Tris Pharma expands leadership team as it broadens its commercial portfolio

Englese (chief commercial officer), Lesnick (chief development officer) join Monmouth Junction biopharma

Tris Pharma, a Monmouth Junction-based commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on ADHD, pain and neurological disorders, recently announced the appointments of Thomas Englese as chief commercial officer and Dr. Marc Lesnick as chief development officer.

Founder and CEO Ketan Mehta welcomed them to the team.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom and Marc to the Tris Pharma executive team, and I am confident that their expertise will play a critical role in helping us continue to develop and commercialize differentiated approaches that enhance therapeutic benefit and optimize outcomes for patients,” he said. “Their strategic mindsets and demonstrated success achieving key commercial and pipeline milestones will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and bring novel therapeutic approaches to people in great need.”

Englese has more than 20 years of experience in domestic and international commercial functions at biopharmaceutical companies across a breadth of therapeutic areas such as pain management, cardiology, liver disease, anesthesia and critical care.

Prior to joining Tris Pharma, he was the chief commercial officer at Aziyo Biologics, where he oversaw multiple business units, profitably negotiated commercial partnerships with distinguished organizations and was a key leader of the company’s successful initial public offering team.

“Tris Pharma has a robust and expanding portfolio of clinically proven, best-in-class ADHD therapies,” he said. “I believe there is tremendous opportunity to help enhance the company’s commercial success by further expanding the availability of this growing portfolio, which offers a range of delivery and treatment options for both adults and children with the disorder. I look forward to collaborating with the team and leveraging our collective strengths to make a meaningful impact for patients.”

Lesnick is a scientifically driven executive with deep expertise managing global research and development programs from pre-clinical stage through Phase 3, as well as regulatory affairs and quality assurance. His background spans a number of therapeutic categories, including psychiatry, infectious disease, endocrinology, oncology and allergy.

As co-founder and chief development officer of Park Therapeutics, Lesnick led the research and development of cebranopadol, the first and only full, dual nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor and µ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonist in development for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. He was responsible for developing the clinical registration strategy, including Phase 3 pivotal studies and long-term safety studies, as well as organizing the regulatory plans and supporting fundraising activities for the molecule.

“Tris has a proven track record of applying its drug development capabilities and proprietary technologies globally to develop, manufacture and commercialize medicines that improve upon traditional therapies,” he said. “I am excited to join their exceptional team to help accelerate a transformative pipeline with the potential to help patients with some of the most intractable challenges in ADHD, pain and neurological disorders.”