World class leaders
Adaptin is led by a team of highly skilled executives and scientists
The management team at Adaptin Bio has extensive experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Their backgrounds include leadership and executive roles in research and development, clinical operations, and business strategy.
Collectively, they bring expertise in oncology, precision medicine, drug development, and commercialization, with a proven track record of advancing innovative therapies from concept to market. Notably, the team previously worked at Chelsea Therapeutics, where they played instrumental roles in the company’s success and eventual exit. Their combined skills and experience are instrumental in driving Adaptin Bio’s mission to develop cutting-edge treatments for cancer and other serious diseases.
Dr. Roberts has over 25 years of pharmaceutical research, development, corporate development, and executive experience. He is co-founder and President and CEO of Adaptin Bio and also serves on the board of directors. Prior to Adaptin he was co-founder and acting CEO of Corino Therapeutics. Dr. Roberts led and ran all activities related to Corino and the development of a disease-modifying drug called CRX-1008, which is used to treat the protein disorder transthyretin amyloidosis. He is a pharmaceutical and biotech consultant and owner of MAC B Consulting. Prior to Corino, Dr. Roberts was VP, Business Development and Corporate Officer of publicly traded Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. He was responsible for business development efforts focused primarily on licensing and M&A with consideration to pipeline management. He led the sale of Chelsea Therapeutics to H. Lundbeck A/S in 2014 for approximately $658 million. Prior to Chelsea Therapeutics, Dr. Roberts was Director of Business Development for their Nektar Therapeutics’ Molecule Engineering technology and completed a number of transactions with large and specialty pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Roberts has completed pharmaceutical transactions valued at over $1B. Prior to this he was Manager of Biopharmaceutical Research at Shearwater Corporation where he led and was successful in the development of preclinical drug candidates from initial stages of research through Phase I clinical study, including inventing the product Movantik™, a treatment for opioid-induced constipation, subsequently licensed to AstraZeneca in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion. Shearwater was sold to Inhale Therapeutic Systems (now known as Nektar Therapeutics) in 2001 for approximately $200 million. Dr. Roberts obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Alabama and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Pedder has a career of over 30 years in drug development and commercialization. He was recently Chief Executive Officer of Nirogy. Prior to that, he had leadership roles as Chief Business and Strategy Officer for Athenex; President and CEO of Cellectar Biosciences from April 2014 to June 2015; President and CEO of Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. from May 2004 to July 2012; and Global Vice President of Oncology Pharma Business and Executive Officer at Hoffmann-LaRoche. Previous positions at Roche included Life Cycle Leader and Global Project Leader of Pegasys/IFN and Head of Hepatitis Franchise. Prior to that, he was Clinical Leader for a number of development compounds at Roche. Dr. Pedder served on the board of directors of Cerecor, Inc. from April 2018 to June 2020, Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. from March 2016 to April 2019 and Delcath Systems, Inc. from November 2017 to April 2019.
Early in his career, he was a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology in College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology. During his longstanding career in pharmaceutical development, Dr. Pedder played key roles in the successful development and commercialization of multiple proprietary pharmaceutical products including Tasmar®, Pegasys®, Copegus®, Northera® and Klisyri®. In addition to his Ph.D., Dr. Pedder obtained a Master of Science in Toxicology from Concordia University, a Joint Honors Bachelor degree in Environmental Studies/Biology from the University of Waterloo, and he completed the Roche-sponsored Pharmaceutical Executive Management Program at Columbia Business School.
Early in his career, he was a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology in College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology. During his longstanding career in pharmaceutical development, Dr. Pedder played key roles in the successful development and commercialization of multiple proprietary pharmaceutical products including Tasmar®, Pegasys®, Copegus®, Northera® and Klisyri®. In addition to his Ph.D., Dr. Pedder obtained a Master of Science in Toxicology from Concordia University, a Joint Honors Bachelor degree in Environmental Studies/Biology from the University of Waterloo, and he completed the Roche-sponsored Pharmaceutical Executive Management Program at Columbia Business School.
Mr. Maness has provided financial consulting services to multiple publicly held and private-equity-backed life sciences companies, and he has held several senior financial management roles, primarily in software and technology services. He is a noted expert in forensic accounting and internal audit and has served as the internal auditor hired by public company audit committees on several occasions.
In 2018, Mr. Maness was engaged by Milestone Pharmaceuticals to prepare and lead its initial public offering. Before that, he served as the CFO of Ballantyne Therapeutics. Earlier, during his eight years as the Senior Director of Finance and Corporate Controller at Chelsea Therapeutics International, he was heavily involved in Chelsea’s reverse-public-shell merger to complete its public listing in 2005.
Mr. Maness received a B.S. in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and as a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
In 2018, Mr. Maness was engaged by Milestone Pharmaceuticals to prepare and lead its initial public offering. Before that, he served as the CFO of Ballantyne Therapeutics. Earlier, during his eight years as the Senior Director of Finance and Corporate Controller at Chelsea Therapeutics International, he was heavily involved in Chelsea’s reverse-public-shell merger to complete its public listing in 2005.
Mr. Maness received a B.S. in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and as a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
Dr. Hewitt has worked for approximately 35 years in clinical research and regulatory affairs. Most recently, he served as a scientific advisor to Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Senior Scientific Advisor – Neurology at Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Lundbeck, Dr. Hewitt was Chief Scientific Officer for Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. from January 2010 to June 2014 and Vice President, Drug Development from May 2004 to June 2014. At Chelsea, he oversaw the clinical development and regulatory approval of Northera™ (droxidopa), a novel therapeutic agent, for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, or Neurogenic OH, in patients with primary autonomic failure (Parkinson’s disease, or PD, multiple systems atrophy, or MSA, and pure autonomic failure, or PAF), dopamine β-hydroxylase, or DBH, deficiency and non-diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Prior to Chelsea, Dr. Hewitt served as an independent contractor from January 2003 to May 2004, and as Director of Scientific Affairs at Shearwater Corporation, a drug delivery company, from October 2002 until January 2003.
From July 1991 until November 2000, Dr. Hewitt was Director of Scientific Affairs for Amgen Canada where he oversaw the clinical research and regulatory requirements for a wide variety of proprietary biologic treatments undergoing Phase I, II and III research. Thirteen individual investigational new drug, or IND, research programs were established covering the therapeutic domains of Hematology, Oncology, Neurology, Infectious Disease, and Inflammation. Dr. Hewitt also developed clinical research programs supporting the approval of three products including Neupogen, Stemgen and Infergen and six supplementary approvals. Prior to Amgen, Dr. Hewitt held positions at Jansen Pharmaceuticals and Park-Davis where he developed research programs for multiple neurology and oncology products. Prior to entering the pharmaceutical industry, he was a Lecturer at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Hewitt obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Montreal. Additionally, Dr. Hewitt received a Master of Science degree in Toxicology and a B.Sc. (Hon) in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology from Concordia University.
From July 1991 until November 2000, Dr. Hewitt was Director of Scientific Affairs for Amgen Canada where he oversaw the clinical research and regulatory requirements for a wide variety of proprietary biologic treatments undergoing Phase I, II and III research. Thirteen individual investigational new drug, or IND, research programs were established covering the therapeutic domains of Hematology, Oncology, Neurology, Infectious Disease, and Inflammation. Dr. Hewitt also developed clinical research programs supporting the approval of three products including Neupogen, Stemgen and Infergen and six supplementary approvals. Prior to Amgen, Dr. Hewitt held positions at Jansen Pharmaceuticals and Park-Davis where he developed research programs for multiple neurology and oncology products. Prior to entering the pharmaceutical industry, he was a Lecturer at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Hewitt obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Montreal. Additionally, Dr. Hewitt received a Master of Science degree in Toxicology and a B.Sc. (Hon) in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology from Concordia University.
