Transforming patient lives through pioneering precision medicines
Unique Scientific
Approach
Experience
Accelerated by the discovery capabilities and validated pipeline built at Scorpion Therapeutics (acquired by Lilly in March 2025), Antares pushes scientific boundaries and challenges assumptions to unlock new possibilities for improving patients’ lives.
Ingenuity
Specialized methods and collaborative expertise set us apart by optimizing selectivity, speed, and target accessibility, enabling our integrated teams of scientists to accelerate discoveries at scale to patients in need.
Technologies
We drive differentiation by integrating predictive and industry-leading small molecule technologies, precision targeting and a culture of ingenuity, led by a veteran team of drug hunters.
Antares integrated approach
Medicinal Chemistry
Through proprietary compound libraries, a next-generation mass spectrometry experimental and computational platform, and innovative pocket-finding approaches, we tackle previously undruggable targets, discovering new chemical pockets and opportunities for intervention.
Target Biology
We only pursue first-in-class preclinically validated targets or “best-through-first” allosteric approaches to clinically validated targets to create transformational medicines for patients. We leverage human genetics, experimental model systems, and functional genomics tools to discover novel disease vulnerabilities, validate high-value targets across therapeutic areas and define patient populations most likely to benefit from our therapies.
Predictive Sciences
Predictive sciences are the cornerstone of our problem-solving method, integrating physics-based approaches, advanced machine learning and molecular dynamics techniques and proprietary algorithms to tackle the complexities of drug discovery. We combine in-house, proprietary protein sciences and structure determination approaches with a state-of-the-art computational platform to accelerate our discovery cycles and predict the next potential clinical candidates.
We only pursue first-in-class targets or “best-through-first” approaches to validated targets. “Best-through-first” is our approach to creating transformational improvements in selectivity, tolerability and target coverage on clinically validated targets through allosteric inhibition. We leverage human genetics, experimental model systems, and functional genomics tools to discover novel disease vulnerabilities, validate high-value targets across therapeutic areas and define patient populations most likely to benefit from our therapies.
Predictive sciences are the cornerstone of our problem-solving method, integrating physics-based approaches, advanced machine learning and molecular dynamics techniques and proprietary algorithms to tackle the complexities of drug discovery. We combine in-house, proprietary protein sciences and structure determination approaches with a state-of-the-art computational platform to accelerate our discovery cycles and predict the next potential clinical candidates.
Through proprietary compound libraries, a next-generation mass spectrometry experimental and computational platform, and innovative pocket-finding approaches, we tackle previously undruggable targets, discovering new chemical pockets and opportunities for intervention.
We only pursue first-in-class targets or “best-through-first” approaches to validated targets. “Best-through-first” is our approach to creating transformational improvements in selectivity, tolerability and target coverage on clinically validated targets through allosteric inhibition. We leverage human genetics, experimental model systems, and functional genomics tools to discover novel disease vulnerabilities, validate high-value targets across therapeutic areas and define patient populations most likely to benefit from our therapies.
Predictive sciences are the cornerstone of our problem-solving method, integrating physics-based approaches, advanced machine learning and molecular dynamics techniques and proprietary algorithms to tackle the complexities of drug discovery. We combine in-house, proprietary protein sciences and structure determination approaches with a state-of-the-art computational platform to accelerate our discovery cycles and predict the next potential clinical candidates.
Through proprietary compound libraries, a next-generation mass spectrometry experimental and computational platform, and innovative pocket-finding approaches, we tackle previously undruggable targets, discovering new chemical pockets and opportunities for intervention.
We look forward to disclosing how our scientific discoveries translate into meaningful progress for patients with cancer and other serious diseases. Our most advanced program is expected to enter the clinic in 2026, with multiple additional programs in preclinical development.
Partnerships
We are rapidly advancing a pipeline of small molecule assets independently and with strategic partners across the biopharma ecosystem to accelerate global development
Our ongoing collaboration focuses on a class of proteins called transcription factors, which control gene expression and can regulate important cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. Many transcription factors have long been validated as drivers of disease but have historically been considered “undruggable” using conventional drug discovery approaches. Together with AstraZeneca, we’re aiming to make every protein “druggable.”
Pierre Fabre Laboratories is advancing two clinical-stage, highly selective, potential best-in-class next-generation mutant EGFR inhibitors for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer initially developed at Scorpion and now known as PFL-721 and PFL-241. Pierre Fabre holds global rights to both programs and is leading their continued clinical development.
Moma Therapeutics is continuing the development of Antares’ next-generation, brain-penetrant, selective PARP1 (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitor, now known as MOMA-989, as monotherapy and in combination with their innovative pipeline targeting molecular machines.
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Team
Antares is led by a veteran executive team redefining what’s possible, inspired by a shared vision to pioneer an innovative approach to precision medicine.
Leadership Team
Natasja Brooijmans, Ph.D.
EVP Discovery Predictive Sciences
Mark Chao, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Andrew Fedder, Esq.
General Counsel
Adam Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Angel Guzman-Perez, Ph.D.
EVP Head of Chemistry
Erica L. Jackson, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Darrin Stuart, Ph.D.
Chief Development Officer
Amanda Valentino
Chief People Officer
Natasja Brooijmans, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Discovery Predictive Sciences
Dr. Brooijmans is Executive Vice President of Discovery Predictive Sciences at Antares Therapeutics. In this role, she leads an integrated team of computational chemists and biophysicists, machine learning scientists, protein scientists and structural biologists.
Dr. Brooijmans joined Scorpion Therapeutics in 2020 and was previously part of the founding scientific team at Blueprint Medicines, where she helped build the scientific software infrastructure, the strategy and design of the Blueprint Library, and contributed to many of the drug discovery programs in Blueprint’s pipeline. Prior to Blueprint, she worked at Novartis supporting early-stage programs using data analytics and structure-based approaches. She started her career at Wyeth.
Dr. Brooijmans received her Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and received her M. Pharm. from Utrecht University.
Mark Chao, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Chao serves as Antares Therapeutics’ Chief Medical Officer, a role he held at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares. Dr. Chao brings more than 20 years of experience in oncology research and development to his role.
Previously, he was a co-founder and the CEO of TenSixteen Bio, a precision genomics therapeutics company. He also served as Vice President in oncology clinical research at Gilead Sciences, where he focused on early and late-stage clinical development. Prior to Gilead, he was co-founder and Senior Vice President of clinical development at Forty Seven, Inc., a clinical stage immuno-oncology company acquired by Gilead Sciences.
Dr. Chao earned his Ph.D. in cancer biology, his M.D., clinical residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology at Stanford University. In 2021, he was named one of the 20(+1) under 40 next generation of biotech leaders by Endpoints News.
Andrew Fedder, Esq.
General Counsel
Mr. Fedder is General Counsel for Antares Therapeutics, a role he held at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares.
Prior to joining Scorpion, Mr. Fedder worked at Bristol Myers Squibb in roles of increasing responsibility, including Assistant General Counsel for Corporate and Business Development. Prior to his time at Bristol Myers, Mr. Fedder worked at international law firms based in New York City where he focused on representing clients in corporate governance matters and complex business transactions, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions and strategic investments.
Mr. Fedder holds a J.D. from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. in economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Adam Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Friedman serves as Antares’ President and Chief Executive Officer, a role he held at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares. Dr. Friedman also served as President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Scorpion, earlier during his 5-year tenure with the company.
Dr. Friedman is an accomplished physician, scientist, and life sciences entrepreneur with extensive experience in oncology. Prior to helping to found Scorpion, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivid Biosciences, an oncology platform discovery company that he founded, Director of Corporate Development at Raze Therapeutics and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Atlas Venture.
He received his B.A. in molecular biology from Princeton University and received both his M.D. and Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard Medical School and was subsequently trained in cancer biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and, clinically, in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Angel Guzman-Perez, Ph.D.
EVP Head of Chemistry
Dr. Guzman-Perez serves as Executive Vice President, Head of Chemistry at Antares, a role he held at Scorpion Therapeutics before its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares.
Prior to his five years at Scorpion, Dr. Guzman-Perez worked at Amgen for eight years in two key roles: Head of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of Research. Before that, he worked at Pfizer Inc. for 14 years in various roles in the medical chemistry group.
Dr. Guzman-Perez received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Harvard University.
Erica L. Jackson, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Jackson is Antares Therapeutics’ Chief Scientific Officer. Previously, she served as Chief Discovery Officer at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares. She joined Scorpion as Executive Vice President of Biology.
Prior to Scorpion, Dr. Jackson was Senior Director of Tumor Dependencies and Oncology Discovery at AbbVie. She also led the biology and in vivo pharmacology programs as Director of Biology at ORIC Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Jackson started her career at Genentech where she spent 10 years as a scientist working in the oncology discovery organization.
Dr. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brandeis University and earned her Ph.D. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Darrin Stuart, Ph.D.
Chief Development Officer
Dr. Stuart is Antares Therapeutics’ Chief Development Officer. Previously, he held the role of Chief Scientific Officer for five years at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares.
Previously, Dr. Stuart held leadership roles at Novartis for nearly 15 years, including as Executive Director of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. Dr. Stuart joined Novartis through the acquisition of Chiron Corporation.
Dr. Stuart holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in biology from the University of Waterloo and earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Alberta.
Amanda Valentino
Chief People Officer
Amanda Valentino serves as the Chief People Officer for Antares Therapeutics. She also served in this role at Scorpion Therapeutics for five years prior to the acquisition of Scorpion by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares. Ms. Valentino brings more than two decades of experience and leadership in talent acquisition, human resources, and employee experience in the life sciences industry, as well as M&A experience, to Antares.
Previously, Ms. Valentino served as the Chief People Officer of Ambys Medicines Inc. Prior to joining Ambys, Ms. Valentino held leadership roles at Genentech for 10 years, including the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition.
Ms. Valentino holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
Board of Directors
Jeff Albers, J.D., M.B.A.
Antares Board Chair and Venture Partner, Atlas Venture
Shelley Chu, M.D., Ph.D.
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Keith Flaherty, M.D.
Director of Clinical Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Jean-François Formela, M.D.
Atlas Venture
Adam Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Sir Menelas Pangalos, Ph.D.
Independent Director
Jeff Albers, J.D., M.B.A.
Chair, Board Chairperson of Blueprint Medicines and Venture Partner at Atlas Venture
Jeff Albers has over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, bringing important new medicines to patients with cancer, autoimmune and rare diseases. He currently serves as board chairman at Blueprint Medicines, Spyre Therapeutics, MOMA Therapeutics, Triveni Bio and Pheon Therapeutics and as a member at Kymera Therapeutics.
From 2014 to 2022, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines, where he transitioned the early research-stage company through an initial public offering and into a leading precision medicine company with a global, fully integrated business, including multiple approved therapies and a rapidly advancing pipeline.
He holds a B.S. from Indiana University and an M.B.A. and J.D. from Georgetown University.
Shelley Chu, M.D., Ph.D.
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Shelley Chu has over two decades of venture investing and operating experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Her passion is working closely with entrepreneurs to navigate scientific, clinical, regulatory, business development, and commercial hurdles to bring innovative new medicines to market that address significant unmet medical needs. To date, her investments across all stages, from seed to growth, have led to seven new drug approvals by the FDA, 12+ drug candidates in clinical development, and 17 exits through mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, or partnerships. During her time at Gilead, where Shelley led R&D strategy across all therapeutic areas and business development in immuno-oncology and HBV, three new drugs were approved and launched.
At Lightspeed, Shelley leads the firm’s biotech investments from seed to late stage. In addition to Antares, she is also on the board of directors at Seismic Therapeutics, Triana Biomedicines, Protego Biopharma, Diagonal Therapeutics, Alpha-9 Therapeutics, Enlaza Therapeutics, and Zag Bio. Shelley previously served on the Boards of Scorpion Therapeutics (acquired by Lilly), Tizona Therapeutics (acquired by Gilead), Trishula Therapeutics (partnered with Abbvie), SFJ Pharmaceuticals, Phathom (Nasdaq: PHAT), IFM (acquired by BMS), IFM Tre (acquired by Novartis), IFM Due, and IFM Quattro. Shelley also invested in and worked closely with the management teams of Stromedix (acquired by Biogen), Rempex (acquired by The Medicines Company), Tobira (acquired by Allergan), Anaptys, Marcadia (acquired by Roche), Calixa (acquired by Cubist) and Cerexa (acquired by Forest). Shelley serves on the scientific advisory board for BioCentury.
Shelley holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and a B.A. in molecular biology from Princeton University, where she serves as Co-Chair for Princeton ASC.
Keith Flaherty, M.D.
Director of Clinical Research at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Dr. Flaherty is Director of Clinical Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. As described in the more than 300 peer reviewed primary research reports he has authored or co-authored, Dr. Flaherty and his colleagues made several seminal observations that have defined the treatment of melanoma when they established the efficacy of BRAF, MEK and combined BRAF/MEK inhibition in patients with metastatic melanoma in a series of New England Journal of Medicine articles for which Dr. Flaherty was the first or senior author. He is the principal investigator of the NCI MATCH trial, the first NCI-sponsored trial assigning patients to targeted therapy independent of tumor type on the basis of DNA sequencing detection of oncogenes. Dr. Flaherty joined the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors in 2018 and AACR Board of Directors in 2019. He serves as editor-in-chief of Clinical Cancer Research and President-Elect of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Dr. Flaherty co-founded Loxo Oncology in 2013 and served on the board of directors through the acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2019. He co-founded X4 Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: XFOR) and privately held Strata Oncology (2015), Apricity Oncology (2017), C-Reveal (2020). He serves on the boards of directors for Clovis Oncology, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Kinnate BioPharma and Antares Therapeutics.
Jean-François Formela, M.D.
Atlas Venture
Jean-François Formela is a partner at Atlas Venture and focuses on novel drug discovery technologies and therapeutics. He joined Atlas Venture in 1993 to build the U.S. life sciences franchise.
He is a director and co-founder of IFM Therapeutics and Korro Bio (NASDAQ: KRRO). Jean-François also serves on the boards of Ikena Oncology (NASDAQ: IKNA) and Triveni Bio, as well as several stealth companies.
His prior investments include Adnexus (acquired by BMS), ArQule (NASDAQ: ARQL, acquired by Merck), Arteaus Therapeutics (acquired by Eli Lilly), CoStim Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Novartis), Exelixis (NASDAQ: EXEL), Horizon Therapeutics (NASDAQ: HZNP, acquired by Amgen), NxStage (NASDAQ: NXTM, acquired by Fresenius), and Scorpion Therapeutics (acquired by Eli Lilly). He was also a co-founder and director of Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA) and Translate Bio (NASDAQ: TBIO, acquired by Sanofi).
Jean-François is a member of the Mass General Brigham Innovation Advisory Board and a former trustee of the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art. He received his M.D. from Paris University School of Medicine and his M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Adam Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Friedman serves as Antares’ President and Chief Executive Officer, a role he held at Scorpion Therapeutics prior to its acquisition by Lilly in March 2025 and the subsequent creation of Antares. Dr. Friedman also served as President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Scorpion, earlier during his 5-year tenure with the company.
Dr. Friedman is an accomplished physician, scientist, and life sciences entrepreneur with extensive experience in oncology. Prior to helping to found Scorpion, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivid Biosciences, an oncology platform discovery company that he founded, Director of Corporate Development at Raze Therapeutics and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Atlas Venture.
He received his B.A. in molecular biology from Princeton University and received both his M.D. and Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard Medical School and was subsequently trained in cancer biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and, clinically, in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Sir Menelas Pangalos, Ph.D.
Independent Director
Sir Menelas (Mene) Pangalos has been a member of our board of directors since May 2025. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of Biopharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca, overseeing discovery through late-stage development in areas such as cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurology.
Joining AstraZeneca in 2010 as Executive Vice President of Early R&D, he transformed the company’s R&D productivity and established its Global R&D Center in Cambridge, UK. Before AstraZeneca, he held key R&D leadership roles at Pfizer, Wyeth and GSK.
A respected scientist, Prof. Sir Pangalos earned his B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Imperial College London and a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from University College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society of Biology, and Clare Hall, University of Cambridge. He also serves on the boards of Biogen and Absci Corporation.
Investors
- Abingworth
- Atlas Venture
- BVF Partners L.P.
- Cormorant Asset Management
- Invus
- Lightspeed Venture Partners
- Omega Funds
- Tenmile
- Vida Ventures
- Vinyanshu Ventures
- Willet Advisors
Culture & Careers
At Antares, we aim to shape the future of precision medicine – fueled by passion, science and purpose. Our team is made up of industry thought leaders and visionaries collaborating to deliver therapies that will transform lives.
We believe that cultivating a distinct and vibrant culture is a key to success.
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We are looking for visionaries who love data, have an unwavering commitment to problem-solving and are passionate about making a difference for patients. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, generous time off and a genuine sense of community. Are you interested in being part of the team? Join Us!
Behind the Name
Antares is the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation.
A red supergiant, Antares is one of the largest known stars visible to the naked eye, 10,000X more luminous than our Sun and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is about 550 light years from Earth.
Antares is commonly known as the “Heart of the Scorpion.”
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