-oncology therapies for patients with cancer.
Our Mission: To identify and accelerate promising medicines that revolutionize treatment and quality of life for patients with cancer.
Using our diverse drug platforms and strong industry network to identify novel assets and asset combinations, we’ve created a model that incorporates the proven practices of our team’s previous successes to catalyze and revolutionize R&D.
Quality Science & Development Strategy
We know quality science and leverage our team’s deep knowledge to create a viable product development strategy that supports commercial potential and company growth. We execute the development process and create strategies to guide novel immuno-oncology assets and asset combinations from bench through human proof of concept.
Track Record of Success
Portage’s team of scientists, clinicians and pharma-experienced executives have a long history of success. The team has collectively contributed to five oncology drug approvals, created many high-value exits and knows the right experiments to pick the most promising clinical therapies and efficiently package them for commercialization or acquisition. Among our most notable projects is the early investment, formation and growth of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, leading the Company to the second-largest IPO in 2017 and later its successful commercialization leading to acquisition by Pfizer for approximately $12 billion in 2022.
De-Risking Clinical Development
We reduce the risks associated with early clinical development through more efficient capital management and scientific oversight. Each platform in our pipeline yields multiple products, and those products are discussed with potential big pharma partners and selected for clinical development if they are differentiated and have a compelling product profile. We continue to review hundreds of potential therapeutic candidates, utilizing a fail-fast approach to select only the most promising assets and asset combinations to advance.
Leadership
CEO, Chairman and Director
Dr. Ian Walters has over 20 years of leadership and expertise in oncology/immunology drug development and specializes in the evaluation, prioritization and innovation of new therapies for the treatment of severe diseases.

Ian B Walters, MD, MBA,
CEO, Chairman and Director
Dr. Ian Walters has over 20 years of leadership and expertise in oncology/immunology drug development and specializes in the evaluation, prioritization and innovation of new therapies for the treatment of severe diseases. Currently, he is the CEO of Portage Biotech.
Prior to Portage, Ian spent seven years at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he managed physicians overseeing the international development of more than eight oncology compounds including nivolumab (anti-PD-1), ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4), brivanib (anti VEGF/FGF), anti-IGF/IR, VEGFR2 biologic, elotuzumab (antiCS1) and biomarker and companion diagnostic work. He was a core member of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Strategic Transactions Group evaluating and executing licensing agreements, mergers and acquisitions, clinical collaborations and the company’s immuno-oncology strategy. Prior to BMS, he held positions at PDL BioPharma, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., leading corporate development, translational medicine, clinical development and medical affairs.
Before entering the private sector, Ian was a lead investigator at the Rockefeller University and initiated advanced immunology research to understand the mechanism of action of several compounds. Ian received his M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an MBA from the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
Chief Scientific Officer
Robert has 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is the former Head of Oncology Discovery Research at both Bristol-Myers Squibb and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, part of the Johnson & Johnson group of companies.

Robert Kramer, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Robert has 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is the former Head of Oncology Discovery Research at both Bristol-Myers Squibb and Janssen Pharmaceuticals , part of the Johnson & Johnson group of companies. He has been responsible for enabling the transition of 35 drugs from discovery into the clinic. Robert championed immunotherapy at Bristol-Myers Squibb, resulting in the acquisition of Medarex, Inc. in 2009 and its portfolio of immune therapeutics that included Ipilimumab and Nivolumab. He received his PhD in pharmacology from the University of Vermont and undertook his post doctorate studies at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Robert held an Assistant Professorship at the Harvard Medical School.
Vice President of Project Management & Operations
Steve Innaimo is a seasoned R&D expert who brings more than 25 years of experience in drug development from the large pharma, biotech and contract research organization sectors.

Steve Innaimo
Vice President of Project Management & Operations
Steve Innaimo is a seasoned R&D expert who brings more than 25 years of experience in drug development from the large pharma, biotech and contract research organization sectors. Prior to joining Portage in 2018, Steve spent two years at Covance as Executive Director and Head of the Global Project Management Office for Covance Clinical Development Services. He previously spent 23 years at Bristol Myers Squibb including as Senior Director of Oncology Project Management and Clinical Operations. During his time at BMS, Steve directly managed or provided development oversight for a number of immune-oncology assets, including Yervoy and Opdivo. He has driven multiple therapies to initial and post-marketing registrations globally. Prior to BMS, Steve began his R&D career as a molecular biologist for Targetech Inc. Steve holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology, an M.S. in Endocrinology from the University of Connecticut and a Project Management Certificate from Boston University.
Chief Financial Officer
Allan Shaw brings more than 20 years of public company financial, operational and strategic global business leadership.

Allan Shaw
Chief Financial Officer
Allan Shaw brings more than 20 years of public company financial, operational and strategic global business leadership. Prior to joining Portage, he was a four-time public company Chief Financial Officer and brings proven skills across multiple finance disciplines, including in corporate finance, capital markets and strategic transactions and in corporate governance and risk management. He structured, directed, negotiated and closed over $4 billion in public and private financings for several companies. Most recently, Allan was the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and was Managing Director of Alvarez & Marsal LLC, a global professional services firm, and led their biopharmaceutical consulting practice. Allan’s previous experience includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Serono S.A., NewLead Holdings Ltd. and Viatel, Inc. He is the Founder and Senior Managing Director of Shaw Strategic Capital LLC, an international financial advisory firm focused on providing strategic financial counsel on a wide variety of issues such as general corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring, licensing and capital markets. Allan received a B.S. from the State University of New York at Oswego and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
Chief Business Officer
Brian Wiley has nearly 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with over 25 years dedicated to oncology.

Brian Wiley
Chief Business Officer
Brian Wiley has nearly 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with over 25 years dedicated to oncology. His experience includes licensing deals, collaborations, M&A, both public and private financings and multiple product launches in oncology. He founded Boston BioConsulting, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in corporate strategy, business development and pre-commercial planning for the biopharmaceutical industry. Additionally, he served as Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development at NewLink Genetics and also served in various leadership and management roles at Celgene, Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, Millennium and Aventis.
Brian has a B.A. in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University.
Chief Accounting Officer
As Chief Accounting Officer, Joseph Ciavarella directs all financial reporting activities at Portage.

Joseph Ciavarella
Chief Accounting Officer
As Chief Accounting Officer, Joseph Ciavarella directs all financial reporting activities at Portage. Prior to joining the company, Joe most recently provided senior financial consulting services to middle market companies. He has also been Chief Financial Officer for several public and private corporations across multiple industries, from telecom and financial services to health care and biotech, with deep experience with start-ups and restructurings.
Joe received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hofstra University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
VP of Development
Justin Fairchild has nearly 20 years of oncology drug development experience.
Justin Fairchild, MPH
VP of Development
Justin Fairchild has nearly 20 years of oncology drug development experience. Prior to joining Portage, Justin served as Vice President of Clinical Development at the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, where he was responsible for a cross-functional team dedicated to the delivery of novel immunotherapy combination clinical trials. He also previously held several roles in both clinical operations and clinical development at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he contributed to both early- and late-stage studies of multiple targeted and immunotherapy oncology agents, including ipilimumab, nivolumab, dasatinib and cetuximab.
Justin earned an MPH from The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and a BA in Chemistry from Colgate University.
Board of Directors
Lead Director
Gregory Bailey is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Juvanescence …
Gregory Bailey, MD
Lead Director
Gregory Bailey is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Juvanescence. Previously he was a Managing Partner of Palantir Group, Inc., a merchant bank involved in a number of biotech company startups and financings. Palantir was also involved in acquiring intellectual property assets and founding companies around the IP.
Gregory was the co-founder of Ascent Healthcare Solutions, VirnetX Inc. (VHC:AMEX), Portage Biotech Inc. (PTGEF: OTCBB) Biohaven (BHVN:NYSE), and DuraMedic Inc. He was the initial financier and an independent Director of Medivation, Inc. (MDVN:NASDAQ), from 2005 to 2012. He also served as the Managing Director and co-Head of Life Sciences at MDB Capital Group LLC from May 2004 to December 2006.
Gregory has served on the Board of Directors of multiple public companies. He practiced emergency medicine for 10 years before entering finance and received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Director
Robert Glassman, MD
Director
Dr. Robert Glassman brings more than 25 years of healthcare banking, venture investing and advisory experience, including as vice chair of Credit Suisse, Global Healthcare Banking and Venture Partner of Public Equity at OrbiMed. He previously served as clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine and has also held academic positions at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania, Cornell and Rockefeller University. Robert holds an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and is a Board-certified hematologist-oncologist.
Director
Steven Mintz has been a self-employed financial consultant since January …
Steven Mintz
Director
Steven Mintz has been a self-employed financial consultant since January 1997, serving both private and public companies in various industries. He is also currently President of St. Germain Capital Corp., a private consulting and investment firm, and a principle and CFO of the Minkids Group, a family investment and development company. In addition, Steven is a Director at Pounder Venture Capital Corp., Brownstone Energy Inc., Everton Resources Inc., and Dominion General Investment Corporation, where he holds the position as President.
Steven graduated from the University of Toronto in 1989 and obtained his Trustee in Bankruptcy license in 1995.
CEO, Chairman and Director
Dr. Ian Walters has over 20 years of leadership and expertise in …
Ian B Walters, MD, MBA
CEO, Chairman and Director
Dr. Ian Walters has over 20 years of leadership and expertise in oncology/immunology drug development and specializes in the evaluation, prioritization and innovation of new therapies for the treatment of severe diseases. Currently, he is the CEO of Portage Biotech.
Prior to Portage, Ian spent seven years at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he managed physicians overseeing the international development of more than eight oncology compounds including nivolumab (anti-PD-1), ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4), brivanib (anti VEGF/FGF), anti-IGF/IR, VEGFR2 biologic, elotuzumab (antiCS1) and biomarker and companion diagnostic work. He was a core member of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Strategic Transactions Group evaluating and executing licensing agreements, mergers and acquisitions, clinical collaborations and the company’s immuno-oncology strategy. Prior to BMS, he held positions at PDL BioPharma, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., leading corporate development, translational medicine, clinical development and medical affairs.
Before entering the private sector, Ian was a lead investigator at the Rockefeller University and initiated advanced immunology research to understand the mechanism of action of several compounds. Ian received his M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an MBA from the Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
Director
Jim is an author, entrepreneur and investor…
Jim Mellon
Director
Jim Mellon is an author, entrepreneur and investor. He was one of the founders of Portage Biotech and is the co-author of five books, all written with a view toward identifying emerging thematic trends leading to investment opportunities. He is a founder and Executive Director of Agronomics Limited (LSE:ANIC) an investment vehicle for cellular agriculture and cultivated meat. He has a particular interest in longevity research and is currently the co-founder and chairman of anti-aging biopharma company Juvenescence. He is also a non-executive director of Condor Gold plc, the Executive Chairman of the Board of Manx Financial Group plc, Co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Bradda Head Lithium (LSE:BHL.L), and the non-executive Chairman of the Board of SalvaRx Group plc. He is also Co-founder and Chairman of Endurance RP.
Jim studied Philosophy, Politics & Economics at Oxford University.
Director
Linda has more than 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry…
Linda M. Kozick
director
Linda M. Kozick has more than 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including 15 years of strategic commercial leadership in oncology with a focus in immuno-oncology. Prior to retiring she held leadership positions at Bristol Myers Squibb and was instrumental to Obdivo and Yervoy product management and portfolio strategy. In addition to Portage, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. and Artiva Biotherapeutics.
Linda received her B.S. in Medical Technology and M.S. in Molecular Immunology from SUNY Upstate Medical Center, and her MBA from Chapman University.
Director
Mark has over 30 years of advising experience for biotech and pharma companies …
Mark Simon
Director
Mark Simon has over 30 years advising experience for biotech and pharma companies as an investment banker and research analyst. He is the Co-founder and an advisor of Torreya Capital, LLC, a global investment bank serving companies in the life sciences industry. Before co-founding Torreya Capital, LLC, he was a Managing Director and the head of life sciences investment banking at Citigroup, where he covered global biopharmaceutical companies, and also served as a Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Research Analyst at Robertson Stephens. Mark serves on the boards of Cabaletta Bio and several disease advocacy and philanthropic foundations.
Mark holds a B.A. in History from Columbia College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Robert Glassman brings more than 25 years of healthcare banking, venture investing and advisory experience…