Our Team
CytoAgents is comprised of seasoned business leaders and medical professionals, all of whom are experts within their fields
Teresa Whalen, RPh | Chief Executive Officer
With more than 20 years career in the healthcare industry as a biotech innovator, healthcare technology leader, hospital board trustee, life sciences investor, and clinical pharmacist; Teresa has a successful track record of bringing life-changing healthcare products to market.
As the CEO of CytoAgents, Teresa leads a team of world-renowned clinical drug development experts and scientific advisory board members who are at the forefront of groundbreaking treatment of life-threatening symptoms associated with Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), an overreaction of the immune system causing systemic inflammation.
Teresa was selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ North America Class of 2021, which identifies ambitious women entrepreneurs who are leading thriving organizations and helps them scale their companies to their full potential as market-leading innovators.
Leadership
Roy Prieb is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in building innovative technology and life sciences companies. Most recently, he was a co-founder and director of Kleo Pharmaceuticals, a synthetic immunotherapy company spun out from Yale University. He served as the company’s COO/CFO overseeing non-R&D functions including finance, business development, human resources, IP management, and fundraising. Roy worked as a management consultant with Boston Consulting Group. He received his BA from Harvard College and MBA from Wharton Business School.
Dr. Bertolino has over 20 years of domestic and global drug development and management experience and currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for CytoAgents. He served as Director (Board), President and Chief Medical Officer of Innovation Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Bertolino held several key positions at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (“NIBR”), where he was integral to the marketing approval of Ilaris® (canakinumab). He also led the early clinical program of Cosentyx™ (secukinumab) and late-stage supportive submission studies. Dr. Bertolino held positions as Senior Medical Director and Senior Director of Dermatology at Pfizer, where he led clinical programs for over a half-dozen new chemical entities involving Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies. Dr. Bertolino served as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Peplin, Inc., where he led Phase 2 programs and designed and drove initial Phase 3 programs that contributed to FDA approval of Picato® (ingenol mebutate). Dr. Bertolino also held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Revance Therapeutics, where he led key development activities for DaxibotulinumtoxinA. Dr. Bertolino earned a BS in Chemistry/Biochemistry from SUNY Stony Brook, an MD and PhD in Pharmacology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and an MBA from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Board of Directors
Stanley Marks is Chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the largest network of outpatient cancer centers in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. In addition, he is Director for Clinical Services and Chief Medical Officer of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Shadyside Hospital; and Clinical Professor of Medicine for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Stanley has also served as president of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, president of the Allegheny County Medical Society, chairman of the board of Via Oncology, chair of Cancer Treatment Services International, and chair of the National Policy Board of US Oncology. Stanley has authored numerous publications and is the recipient of several awards, including the National Research Service Award from the United States Public Health Service. Stanley received his bachelor’s degree in biology and his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Anthony McCarley is founder of McCarley International whose mission is based on guiding driven business owners, executives, and organizations to accomplish great things. McCarley International specializes in working with companies experiencing significant change and transition – whether by design or circumstance. Anthony has over 30 years of experience as a senior executive with two Global 100 companies and two start-up companies.
Anthony became a Triple Crown marathon swimmer in 2014 by crossing the English Channel, circumnavigating Manhattan Island, and crossing the Catalina Channel in southern California. He completed the three marathon swims in less than one year. He was named a 2014 Global Marathon Swimming Federation Award finalist in the Most Impressive Overall Year category.
Catherine Mott is the founder of BlueTree Capital Group, BlueTree Allied Angels, and the BlueTree Venture Fund located in Pittsburgh, PA. The BT entities have invested $50+ million in several startup companies. Ms. Mott is the past Chairman of the Angel Capital Association (ACA) and the Angel Resource Institute. Ms. Mott is a member of the ACA Public Policy Committee and she has served 3 terms on the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies. Catherine has been a speaker/panelist at national and regional conferences. She worked for 17 years in corporate banking management where she served in senior management roles for investment sales/wealth management, commercial lending, business development, and retail expansion. Today, Ms. Mott uses these experiences and her education to bring together capital and prime investment opportunities. She was named the 2017 Hans Severeins Angel of the Year by the Angel Capital Association, among many other national awards. Catherine holds an MBA in Finance.
With more than 20 years career in the healthcare industry as a biotech innovator, healthcare technology leader, hospital board trustee, life sciences investor, and clinical pharmacist; Teresa has a successful track record of bringing life-changing healthcare products to market.
As the CEO of CytoAgents, Teresa leads a team of world-renowned clinical drug development experts and scientific advisory board members who are at the forefront of groundbreaking treatment of life-threatening symptoms associated with Cytokine Releasing Syndrome (CRS), an overreaction of the immune system causing systemic inflammation. Teresa was selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ North America Class of 2021, which identifies ambitious women entrepreneurs who are leading thriving organizations and helps them scale their companies to their full potential as market-leading innovators.
Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD is Hillman Professor of Oncology and Director at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Senior Vice President for Oncology Programs, Associate Senior Vice Chancellor for Cancer Research at the University of Pittsburgh.
As a head and neck surgical oncologist and translational tumor immunologist, his lab and clinical trials investigate mechanisms of anti-tumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as tumor cell escape. Dr. Ferris has published >400 peer-reviewed publications that have garnered >52,000 citations. He was lead investigator of several practice-changing, prospective randomized trials, including Checkmate-141 published in NEJM which led to the FDA approval of the first immunotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Dr. Ferris has co-founded two early-phase immuno-oncology companies, in therapeutics discovery and development and in cellular therapeutic strategies for solid and liquid tumors. Dr. Ferris also serves on scientific boards for multiple biotech companies.