Leadership

Dr. Tehila Ben Moshe is the CEO and co-founder of Biond and has been the driving force behind the company since its inception.

With over a decade of scientific and entrepreneurial leadership in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, Dr. Ben Moshe combines profound scientific expertise with robust business acumen.

Before establishing Biond, Dr. Ben Moshe was the CEO of cCAM Biotherapeutics, where she guided the immuno-oncology firm from its formation through drug discovery, development, and early-stage clinical trials. Her strategic leadership culminated in the company’s acquisition by Merck (MSD) in 2015, marking it as one of the most outstanding M&A transactions in the Israeli biotech field.

Dr. Tehila Ben Moshe’s leadership was pivotal in securing a transformative/significant/lucrative partnership between Biond Biologics and Sanofi. This pivotal agreement focused on the development and commercialization of BND-22, an innovative immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets the ILT2 receptor for treating solid tumors. Through this strategic alliance, Biond Biologics secured an upfront payment of $125 million, with the potential to earn over $1 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, alongside substantial royalty payments. This partnership not only validated Biond’s pioneering scientific approach but also exemplified Dr. Ben Moshe’s vision to propel the company toward advanced solid scientific notions to clinical trials and promising significant advancements in oncology therapeutics.

Tehila earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Weizmann Institute, specializing in immune signaling pathways in health and disease, and holds undergraduate degrees in Neuroimmunology and Biotechnology from Bar-Ilan University and the Hebrew University, respectively. An accomplished inventor and scholar, Dr. Ben Moshe is the author of multiple patents and peer-reviewed scientific publications, cementing her reputation as a luminary in biotechnological innovation and leadership.

Ori Shilo is a seasoned leader and a pivotal co-founder of Biond. Serving as Chief Financial Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors since the company’s inception, Ori brings over two decades of specialized experience in investment banking and consultancy within the pharma/biotech sectors.

Ori  played a critical role in advancing Biond’s global partnership with Sanofi for BND-22, Biond’s first immuno-oncology product to enter clinical trials. He oversaw partnerships that generated over $120 million in upfront payments, underscoring his strategic acumen in forging significant industry collaborations.

Before co-founding Biond, Ori was instrumental in establishing RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ: RDHL), where he served as CFO, Deputy CEO, and Director. His strategic leadership facilitated RedHill’s initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and its subsequent dual listing on NASDAQ.

Ori orchestrated multiple financing rounds, both private and public, amassing over $100 million, and was involved in driving two Phase 3 and three Phase 2 clinical trials.

Prior to his tenure at RedHill, Ori was a partner at ProSeed Capital Holding CVA, a Belgium-based boutique investment firm, where he managed investments and oversaw banking operations in Israel.

Yair Sapir brings over 15 years of leadership in drug development to Biond as its founding Chief Operating Officer. His expertise encompasses the management and execution of translational research, specializing in the innovation of first-in-class antibodies aimed at treating cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Yair has been a driving force behind Biond’s impressive growth from its founding team to nearly 50 employees. His strategic vision was instrumental in establishing Biond’s new state-of-the-art R&D center in Israel, further solidifying the company’s position at the forefront of biotechnology research and development.

Yair played a pivotal role at cCAM Biotherapeutics as the Director of Development, where he successfully led the advancement of their flagship therapeutic agent.

He holds a Ph.D. in Immunology and an MBA, both from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, reflecting a robust blend of scientific acumen and strategic business management skills. His extensive experience and visionary leadership continue to propel Biond’s mission to develop groundbreaking therapies in the biotech landscape.

Ilana brings over 14 years of experience in drug development within the oncology field. She has been an integral part of Biond Biologics since its inception, and previously served as VP of R&D. Before joining Biond, she was Director of Research and Discovery at cCAM Biotherapeutics.

Ilana’s expertise spans the full spectrum of drug discovery and development, from early-stage conceptualization and target validation, through preclinical and clinical development, and up to successful licensing agreements with leading global pharmaceutical companies. She has a proven track record in shaping scientific strategy, building and leading multidisciplinary teams, and advancing innovative oncology programs from the lab to the clinic.

She holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.

Born in Italy, in 1997 completed his residency in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Torino.

Attending physician and investigator in thoracic oncology in Torino till 2010 including several phase II-III clinical trials in NSCLC and SCLC and mesothelioma and author of papers on peer-reviewed journals and abstracts at main conferences (presenter at ASCO, ESMO, IASLC).

Medical Director in Cancer Immunotherapy with GSK till 2012, then in Novartis Oncology till 2014 to develop ceritinib (ALK inhibitor) in NSCLC.  VP of Clinical development in Oncolytics till January 2016 when he took the role of Lung cancer Program Lead at BMS till March 2019 leading to nivolumab approval in SCLC. Chief Medical officer at Xcovery since March 2019 to lead the company to first NDA approval of an ALK TKI for NSCLC and its commercial launch and EMA filing.

Giovanni has over 30 years of experience in drug development from both academic and industry side covering innovative medicines from immunotherapies (vaccines, IO, oncolytic viruses and cell therapies) to targeted agents to ADCs and combination therapies.

Motti has been serving as the Vice President of R&D at Biond since 2024, after previously holding the roles of Director of Immuno-Oncology and Senior Scientist since the company’s inception.

Motti headed the development of Biond’s first immuno-oncology asset, advancing it from concept to a clinical product now in Phase 2. He also oversaw the scientific development of Biond’s second program, BND-35, a blocking antibody for the myeloid suppressive receptor, ILT3/LILRB4, which has completed pre-clinical development and entered Phase 1 trials in patients with solid tumors. Currently, Motti is leading the innovative BND-67 program, which has uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism for CD28 by blocking its shedding from T cells, thus driving prolonged T cell activation. 

Before joining Biond, Motti held pivotal roles at cCAM Biotherapeutics and Proteologics, where he led various projects.

He earned his Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science, specializing in protein structure, function, and engineering. Motti possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in the development of immune-modulating drugs, seamlessly transitioning scientific concepts into clinical-stage therapeutic products. His background in immunology, protein biochemistry, and innovative drug development has established him as a key inventor with patents in the immuno-oncology field.

Sharon has served as Biond’s VP of Regulatory Affairs & CMC since its inception. She has over 15 years of experience in CMC and regulatory product development of biologics (pre-IND, IND, CTA, and NDA) including recombinant proteins and antibodies.

Sharon navigated the regulatory development of Biond’s first immuno-oncology asset, BND-22 starting from its CMC, up to IND submission and then working closely with Sanofi following licensing of BND-22 up to phase 2. She also oversaw all regulatory aspects for Biond’s 2nd clinical program, BND-35, an anti ILT3/LILRB4 antibody which entered Phase 1 trial in patients with solid tumors in June 2024. Current tasks involve all regulatory aspects for Biond’s 3rd clinical program, BND-67, which will enter  the clinic in June 2026. Sharon covers all regulatory aspects of Biond’s products including CMC, safety testing and regulatory interactions.

Prior to Biond, Sharon was VP Regulatory and Clinical Affairs of cCAM Biotherapeutics (acquired by Merck) developing a novel immune checkpoint inhibitor for cancer. Beforehand at Protalix Biotherapeutics, she played a significant role in the development of Elelyso, an FDA approved treatment for Gauche disease marketed by Pfizer. Sharon holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Food Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Since 2021, Tal has served as the Vice President of Business Development at Biond, bringing extensive expertise in business development and intellectual property management. His background includes roles in both pharmaceutical corporations and startup environments, enhancing his strategic and operational capabilities.

Before joining Biond, Tal was a senior Alliance Manager at CytoReason, where he oversaw several high-profile collaborations with first-tier pharmaceutical companies. He spent five years in the legal department at Teva Pharmaceuticals, managing the intellectual property aspects of biological products, including innovative antibodies and biosimilars.

Earlier in his career, Tal served as the Director of Intellectual Property at T3, the technology transfer office of the Technion Institute in Haifa, and at Hadasit, the technology transfer office of Hadassah Hospitals in Jerusalem.

Tal earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science and is a certified Israeli patent attorney. His deep understanding of the scientific and legal frameworks makes him a key asset in navigating the complex landscape of biotech innovation.

Nir has served as the Vice President of Finance at Biond since 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in financial management and strategic planning.

His prior role as Senior Vice President at PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) saw him expertly manage a $180 million annual budget, significantly enhancing the company’s global R&D divisions and facilitating the expansion of its subsidiaries worldwide.

Nir is a Certified Public Accountant and holds both a B.A. in Economics and an LL.B degree, equipping him with a robust understanding of the financial and legal intricacies vital to successful business administration.

Since April 2023, Natalia has led the Clinical Development team at Biond, bringing over 15 years of extensive experience in drug development, particularly focusing on neurological diseases and other complex disorders.

Natalia was led the clinical design and entry into phase 1 of the BND-35 trial, Biond’s 2nd program to go into clinical development and she oversees all the clinical development of Bionds pipeline.

She joined Biond after a significant tenure as Head of Clinical Development at BOL Pharma, where she spearheaded the pharmaceutical development of cannabinoid-based drug products targeting a range of medical conditions.

Before her role at BOL Pharma, Natalia served as Medical Director at Intec Pharma, overseeing all clinical phase projects. Earlier in her career, she was a Director and Clinical Program Leader at Teva Pharmaceuticals, responsible for managing the development of COPAXONE®, a leading medication for multiple sclerosis.

Natalia earned her M.D. from the Faculty of Medicine at St. Petersburg Pavlov Medical University, Russia. Her deep expertise and leadership in clinical development continue to enhance Biond’s capabilities in advancing innovative therapies.