Vesicor Therapeutics, an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing p53-based cancer therapeutics using engineered microvesicles, has appointed Michael Tolentino, M.D., as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Tolentino succeeds founder Luo Feng, Ph.D., who will transition to the role of Chief Scientific Officer as the company advances its pipeline and prepares for a potential de-SPAC merger with Black Hawk Acquisition Corporation. Vesicor is working toward IND-enabling studies and targeting a regulatory submission to the FDA in 2027.
Tolentino brings more than two decades of experience across drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development, and the broader pharmaceutical industry. His career includes key contributions to the development of anti-VEGF therapies, including work on Avastin during his time at Harvard Medical School in collaboration with Genentech. He has also held leadership roles as founder and executive at multiple biotechnology companies, including Acuity Pharmaceuticals, which later merged to form OPKO Health.
Throughout his career, Tolentino has been involved in the development of novel therapeutics across ophthalmology, oncology, and RNA-based treatments. He also played a role in the development of Bevasiranib, one of the first RNA interference drugs to enter clinical trials for retinal diseases.
In addition to his new role at Vesicor, Tolentino has been involved in founding and leading several biotech ventures. These include Promedior, acquired by Roche in 2018 for $390 million, with additional contingent payments, as well as Aviceda Therapeutics and Avdarna Therapeutics, companies focused on advanced biologics and AI-driven drug discovery platforms. He is also a co-founder of Aikium, which is developing a large-scale AI-driven platform for protein and peptide discovery.
Vesicor’s core technology platform focuses on delivering cancer therapeutics, including p53 gene-based treatments, via engineered microvesicles designed to target tumor cells. The company has not yet initiated the FDA approval process for its lead candidate and currently has no approved products.
The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time as Vesicor prepares for potential public market entry through its planned SPAC merger and advances its preclinical development efforts.
KEY QUOTES
“Dr. Tolentino is an exceptional leader whose biotech industry expertise, deep relationships across the contract research organization (CRO) and pharma ecosystems and has a proven track record of creating shareholder value is exactly what Vesicor needs in its next CEO. We are honored to have Dr. Tolentino as our new CEO as we work to complete our proposed de-SPAC merger with Blackhawk Acquisition Corporation and seek to accelerate our IND-enabling studies and IND-submission to the FDA.”
Warren Hosseinion, M.D., Chairman Of The Board, Vesicor Therapeutics
“I am delighted to join Vesicor Therapeutics as CEO. I have tremendous respect and admiration for this company, its science and its Founders and I am eager to build upon the technology and work the team has been doing to position itself for an IND submission in 2027. I see significant opportunities to develop potent therapeutics against cancer and create value for our shareholders.”
Michael Tolentino, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, Vesicor Therapeutics
