Team

George Ng

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Ng is a seasoned life sciences industry executive.  He previously was Board Director, President & Chief Operating Officer at Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc.  Mr. Ng is also a partner at PENG Life Science Ventures (PENG LSV).  He has founded and/or led multiple companies, including Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now, Scilex Holding Co (NASDAQ:SCLX)), where he was Co-Founder and President, and led the company through development, clinical trials, NDA submission, FDA approval, $140 million financing, commercial launch of the company’s first FDA-approved drug product, and ultimate company sale.  Mr. Ng has also held various other senior management positions, including Board Director, Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Business Officer, Corporate Secretary, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, with publicly-traded and private, global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRNE), BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPI) and Alpharma, Inc. (NYSE:ALO), which is now, a part of Pfizer Inc. In these roles, Mr. Ng helped lead the strategy, development, fundraising and commercialization efforts and launches of multiple pharmaceutical drug products.  Previously, in private practice, Mr. Ng was a partner in two AMLAW 200 law firms, where he had leadership roles, including establishing the life sciences practice group for one firm and heading it as the national co-chair.  Additionally, Mr. Ng is a past and current member of the Board of Directors for multiple companies, including Iacta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Morphogenesis, Inc., and Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Mr. Ng was also a past President-Elect of the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego (PALSD) and was previously appointed to the Leadership Development Committee of the Wake County Bar Association in North Carolina.  In addition, he is a frequent speaker and noted authority on business, legal, compliance and regulatory issues in the life sciences, with past speaking engagements at the 2011 BIO International Convention and various pharmaceutical, legal and compliance congresses and conferences.  Among his multiple awards and commendations, Mr. Ng is a recipient of the 2015 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, past recipient of M&A Advisor’s Top 40 Under 40 Award (in 2012) and nominee for the Orange County Business Journal’s Inaugural General Counsel Awards (in 2010); and, in 2010, MDB Capital recognized Mr. Ng (and the company where he led the intellectual property efforts) for its Best and Brightest Award and as an Astrum Award nominee for a pharmaceutical patent portfolio that he managed and developed. 

Mr. Ng earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in law from the University of Notre Dame School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (B.A.S.) dual degree in Biochemistry & Economics from the University of California, Davis.

Gregory Flesher

Chief Operating Officer

Greg Flesher is the chief operating officer of Processa Pharmaceuticals. He is an accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with more than 25 years of experience building and transforming companies. Over his career, Greg has raised more than $1 billion in capital, led two companies as they entered the public markets, and completed numerous strategic transactions.

Before joining Processa, Greg was co-founder and CEO of Ambros Therapeutics, where he built the company’s development and operational capabilities and secured financing. Previously, he was president and CEO of Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which he led through its 2021 initial public offering, and CEO of Novus Therapeutics, which he took public through a reverse merger in 2017.

Earlier, Greg was chief business officer of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, where he helped transform the company into a commercial-stage business and guided the company through its acquisition by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. He also held leadership roles at InterMune, Amgen, and Eli Lilly, contributing to multiple drug development programs, regulatory approvals, and commercial launches.

Greg holds a B.S. in biology from Purdue University and pursued graduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biology at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Craig Coburn, PhD

EVP, Head of Research

Craig Coburn is the executive vice president and head of research at Processa Pharmaceuticals. He is a medicinal chemist with more than 30 years of drug discovery experience across large pharma, biotech, and contract research organizations. 

Before joining Processa, Craig was senior vice president and head of chemistry for Pioneering Medicines at Flagship Pioneering, where he has helped shape strategy and execution for the drug discovery portfolio since 2024. Before Flagship, he led chemistry departments at Trotana Therapeutics, Gossamer Bio, and Silverback Therapeutics. At Gossamer, his team invented VT-7208, Processa’s lead BTK inhibitor. He has also co-founded two companies and developed platform chemistry for several startups as a consultant and scientific advisor.

Craig began his career with 20 years at Merck Research Laboratories at West Point, Pennsylvania, where he designed early-stage clinical compounds for neuroscience and infectious disease targets. In 2017, he received the American Chemical Society’s Hero of Chemistry award for inventing ZEPATIER®, a once-daily combination tablet that cures chronic hepatitis C.

Craig holds a B.A. in chemistry from Gettysburg College and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Brown University, and completed postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is an inventor on more than 110 patents and patent applications and has authored or co-authored more than 40 publications.

Ashley Hall, JD

EVP, Development

Ashley Hall is the executive vice president of development at Processa Pharmaceuticals. A biopharmaceutical development executive with more than 27 years of global experience advancing therapies across cardiometabolic, rare disease, oncology, neurological, autoimmune, and inflammatory indications, Ashley has led more than two dozen Phase 3 trials and multiple global cardiovascular outcomes trials.

Most recently, Ashley was chief development officer of Structure Therapeutics, where she oversaw clinical development operations, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, medical writing, program management, and CMC across a cardiometabolic pipeline that includes next-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists and amylin therapies. Previously, she was chief development officer of Reneo Pharmaceuticals, where she led rare disease R&D and technical operations, and of Esperion Therapeutics, where she led R&D and medical affairs.

Earlier, Ashley held leadership roles at Amgen, Micromet, MedImmune, Abraxis BioScience, RevoGenex, and La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company. Her programs have contributed to approvals including Repatha®, Abraxane®, Blincyto®, Lumoxiti®, Nexletol®/Nilemdo®, and Nexlizet®/Nustendi®. She has led more than 100 face-to-face meetings with regulators, including the FDA, EMA, PMDA, and CDE.

Ashley holds a J.D., with honors, from the University of San Diego School of Law and a B.S. in biochemistry and cell biology from the University of California, San Diego.

Michael Cruse

EVP, Business Operations

Michael Cruse is the executive vice president of business operations at Processa Pharmaceuticals. Michael has more than 20 years of experience helping venture-backed and public biopharmaceutical companies move from formation through pivotal trials and commercial readiness.

Most recently, Michael was founding chief operating officer of Ambros Therapeutics, a rare disease company developing neridronate for complex regional pain syndrome type 1, where he built the finance, human resources, CMC, quality, legal, compliance, IT, and facilities functions. Previously, he was chief operating officer of Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which he joined in 2020 as senior vice president of corporate operations, and directed SG&A operations from the pre-IPO stage through commercial preparation and led teams in the United States and United Kingdom.

Earlier, as vice president of corporate operations at Novus Therapeutics, Michael established U.S. operations for Otic Pharma and led corporate operations through two mergers, including the combination with Anelixis that formed Eledon Pharmaceuticals. He also spent ten years at Avanir Pharmaceuticals in roles of increasing responsibility through the company’s acquisition by Otsuka Pharmaceutical.

Michael holds a B.S. in business administration from Franklin University. He has been a core member of three public listings and has supported more than $279 million in financings.

David Young, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

President, Research & Development and Founder

Dr. Young has over 30 years of pharmaceutical research, drug development, and corporate experience. He was a Founder and CEO of Promet Therapeutics, LLC since its formation in August 2015. Dr. Young was Chief Scientific Officer of Questcor Pharmaceuticals from 2009-2014 and was responsible for working with the FDA on modernizing the Acthar Gel label and in obtaining FDA approval in Infantile Spasms. From 2006-2009 prior to joining the executive management team, Dr. Young served as an independent Director on the Questcor Board of Directors. During the eight years that Dr. Young was involved with Questcor, Questcor transitioned to an orphan drug specialty pharmaceutical company, moving from near bankruptcy in 2007 to a valuation of approximately $5.6 billion in 2014. While serving on Questcor's Board of Directors, Dr. Young was Executive Director & President, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics plc. Dr. Young has also served as the Executive Vice President of the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON plc, an international CRO, and was the Founder and CEO of GloboMax LLC, a CRO specializing in FDA drug development, purchased by ICON plc in 2003. Prior to forming GloboMax, Dr. Young was a Tenured Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland., where he led a group of 30 faculty, scientists, postdocs, graduate students and technicians in evaluating the biological properties of drugs and drug delivery systems in animals and humans.

Dr. Young is an expert in small molecule and protein non-clinical and clinical drug development. He has served on FDA Advisory Committees, was Co-Principal Investigator on a FDA funded Clinical Pharmacology contract, was responsible for the analytical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of all oral products manufactured in the UMAB-FDA contract which lead to the SUPAC and IVIVC FDA Guidance's, for 5 years taught FDA reviewers as part of the UMAB-FDA contract, has served on NIH grant review committees, and was Co-Principal Investigator on a National Cancer Institute contract to evaluate new oncology drugs.

Dr. Young has met more than 100 times with the FDA on more than 50 drug products and has been a key team member on more than 30 NDA/supplemental NDA approvals. Dr. Young has more than 150 presentations-authored publications-book chapters, including formal presentations to the FDA, FDA Advisory Committees, and numerous invited presentations at both scientific and investment meetings.

Dr. Young received his B.S. in Physiology from the University of California at Berkeley, his M.S. in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and his Pharm.D. - Ph.D. with emphasis in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Southern California.

Sian Bigora, Pharm.D.

Chief Development and Regulatory Officer and Founder

Dr. Bigora has over 20 years of pharmaceutical research, regulatory strategy and drug development experience working closely with Dr. Young. She was Co-Founder, Director, and Chief Development Officer at Promet Therapeutics, LLC. Prior to Promet, Dr. Bigora was Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Questcor Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 2014) from 2009-2015, including leading efforts on modernizing the Acthar Gel label and in obtaining FDA approval in Infantile Spasms, events of material importance to Questcor's subsequent success. During her time at Questcor she assisted in building an expert regulatory group to address both commercial and development needs for complex products such as Acthar. Dr. Bigora's role at Questcor included heading up the development of a safety pharmacovigilance group and a clinical quality group.

Prior to her position at Questcor, Dr. Bigora was Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics, plc. In this role she was responsible for the development and implementation of Global Phase 3 studies and interactions with regulatory authorities. Previously she operated her own consulting company, serving as the regulatory and drug development expert team member for multiple small and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Bigora held multiple positions in regulatory affairs, operations and project management ending as VP of Regulatory Affairs at the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON, plc, an international CRO, and at GloboMax LLC, a CRO specializing in FDA drug development, purchased by ICON plc in 2003. Prior to GloboMax, she worked in the Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics Laboratory at the School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland on the FDA funded Clinical Pharmacology contract and UMAB-FDA contract as a clinical scientist and instructor for FDA reviewers.

Dr. Bigora received a Pharm.D. from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She also completed a Fellowship in Pharmacokinetics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

Wendy Guy

Chief Administrative Officer & Founder

Ms. Guy has more than 20 years' experience in business operations. She has worked closely with Dr. Young over the last 18 years in corporate management and operations, HR, and finance. She was Co-Founder, Director, and Chief Administrative Officer of Promet Therapeutics, LLC. Prior to Promet, Ms. Guy was employed at Questcor Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 2014) as Senior Manager, Business Operation in charge of the Maryland Office for Questcor. During the five years she spent at Questcor, she built a dynamic administrative and contracts team, grew the Maryland Office from 2 employees to just under 100, and expanded the facility from 1,200 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft.

Prior to her position at Questcor, Ms. Guy was Senior Manager, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics, plc. In this role she was responsible for the day to day business and administrative operations of the company. Previously she held multiple senior level positions with the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON, GloboMax, and Mercer Management Consulting.

Ms. Guy received an A.A. from Mount Wachusett Community College. 

Patrick Lin

Chief Business & Strategy Officer and Founder

Mr. Lin has over 20 years of financing and investing experience in the Biopharm Sector. He was Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Promet Therapeutics, LLC. He is Founder and Managing Partner of Primarius Capital, a family office that manages public and private investments focused on small capitalization companies. For 10 years prior to forming Primarius Capital, Mr. Lin worked at several Wall Street banking and brokerage firms including Robertson Stephens & Co., E*Offering, and Goldman Sachs & Co. Mr. Lin was Co-Founding Partner of E*Offering.

Mr. Lin received an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management, a Master of Engineering Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

Russell L. Skibsted

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Skibsted brings to Processa nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including expertise in financial management, global business development, capital markets, investor relations and operations. He has worked with public and private life sciences companies at all stages of development. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Alimera Sciences, a publicly traded, global ophthalmic pharmaceuticals company, which is in the process of being acquired by ANI Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President, CFO and Chief Business Officer, at Rockwell Medical, a public company that is the second largest supplier of concentrates to hemodialysis clinics in the U.S.

Previously, Mr. Skibsted served as CFO of BioTime, a publicly traded biotechnology company now named Lineage Cell Therapeutics, where he also was CFO at various times for several of BioTime’s public and private subsidiaries, including Agex Therapeutics, OncoCyte Corporation and Asterias Biotherapeutics. Prior to BioTime, Mr. Skibsted served as CFO or Chief Business Officer for several public and private life science companies, including Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and Hana Biosciences.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Skibsted served as Portfolio Management Partner and CFO at Asset Management Company, one of the oldest and most respected venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, and as Vice President for GE Capital Services Structured Finance Group. Mr. Skibsted holds a BA in economics from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.