About Us

Meet the team, passion, and brainpower working
non-stop to combat Batten Disease.

Who We Are

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Hahn-Jun Lee, M.Sc., Ph.D. President / CEO

Hahn-Jun Lee, M.Sc., Ph.D. is a serial entrepreneur who founded Polaryx® Therapeutics, Inc to develop patient-friendly oral medications for Batten disease, a devastating neurodegenerative pediatric genetic disorder. He also founded (1) Epygenix Therapeutics, Inc. to develop precision medicines for rare and intractable genetic epilepsy and (2) Focus Therapeutics, L.L.C. to provide a catalytic role between US and Asian Pacific biotechnology, transactions, and partnerships.

He has an extensive experience in R&D, deal making, business development, and has consulted for several top-notch health care Venture Capital firms, global pharma and biotech companies, including Doman Associates, Shire Human Genetic Therapies, P&G Pharma, Melior Discovery, and CDI.

He also consulted for Korean biotechs, Venture Capital firms, and research institutes, including Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), CHA Biotech, and CMG Pharma.

Dr. Lee was an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in the city of New York. He also worked as a Staff Scientist at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan.

He obtained his B.S. in Life Science from Sogang University, Seoul, Korea. He completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in applied biotechnology in the Department of Applied Biotechnology at the University of Tokyo, Japan.

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Dr. Kalipada Pahan, Ph.D.Scientific Advisor

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Dr. Kalipada Pahan, Ph.D.

Dr. Kalipada Pahan, Ph.D., is a Professor of Neurological Sciences, Biochemistry and Pharmacology and the Floyd A. Davis, M.D., Endowed Chair in Neurology at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

He is also a Veterans Affairs Scientist at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. Currently, he is engaged in translational biomedical research involving multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Batten disease. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Multiple Sclerosis, Senior Editor of the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Editor of three other journals, and a chartered member of the Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors study section at the NIH.

He has over 160 publications and is cited by the Wikipedia. He received the outstanding teaching award in 2000, the “Chancellor’s Council Silver U Award” in 2004 and the "Reinhardt Research Scholar Award” in 2005 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Recently he also received VA merit awards from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Zenith award from the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr. Pahan has over 160 publications, numerous awards, and is even cited by the Wikipedia.
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Shrijay Vijayan, Ph.D., MBA Observer

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Shrijay Vijayan, Ph.D., MBA

As Head of Innovation and Technology Transfer, Dr. Vijayan is responsible for the commercialization of Rush University Medical Center’s discoveries and inventions. Dr. Vijayan began his career in technology transfer at the University Of Illinois and then moved on to Rutgers University as the Director of Biomedical Licensing.

During his more than a decade long career in technology transfer, he has co-founded a Medical device company, served as consultant and advisor to biotech and pharma companies, served on various committees of Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), American Heart Association (AHA), AdvaMed and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and as a technology transfer expert on study sections of the Department of Defense (DOD) translational grants.

Dr. Vijayan received his PhD in Neuroscience from the City University of New York and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Chicago and the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor. He received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois. During his business school education, he is most proud of learning to write a convincing business plan.

This is best exemplified by having won several prestigious national and international business plan competitions as well as being judged winner of best written business plan at several competitions including the “Super Bowl of world business plan competitions”- Global Moot Corp from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Vijayan is responsible for the commercialization of Rush University Medical Center’s discoveries and inventions.

Polaryx®

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Introducing: Polaryx® Therapeutics

Polaryx® Therapeutics, Inc is a biotech company devoted to the development of therapeutic interventions for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL), a group of rare genetic lysosomal storage disorders in children.

NCL is also known as Batten disease. Among the subtypes of NCL, we are focusing on the development of patient-friendly oral medications for Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (LINCL or CLN2).

Children with CLN2 have progressive deterioration of their mental and motor functions, visual failure, and seizures leading to premature death. The disease has no cure, and thus has a high unmet medical need.

We are collaborating with leading
academic medical institutions,
including Rush University
Medical Center in Chicago.

Great minds, united for one cause

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We are collaborating with leading academic medical institutions, including Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

In addition, with the concerted cooperation and expertise of our management and development teams, including highly qualified CROs and world-renowned scientists, we are dedicated to the development of a safe and efficacious treatment for Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (LINCL or CLN2).

Our team has over 100 years of combined experience in pioneering biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and in top-notch academic institutions.

These exceptional qualifications of our team allow us to develop therapeutic interventions with disease modifying potential to improve the patient's quality of life.

Our creativity, knowledge, experience, and high level of business acumen will allow Polaryx® Therapeutics Inc to find the right solution to save the lives and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this devastating genetic disorder. 

Investors

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SV investment corp (SV) is one of the leading investment firms in S. Korea. SV has been regarded as a top cooperative-friendly company selected by 45 business partners and 11 LPs in S. Korea and abroad with successful investment accomplishments. SV invests in companies to create a value by providing right strategy and business guidance to support each stage of company. Every year, SV was able to grow total AUM based on its excellent track record, and currently 12 VC funds and a PE fund are in operation to invest promising biotech and IT companies.

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Established in 2013, QD Partners provides financial, management and investment advisory services globally with a primary focus in Asia Pacific. QD Partners invest in focused industry sectors including biotechnology, healthcare, infrastructure, entertainment, food & beverage, asset management, and real estate.

We are seeking partners to help bring Polaryx's®
medications to children in need. Interested?

Click here to reach out.

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