EpiVax Welcomes Dr. Vibha Jawa as the New Chief Scientific Officer to Enhance Scientific Strategy

EpiVax Appoints Dr. Vibha Jawa as Chief Scientific Officer

In a significant move for the field of immunogenicity, EpiVax, Inc. has officially announced the appointment of Dr. Vibha Jawa as the new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). With over 20 years of experience in biologic therapeutics and vaccine development, Dr. Jawa is expected to lead the company's scientific strategy to further its commitment to preclinical immunogenicity assessment.

Dr. Jawa's appointment comes as a succession to EpiVax's founder, Dr. Annie De Groot, who will now serve as Chief Medical Officer. As the former Executive Director of Translational Medicine at Bristol Myers Squibb, Dr. Jawa played a pivotal role in guiding bioanalytical strategies that supported various preclinical and clinical assessments within the organization. Her extensive resume also includes senior positions at Merck and Amgen, where she led efforts in immunogenicity assessment from discovery through development.

Throughout her career, Dr. Jawa has contributed to the successful filing of over 20 Investigational New Drug (IND), Biologics License Applications (BLA), and Marketing Authorization Applications (MAA) across diverse therapeutic areas. Notably, she was also part of the pioneering team at the Institute of Human Gene Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, which facilitated the approval of the first-ever gene therapy product.

Beyond her impressive credentials, Dr. Jawa is also recognized for her thought leadership in bioanalysis and immunogenicity. With more than 100 peer-reviewed publications to her name and significant involvement in several prestigious scientific societies—including the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)—Dr. Jawa was honored as an AAPS fellow in 2022 for her substantial contributions to the field.

Reflecting on Dr. Jawa's arrival at EpiVax, CEO Dr. Rich-Henry Schabowsky expressed excitement about her joining, highlighting her rich experience and expertise in biologics and immunogenic risk evaluation. He believes that her leadership will be crucial as the company looks to adapt and innovate its methodologies to meet the complexities of the rapidly advancing landscape in biotechnology.

Co-founder Dr. Annie De Groot also emphasized the significance of Dr. Jawa’s appointment, describing her vision and energy as essential for what she termed “EpiVax 2.0,” the transformation journey that began in 2024. Dr. De Groot expressed her confidence in Dr. Jawa’s ability to push the boundaries of immunogenicity science and enhance the company's position in the industry.

In her role as CSO, Dr. Jawa will oversee both internal and external responsibilities, representing EpiVax at key industry meetings while also leading research validation initiatives. Her leadership is anticipated to propel the company into new therapeutic realms, thus reinforcing EpiVax's status as a trusted partner in the fields of biologics and vaccine development.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Dr. Jawa stated, "I’m thrilled to be joining the EpiVax team. This is an extraordinary company renowned for its scientific leadership in immunogenicity assessment. I look forward to building upon that legacy and refining our approaches to ensure we provide insightful and accurate support to our partners."

About EpiVax

EpiVax, Inc. is recognized as a leader in preclinical immunogenicity assessment, specializing in sequence optimization for peptide therapeutics, biologics, gene and cell therapies, and vaccines. The firm collaborates broadly with a global network of companies, government agencies, and academic institutions to expedite immunogenicity risk assessment, immune modulation, and swift vaccine design. For additional information, please visit EpiVax’s official website.