Don Cilla, PharmD, MBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Cilla brings to Appili over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with extensive clinical and regulatory expertise that includes direct involvement with developing products, including Lipitor™ and Difcid™. His career includes positions in key leadership, scientific, and program management roles in research and development in pharmaceutical, biotech, and generic drug companies, including Takeda (Shire Pharmaceuticals) and AstraZeneca (MedImmune).
In prior roles, Dr. Cilla led and / or participated in the global development of more than 40 products, with six products having made it through regulatory approval to be commercialized. He also has held multiple consulting roles, outsourcing his drug development expertise to help build and lead teams for companies in need of functional area expertise.
Dr. Cilla earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Kenneth Howling
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Howling has over 25 years of healthcare industry experience in senior financial positions; including 11 years with Bausch Health (formerly Biovail Corporation), as Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Affairs; five years as Chief Financial Officer of Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and five years as Chief Financial Officer with Pharma Patch PLC.
During his career, Mr. Howling has contributed to the success of multiple start-up companies, taken companies through the IPO process, and has collectively raised over US$2.5 billion in various forms of capital. Earlier in his career, Mr. Howling worked in senior financial management positions at Roberts Company Canada Limited, including roles of General Manager, Corporate Secretary and Controller, at GlaxoSmithKline (formerly Beecham Pharmaceuticals Ltd), and as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Howling is a graduate of the ICD/Rotman Director Program and formerly a Certified Public Accountant (inactive license).
Gary Nabors, PhD
Chief Development Officer
Dr. Gary Nabors, executive level PhD biopharmaceutical professional, brings over 25 years industry experience in IND-enabling and advanced development of vaccines and antibody therapeutics. Dr. Nabors, as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc. (IBT) , was responsible for leading the vaccine and immunotherapeutic candidates through bioanalytical development, IND-enabling studies, GMP manufacturing and into clinical studies. Prior to that he served as President of DynPort Vaccine Company Inc. where he was responsible for overseeing P&L responsibility and 800 staff, and establishing the technical, strategic, and regulatory direction for all projects in the company’s portfolio.
Dr. Nabors has also held progressively senior roles with Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions, and the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has played a central role in product development from pre-clinical stages through to Phase 3, for development of vaccines and therapeutics for pediatric, adult, and biodefense markets.
Art Baran, MBA, PMP
Director, New Product Development
Mr. Baran brings to Appili more than 22 years of CMC/global product operations leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Art’s late-stage product development and commercial launch experience in the biologics space has brought life saving therapies like ADYNOVATE/ADNYOVI® to rare disease patients. His career includes positions in operations strategy, drug product team leadership, program management, business development, manufacturing site leadership, quality assurance, and GLP laboratory testing in large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and generic drug companies. Art earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Loyola Chicago and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Art is PMP certified and is a co-inventor for an automated sterilization process.
Carl Gelhaus, PhD
Director, Non-Clinical Research
Dr. Gelhaus brings more than 20 years of infectious disease and animal model experience. Dr. Gelhaus, as Principal Investigator, has led multiple multimillion-dollar government contract efforts. Dr. Gelhaus has researched, developed, tested, and evaluated medical countermeasures for high-consequence pathogens including Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Escherichia coli, Francisella tularensis, influenza viruses, Klebsiella pneumonia, monkeypox virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SARS-CoV-2, Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia pestis. Dr. Gelhaus is a founding member of the tularemia international society (TULISOC) and has played an instrumental role in the development of tularemia vaccines. Dr. Gelhaus is adjunct faculty at several universities and has trained two graduate students. Dr. Gelhaus received a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and a B.A. in biology from the University of Cincinnati.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Cilla brings to Appili more than 30 years of program management experience in the drug development industry, with extensive clinical and regulatory expertise that includes direct involvement with 20 programs that became commercialized products, including Lipitor™ and Difcid™. His career includes positions in program management, drug product team leadership, clinical pharmacology, clinical development, and administration in large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and generic drug companies. He has worked across a broad range of development positions in companies including Shire Pharmaceuticals (Takeda), MedImmune (AstraZeneca), and Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals. He also has held multiple consulting roles, outsourcing his drug development expertise to help build and lead teams for companies in need of functional area expertise. Dr. Cilla earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Howling has over 25 years of healthcare industry experience in senior financial positions; including 11 years with Bausch Health (formerly Biovail Corporation), as Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Affairs; five years as Chief Financial Officer of Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and five years as Chief Financial Officer with Pharma Patch PLC. During his career, Mr. Howling has contributed to the success of multiple start-up companies, taken companies through the IPO process, and has collectively raised over US$2.5 billion in various forms of capital. Earlier in his career, Mr. Howling worked in senior financial management positions at Roberts Company Canada Limited, including roles of General Manager, Corporate Secretary and Controller, at GlaxoSmithKline (formerly Beecham Pharmaceuticals Ltd), and as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Howling is a graduate of the ICD/Rotman Director Program and formerly a Certified Public Accountant (inactive license).
Chief Development Officer
Armand Balboni's career iDr. Gary Nabors, executive level PhD biopharmaceutical professional, brings over 25 years industry experience in IND-enabling and advanced development of vaccines and antibody therapeutics. Dr. Nabors, as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc. (IBT) , was responsible for leading the vaccine and immunotherapeutic candidates through bioanalytical development, IND-enabling studies, GMP manufacturing and into clinical studies. Prior to that he served as President of DynPort Vaccine Company Inc. where he was responsible for overseeing P&L responsibility and 800 staff, and establishing the technical, strategic, and regulatory direction for all projects in the company’s portfolio. Dr. Nabors has also held progressively senior roles with Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions, and the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has played a central role in product development from pre-clinical stages through to Phase 3, for development of vaccines and therapeutics for pediatric, adult, and biodefense markets.
Director, New Product Development
Mr. Baran brings to Appili more than 22 years of CMC/global product operations leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Art’s late-stage product development and commercial launch experience in the biologics space has brought life saving therapies like ADYNOVATE/ADNYOVI® to rare disease patients. His career includes positions in operations strategy, drug product team leadership, program management, business development, manufacturing site leadership, quality assurance, and GLP laboratory testing in large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and generic drug companies. Art earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Loyola Chicago and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Art is PMP certified and is a co-inventor for an automated sterilization process.
Director, Non-Clinical Research
Dr. Gelhaus brings more than 20 years of infectious disease and animal model experience. Dr. Gelhaus, as Principal Investigator, has led multiple multimillion-dollar government contract efforts. Dr. Gelhaus has researched, developed, tested, and evaluated medical countermeasures for high-consequence pathogens including Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia mallei, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Escherichia coli, Francisella tularensis, influenza viruses, Klebsiella pneumonia, monkeypox virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SARS-CoV-2, Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia pestis. Dr. Gelhaus is a founding member of the tularemia international society (TULISOC) and has played an instrumental role in the development of tularemia vaccines. Dr. Gelhaus is adjunct faculty at several universities and has trained two graduate students. Dr. Gelhaus received a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and a B.A. in biology from the University of Cincinnati.
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Leona Saunders has a wealth of experience developing and implementing regulatory strategies for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. With over two decades of experience, she has made significant contributions to the planning, execution, and submission of various regulatory applications.
Dr. Saunders' expertise extends to writing and editing clinical and nonclinical documentation and serving as the lead regulatory author on multiple programs for submissions to FDA and various international regulatory authorities. Dr. Saunders' academic qualifications include a Doctorate in Law and Public Policy, a Master's degree in Regulatory Affairs, and a Bachelor's degree in Leadership in Bioscience, all from Northeastern University. She also holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Florida International University. Her extensive educational background has given her a strong foundation in the legal, policy, and scientific aspects of regulatory affairs, enabling her to offer a comprehensive approach to regulatory strategy.
