Seneca Biopharma Inc (Nasdaq: SNCA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for diseases of high unmet medical need, has named Matthew W Kalnik, PhD as president and COO and Dane R Saglio as CFO, it was reported on Wednesday.

Seneca also promoted Thomas Hazel, PhD to the newly created position of SVP of Research and Development.

Dr Kalnik brings over 25 years of industry experience in senior research and development and business development roles to Seneca. He joins Seneca from Antidote Therapeutics. Previously, Dr Kalnik was SVP and officer, Strategic Planning & Business Operations at Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, playing a key role in bringing NicVAX from Phase two to Phase three. Earlier, he served in executive positions at Daiichi Medical Research, Genaissance (now Allergan) and Pfizer. Over his career, he has led efforts to in-license or acquire drug candidates and emerging technologies, and establish innovative drug discovery and development partnerships.

Saglio brings over three decades of operational and financial experience in private and publicly traded companies to Seneca. Previously, Saglio served as CFO at RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, New Generation Biofuels, and EntreMed, all public companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Seneca as a consultant in August 2019, he served as CFO at Celios Corporation from October 2017 until July 2019 and Helomics Corporation, a personalised medicine company in cancer from October 2014 until July 2017. He began his career at Informatics Corp, now Computer Associates International, and at Bressler & Reiner, a DC-based real estate developer and home builder.

Dr Hazel has held senior leadership positions in biotechnology companies for around 20 years and has more than 25 years of experience in the stem cell field. He joined Seneca (formerly Neuralstem) in 1998 and has served in senior positions within the company for 17 years, leading development of its platform technology, preclinical research efforts, and stem cell manufacturing activities in the US and China. From 2004-2008, Dr Hazel served in senior leadership positions at Innovative Biosensors.