Tampa drug company appoints two board members

Tampa-based Oragenics appointed Bruce Cassidy and John Gandolfo to its board of directors, the company says.

Oragenics is a development-stage company focused on nasal delivery of pharmaceutical medications including drugs involving neurological treatment, and drugs fighting infectious diseases including coronaviruses and multidrug-resistant organisms. Its lead product is NT-CoV2-1, an intranasal vaccine candidate to prevent COVID-19 and variants of coronavirus.

The Oragenics chairman says the pair will complement the board and company.

Cassidy, according to a statement, serves on various boards, including as board chairman of several companies, including Loop Media, KeyStar Corp., Arboreta Healthcare, Selinsky Force and The Sarasota Green Group. Cassidy was the founding investor and served on the board of directors of Ohio Legacy Corp.

Previously, Cassidy was the founder and CEO of Excel Mining Systems, from 1991 until its sale in 2007 to Orica Mining Services. Cassidy is currently the president of The Concession Golf Club in Sarasota.

"I am excited to be a part of the next generation of drug and delivery technologies for critical unmet medical needs," Cassidy says in a news release. "The unique platform of formulas and the nasal application of delivering novel therapeutics represents the future of neurological drugs."

Gandolfo has more than 30 years of experience as CFO of multiple, rapidly growing private and publicly held companies, Oragenics says. The companies have a primary focus in the life sciences, health care and medical device areas.

Gandolfo currently serves as CFO of Eyenovia, a late-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company in service since January 2018. Gandolfo also serves on the board of directors of Electrocore. Gandolfo has experience over all aspects of financial and treasury functions, including capital raising and mergers and acquisitions, Oragenics officials say. Gandolfo received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Rutgers University.

"Bruce's deep experience in high-technology global businesses will be invaluable to Oragenics as we grow our portfolio," says Charlie Pope, Oragenics chairman. "John's proven leadership in the life sciences, capital raising and financial management will be critical to our future."