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Who we are

Capella Imaging is a biogenerator company focused on the development of diagnostic imaging agents to support unmet medical needs. Our lead candidate is a fibrin-targeted diagnostic imaging agent for cardiac imaging. FibroScint[P1]  (Tc-99m F4A] is a fibrin-targeted, peptide compound labeled with the radioisotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m) for SPECT imaging. If successfully developed and approved, it may have potential applications across multiple cardiovascular conditions such as thrombus (blood clots) associated with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and acute coronary syndrome. Initial clinical investigation of FibroScint will be an exploratory Phase 1 study for its potential use in identifying thrombus in patients with serious heart failure who use an LVAD.  It is anticipated that the first indication for FibroScint will receive an Orphan Drug designation.

Senior Management

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James Blackledge, PhD,  Founder, President and CEO

Dr. Blackledge is an experienced analytical chemist with a background of over twenty years in pharmaceutical drug development. His specialty is biological mass spectroscopy, and his research interests include the development and implementation of mass spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for the development of nanoparticulate drugs.  This area of research spans both large and small molecules, as the macromolecular structures involved are composed of a variety of different species. Prior to the founding of Capella Imaging, Jim worked in the Research & Development functions of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Parke-Davis, Kereos, Inc, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.  Presently he also serves as Director of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry at Galera Therapeutics.

 

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Gregory Lanza, MD/PhD, Founder and CSO

Dr. Lanza is a Professor of Medicine and a board-certified cardiologist, with adjunctive appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences. He holds the James R. Hornsby Family Professorship in Biomedical Sciences. He directs the Consortium for Translation Research in Advanced Imaging and Nanomedicine (C-TRAIN), which is a highly interdisciplinary research laboratory with an extensive clinical and preclinical imaging infrastructure. He is a member of the prestigious Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University in St. Louis and an established NIH principal investigator with over 270 peer-reviewed published manuscripts, 37 US issued patents, and well over 160 invited presentations since the turn of the century. After attaining a PhD from the University of Georgia in 1981, he joined Monsanto Company. He later attended Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and received an MD degree in 1992. There he began ultrasound contrast agent development as a pioneer of molecular imaging. 

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William McGhee, PhD, Founder and COO
Bill’s interests rest primarily in the development of novel pharmaceutical products. His academic training was in the area of physical organic chemistry with an emphasis in understanding reaction mechanisms. This has transformed into a career which has encompassed the development of chemicals/pharmaceuticals along with the processes needed to make these viable commercial product candidates. Process development has not been limited to novel chemical entities but also novel formulations. Much of the formulation work has centered on pharmaceutical nano- and micro- particle delivery. Understanding the processes involved in creating molecules and formulations has been and continues to be his passion. Bill has an extensive publication record, and over 27 issued patents.

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