Dr. Zhang and other partners launched Beta Chemicals, Inc. at Science Park at Yale in New Haven, CT, as a contract research organization (CRO) offering specialty chemicals and custom synthesis. Beta Chemicals evolved into Beta Pharma and in 1998 initiated its first drug discovery project. The first major breakthrough came in 2002 with the synthesis of a novel EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Icotinib. Zhang partnered with investors and in 2011 Icotinib HCl was granted marketing approval in China under the brand name Conmana®. Zhang then refocused Beta Pharma’s efforts towards Icotinib’s development globally and the company successfully filed an IND in the U.S. for Icotinib HCl and has been given approval to begin Phase I clinical trials.

Memberships/Associations/Affiliations: American Chemical Society (ACS), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)

Dr. Jirong Peng joined Beta Pharma in 2007 and manages the overall company executive operations, routine operations of new drug development, IND/NDA registration, new drug clinical development in Asia, and strategic cooperation with business partners and local regulatory bodies. Prior to this, Peng served Beta Pharma as Vice President and Director of Chemistry. Peng brings over 30 years of experience with research and chemistry and previously oversaw scientific functions, including basic and applied research projects, as well as the development of new processes, technologies and products.

Dr. Peng obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Michigan State and a B.Sc. Analytical Chemistry, Lanzhou University, P. R. of China. His dissertation was titled Mechanistic Studies and Inhibition of Dehydroquinate Synthase and myo-Inositol 1-phosphate Synthase.

Memberships/Associations/Affiliations: American Chemical Society (ACS), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)

Michael N. Greco, Ph.D., joined Beta Pharma in April 2014. As Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Greco is focused on advancing the company’s oncology pipeline and providing scientific leadership in small molecule drug discovery pertaining to the fields of oncology and virology. Prior to this role, Dr. Greco was at Johnson & Johnson for over 28 years, where he was a Scientific Director with responsibility for discovery programs targeting inflammation, cardiovascular, CNS, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. His leadership has led to clinical agents in the areas of inflammation and oncology.

Dr. Greco holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

Memberships/Associations/Affiliations: American Chemical Society (ACS), American Chemical Society – Medicinal Chemistry Division

Dr. Costanzo is a seasoned medicinal and synthetic organic chemist with over 35 years of experience in drug discovery. He has extensive chemistry project management experience in cardiovascular, CNS, inflammation, infectious diseases and oncology. Dr. Costanzo has discovered 2 drugs that have entered clinical trials and he is an inventor of 25 International Patent Applications, including 15 issued U.S. Patents. Dr. Costanzo is an author of over 40 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and he has been an invited speaker at national American Chemical Society meetings. He has expertise in heterocyclic chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, peptide synthesis, parallel synthesis, solid phase synthesis, and structure-based drug design.

Prior to joining Beta Pharma, Dr. Costanzo was a researcher at several small startups, which include the Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center Inc., PolyMedix Inc. and SiGNa Chemistry Inc. He spent the majority of his career (29 years) in Drug Discovery at Johnson & Johnson, where he was a Research Fellow.

Dr. Costanzo has been awarded a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award (2008) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a Johnson & Johnson Excellence in Science Award (2005) and a Johnson & Johnson Drug Discovery Impact Award (1999).

Dr. Costanzo graduated with a B.Sc. in chemistry from Drexel University and he received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Temple University under the guidance of Prof. David R. Dalton.

Memberships/Associations/Affiliations: American Chemical Society (ACS), American Chemical Society – Medicinal Chemistry Division