Management
Erez AminovChairman and CEO
Erez Aminov is a distinguished executive and entrepreneur with deep-rooted expertise in the biotech and technology sectors. Since April 2023, he has led MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIRA) as Director and Chief Executive Officer, guiding the company through its preclinical-stage endeavors. At MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Aminov is focused on developing the next generation of oral ketamine and pharmaceutical marijuana analogs to treat neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. A key focus of this effort is Ketamir-2, a groundbreaking ketamine analog currently under investigation for its potential to deliver ultra-rapid, orally administered antidepressant effects for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments, offering new hope to those battling treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation (MDSI). In recognition of his leadership, Mr. Aminov was appointed Chairman of the company in March 2024.
In August 2024, Mr. Aminov further expanded his leadership portfolio by becoming the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Telomir Pharmaceuticals. At Telomir, he continues to leverage his extensive industry experience to guide the company’s strategic direction. Telomir-1, one of the company’s key projects, is under investigation as a potential therapeutic intervention against age-related inflammatory conditions. The drug is being developed to protect stem cells by elongating and stimulating telomeres, thus sustaining their self-renewal.
Mr. Aminov's journey into the biotech sector began in September 2021 when he founded Locate Venture Corp., a strategy and investment consulting firm dedicated to advancing early-stage biotech startups. With over two decades of industry experience, he has adeptly navigated the complex challenges of the biotech sector, forged strategic alliances, and successfully guided startups toward sustainable growth. He holds a B.A. in Accounting from Touro University in New York, and his financial acumen and investment expertise, particularly in early-stage life sciences companies, make him an exceptional leader and a valuable asset in the biotech industry.
In August 2024, Mr. Aminov further expanded his leadership portfolio by becoming the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Telomir Pharmaceuticals. At Telomir, he continues to leverage his extensive industry experience to guide the company’s strategic direction. Telomir-1, one of the company’s key projects, is under investigation as a potential therapeutic intervention against age-related inflammatory conditions. The drug is being developed to protect stem cells by elongating and stimulating telomeres, thus sustaining their self-renewal.
Mr. Aminov's journey into the biotech sector began in September 2021 when he founded Locate Venture Corp., a strategy and investment consulting firm dedicated to advancing early-stage biotech startups. With over two decades of industry experience, he has adeptly navigated the complex challenges of the biotech sector, forged strategic alliances, and successfully guided startups toward sustainable growth. He holds a B.A. in Accounting from Touro University in New York, and his financial acumen and investment expertise, particularly in early-stage life sciences companies, make him an exceptional leader and a valuable asset in the biotech industry.
Michelle Yanez, MBAChief Financial Officer
Michelle Yanez, MBA, joined our Company as Chief Financial Officer in June 2024. Ms. Yanez is a senior financial executive with over 25 years of experience in public and privately held biotech, pharmaceutical, and life science companies. Ms. Yanez’ experience includes a broad range of responsibilities in a highly complex and regulated market. She also brings deep corporate governance experience through her work with corporate boards, including audit, compensation, nominating & governance and finance committees. Ms. Yanez’ serves as the Chief Financial Officer of MIRA Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIRA) since April 2023, which is a publicly traded pre-clinical-stage pharmaceutical development company with neuroscience programs targeting a broad range of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Ms. Yanez joined MIRA in April 2022 as a Corporate Controller. From May 2002 until its acquisition in April 2022, Ms. Yanez held various leadership positions at BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI). In her role, she led financial offerings, managed due diligence for product acquisitions and financings and managed finance documents and filings for the tender offer, leading to the acquisition of BioDelivery Sciences in April 2022. Ms. Yanez also serves as a non-employee director of Inhibitor Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: INTI), a publicly traded pharmaceutical development company focused on therapeutics for certain cancers and non-cancerous proliferation disorders, since December 2022. Ms. Yanez is also Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Santander Pharma Consulting, a privately held life sciences consulting firm that provides business development and commercial strategy services to pharmaceutical, medical device, and life science companies offering guidance throughout all stages of commercial development, from inception to product launch, since February 2024.
Ms. Yanez earned her B.A. in Business Management from University South Florida and further distinguished her acumen with an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Rutgers School of Business, Cum Laude.
Ms. Yanez earned her B.A. in Business Management from University South Florida and further distinguished her acumen with an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Rutgers School of Business, Cum Laude.
Itzchak Angel, PhDChief Scientific Advisor
Itzchak Angel is an accomplished executive in the pharmaceutical industry, with over 40 years’ experience guiding medical, pharmaceutical, drug and business development in both large and emerging companies. Since 2005, he has been President and CEO of Angel Pharmaceutical Consulting & Technologies (A.P.C.T.) where he assists pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, individuals, medical staff, hospitals, technology transfer companies, investors, university researchers and research teams in variable aspects of drug development. In this role, Dr. Angel provides strategic and operational guidance on issues related to ethical drug development to a wide range of clients, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical professionals, hospitals, technology transfer organizations, investors, and research teams. His expertise spans a variety of therapeutic areas and pharmacological families and extends across the drug development process–from research, preclinical and clinical phases, to marketing. In addition, Dr. Angel advises on regulatory affairs, business development, and organizational planning.
Dr. Angel’s journey in the sciences began with his education at the Tel-Aviv University, where he earned his B. Sc, and M.Sc. degrees in Biology in 1979 and 1980, taking part in a special curriculum for outstanding students. He further studied at the Hamburg University, Germany, obtaining a Ph.D. in Neurochemistry in 1982. His postdoctoral research took him to the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where he pursued his research in Neurobiology. For numerous years, he was Head of Pharmacology at Synthelabo (Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France) where he participated in the research and development of drugs such as Xatral (alfuzosin), Ambien (zolpidem), and Mizollen (mizolastine). Some of Dr. Angel's previous executive roles include President and Chief Executive Officer of the stem-cell company Accellta (Haifa, Israel) and Vice President for Research and Development at Proteologics Ltd, Galmed Pharmaceuticals, and D-Pharm Biopharmaceuticals (Rehovot, Israel), where he was involved in research and advanced development in several areas such as stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s’ Disease, Parkinson’s disease, metabolic disorders, psoriasis, and various cancers.
Dr. Angel has effectively established discovery, research, and development teams and projects, bringing several pharmaceutical drugs to market. As an excellent communicator and negotiator, Dr. Angel has led international projects and worked closely with high-profile regulatory, government, and industry leaders.
Dr. Angel is the author of over 100 book chapters, papers, abstracts, and patents. Outside of his professional work, he is a passionate painter, music lover, and avid traveler who speaks several languages.
Dr. Angel’s journey in the sciences began with his education at the Tel-Aviv University, where he earned his B. Sc, and M.Sc. degrees in Biology in 1979 and 1980, taking part in a special curriculum for outstanding students. He further studied at the Hamburg University, Germany, obtaining a Ph.D. in Neurochemistry in 1982. His postdoctoral research took him to the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where he pursued his research in Neurobiology. For numerous years, he was Head of Pharmacology at Synthelabo (Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France) where he participated in the research and development of drugs such as Xatral (alfuzosin), Ambien (zolpidem), and Mizollen (mizolastine). Some of Dr. Angel's previous executive roles include President and Chief Executive Officer of the stem-cell company Accellta (Haifa, Israel) and Vice President for Research and Development at Proteologics Ltd, Galmed Pharmaceuticals, and D-Pharm Biopharmaceuticals (Rehovot, Israel), where he was involved in research and advanced development in several areas such as stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s’ Disease, Parkinson’s disease, metabolic disorders, psoriasis, and various cancers.
Dr. Angel has effectively established discovery, research, and development teams and projects, bringing several pharmaceutical drugs to market. As an excellent communicator and negotiator, Dr. Angel has led international projects and worked closely with high-profile regulatory, government, and industry leaders.
Dr. Angel is the author of over 100 book chapters, papers, abstracts, and patents. Outside of his professional work, he is a passionate painter, music lover, and avid traveler who speaks several languages.
Francis E. O'Donnell, Jr., MDSenior Advisor
Dr O’Donnell is our scientific advisor. As such he is part of the team that is responsible for strategy, direction, and execution of the Company’s clinical development plans. In addition, he works with senior management to evaluate the scientific, and clinical viability of potential products, assessing their commercial potential to address unmet medical indications taking into account approved drugs as well as drugs under development by competitors. Dr. O’Donnell has thirty years of experience in pharmaceutical development.
He received his BA from Johns Hopkins University’s accelerated program and his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as his specialty and fellowship training. He is an inventor or co-inventor on over 40 US patents.
He received his BA from Johns Hopkins University’s accelerated program and his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as his specialty and fellowship training. He is an inventor or co-inventor on over 40 US patents.