Shawn Patrick O’Brien

Therapeutic Vaccines for Chronic Viral Infections - Do they provide an opportunity to prevent cancer

ABSTRACT: Severe chronic viral infections, from HCV, HPV and HIV have been shown to lead to cancers over time in these patient populations. The cancers and morbidity associated with Hepatitis, Human Papillomavirus and AIDS result in a very large economic and social burden to the healthcare system. While the advances with therapies used to treat these chronic viral infections have been remarkable in their ability to clear the viral load, they have not been able to retard mortality and the development of the associated cancers. Therapeutic vaccines which have an ability to induce antibodies and  cell mediated response (CMI) to these chronic viruses have the potential to cure the disease and prevent the associated cancers. A discussion on the research behind the ProfectusVAX TM prime-boost vaccine technology and the planned clinical programs will be presented.

BIO: A biotech and big pharma executive leader with 26 years experience in building highly successful global enterprises. Shawn has extensive international experience in business development, marketing, selling, licensing, researching & developing both small and large molecules.

Mr. O'Brien joined Profectus in January of 2008 as president and CEO.  Profectus BioSciences Inc. is a R&D company focused on treating and preventing chronic viral infections that lead to cancer. Shawn has secured two rounds of equity financing and a major vaccine licensing deal with Wyeth that has allowed over $ 100 million in government funding to be applied to Profectus BioSciences emerging portfolio.

Prior to joining Profectus, he was the President and CEO of Solstice Neurosciences Inc, for 3 years based in Malvern PA where they secured $ 125 Million in private financing and over $ 35 Million in deal income.

Previously he held executive positions with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, most recently as vice president of commercial operations for emerging brands. Previously, he led AstraZeneca's Business Unit for the Respiratory & Inflammation and commercial leader for the Oncology therapeutic area, each having in excess of $1 billion in sales. Shawn has been the leader and the architect of 4 brands at AstraZeneca which have combined sales in excess of $ 10 Billion today, Seroquel, Arimidex, Symbicort and Pulmicort Respules. In addition, Shawn has 9 successful NDAs in which he played a key role in delivering the approvals.