Management Team

  • Joseph E. Payne, MSc

    Joseph Payne, MSc
    President & CEO, Director of the Board
    Joseph E. Payne, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. He serves on Arcturus’s Board since March 2013. He brings with him an exceptional track record of ushering novel therapeutics to the clinic including targeted RNA medicines utilizing lipid-mediated delivery technologies. Joseph’s background includes over 20 years of successful drug discovery experience at Merck Research Labs, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Kalypsys, and Nitto as evidenced by over 40 publications and patents, and several investigational new drug (IND) clinical candidates. His academic training includes a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Calgary and Executive Training Certification from MIT Sloan School of Management.

    • Dr. Pad Chivukula

      Dr. Pad Chivukula
      Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer

      Dr. Pad Chivukula is the co-founder of Arcturus Therapeutics and has served as the Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer since 2013. With a deep foundation in nanoparticle technology, Dr. Chivukula leads Arcturus in discovering and developing transformative medicines for diseases with unmet needs. Since Arcturus’ founding, he has built and advanced the company’s research competencies and pipeline in the areas of RNA therapeutics and vaccines, integrating advanced therapeutic platforms, and streamlining innovative processes. Dr. Chivukula holds over 100 publications and patents.

      Prior to Arcturus, Dr. Chivukula held key roles at Nitto, including Group Leader and Chief Scientist, where he led the polymeric RNAi research department. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Utah, specializing in nanoparticle technology.

      • Andrew Sassine, MBA

        Andrew Sassine
        Chief Financial Officer
        Andy Sassine is currently, and has been since January 2019, the Chief Financial Officer at Arcturus Therapeutics. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Nasdaq listed ICAD Inc. ICAD Inc. is a leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for early detection and treatment of cancer. Mr. Sassine served in various positions at Fidelity Investments from 1999 to 2012, including, most recently as Portfolio Manager. Between 2005 and 2011, he managed the Fidelity Small Cap Stock Fund, the Fidelity International Small Cap Opportunities Fund and the Fidelity Advisor International Small Cap Opportunities Fund. Mr. Sassine joined Fidelity as a high yield research analyst, covering the Telecommunications, Satellite, Technology, Defense and Aerospace, and Restaurant Industries and in 2001, joined the international group as a research analyst covering small and mid-cap international stocks. Mr. Sassine has been a member of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa Board of Advisors from 2009 to 2018. Mr. Sassine earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Iowa in 1987 and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993.

        • Lance Kurata

          lance
          Chief Legal Officer
          Lance Kurata has served as the Chief Legal Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics since August 2020. Prior to Arcturus, from 2006 to 2020, Mr. Kurata was a partner at Mintz Levin and Chair of the West Coast Technology Transactions Practice. From 2002 to 2006, he was a partner at Fish & Richardson, where he was a member of the corporate group and nationwide head of the technology transactions practice. From 1996 until 2002, Mr. Kurata practiced corporate law at Brobeck Phleger & Harrison, specializing in strategic collaborations, public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. Mr. Kurata is licensed to practice law in the State of California. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Stanford Law School and was an editor of Stanford Law Review.

          • Kevin Skol

            Kevin Skol
            Chief Business Officer
            Kevin Skol has 20 plus years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, primarily in business and corporate development, alliance management, strategy, competitive intelligence, and licensing. He previously worked at RNA based companies Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Digital Gene Technologies and at specialty pharmaceutical companies Elan Corporation and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. At Ionis he led business development and licensing efforts that resulted in major pharmaceutical partnerships with Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Roche, Janssen, Novartis, and Biogen.  Most recently he led the Arcturus business development team in the closing of several vaccine collaborations with the Vingroup in Vietnam, Israel and CSL Seqirus.  The combined transaction value of collaborative agreements and partnerships which he led throughout his career is estimated at over $4 billion. Mr. Skol previously served on the board of directors at Ingredient Innovations International (3i) which was subsequently acquired.  Mr. Skol graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

            • Juergen Froehlich

              Juergen Froehlich
              Chief Medical Officer
              Juergen’s career spans three decades and covers a broad therapeutic range of planning and hands-on execution of nonclinical and all phases of clinical drug development such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, acromegaly, OTC deficiency, cervical dystonia, acute stroke, acute coronary syndrome and diabetic nephropathy. He has worked with biologics, macrocycles, peptides, small molecules and RNA therapeutics at small, mid-size and large companies, like Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Quintiles, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Ipsen, Vertex, Aradigm Corporation, Genevant and EnBiotix Inc/Spexis AG. In several assignments as Chief Medical or Chief Development Officer, he actively participated in successful fundraising activities. Juergen was instrumental in critical regulatory interactions and obtaining marketing authorizations in the U.S., Canada, the E.U., Switzerland and Australia. He is a board member of Appili Therapeutics in Canada, a public company focusing on prevention and treatment of a broad spectrum of infectious diseases.

              At Genevant, Juergen created the clinical development programs plans to utilize mRNA or siRNA molecules for OTC deficiency, acromegaly and RNA targets for other liver diseases. He also oversaw the toxicology programs for these development projects. At Vertex, as Head of Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Regulatory Strategy, Juergen hands-on supported the NDA, MAA and other regulatory submissions/approvals for Kalydeco® and participated in regulatory interactions with the FDA on development planning for follow-on CFTR modulators. Since 2013 he has been involved in early and late-stage development of inhaled therapeutics, including the planning and conduct of Ph 1-3 trial programs with colistin, murepavadin and liposomal ciprofloxacin in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or bronchiectasis and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. He was an invited panel member at a U.S. Food and Drug Administration workshop in 2018 for inhaled antibiotics in CF and bronchiectasis.

              Juergen earned his MD from Wuerzburg University in Germany and his dual executive MBA degree from the Graduate School of Business Administration in Switzerland and the State University of New York at Albany. He is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology.

              • Igor Smolenov

                Igor Smolenov
                Chief Development Officer
                Igor Smolenov is the Chief Development Officer of Arcturus Therapeutics. Dr. Smolenov is a recognized leader in clinical development with a proven record of accomplishment in small biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies. He contributed to the successful development and licensure of several innovative vaccines.

                Before joining Arcturus, Dr. Smolenov was the Executive Vice President at Clover Pharmaceuticals, where he built a strong team able to rapidly generate pivotal clinical data leading to COVID-19 vaccine authorization and the product launch. Before that, Dr. Smolenov served as Therapeutic Area Head, leading the development of several seasonal influenza vaccines in Seqirus (CSL), and Head of Clinical Development in Moderna Therapeutics, managing the initiation of the first clinical trials of mRNA vaccines in humans. At Novartis Vaccines, Dr. Smolenov contributed to the development and global licensure of meningococcal vaccines (Menveo®, Bexsero®, and MenABCWY) and the overall commercial success of the meningococcal vaccines franchise.

                Igor Smolenov graduated from Volgograd State Medical University, Russia, and holds MD, Ph.D., and Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) (Habilitation) degrees from this university. Before starting his industry career, he passed multiple academic steps from junior researcher to professor and head of the Allergy/immunology department of the university. He is the author of more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals in clinical pharmacology, infectious diseases, and vaccine development.

                • Natash O. Bowman

                  Natasha Bowman
                  Chief Human Resources Officer
                  Natasha O. Bowman is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Arcturus Therapeutics, where she oversees the overall human resources function for the global late-stage clinical messenger RNA medicines and vaccines company. During her time at Arcturus Therapeutics, employee headcount has doubled and through this expansion amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a vital role of supporting the rapid addition of the COVID-19 program. She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of Human Resources with robust industry and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, manufacturing, and public sectors. Ms. Bowman most recently was the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Synthetic Genomics for over 7 years where she served as a strategic adviser providing guidance on all HR related matters to the CEO, Board of Directors, and other members of the executive team. She previously held positions in start-up, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies including Althea Technologies, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc.  where she played a key role in the start-up, growth, and mergers & acquisitions of those organizations.  Ms. Bowman received a B.S in Business Management from San Diego State University.  She was named as one of San Diego’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders by the San Diego Business Journal in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  She was also named as one of the Top HR & Diversity Professionals in 2023 by the San Diego Business Journal.  She is on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organizations San Diego Girl Scouts, San Diego HR Forum, and Friends of Music.

                  • Ye Zhang

                    Ye Zhang
                    Chief Regulatory Officer

                    Ye Zhang is the Chief Regulatory Officer for Arcturus Therapeutics, where she establishes Regulatory Affairs department and oversees the Regulatory Strategy, Regulatory CMC, Regulatory Operation and Labeling to support the development of vaccines and rare disease therapeutics. Under her leadership, the team successfully supported the COVID-19 Vaccine NDA filing with the PMDA, leading to Arcturus' first drug product approval and the world's inaugural approval of a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine. Dr. Zhang has more than 20 years of experience in regulatory and drug development for vaccines, biologics and small molecules. Prior to joining Arcturus Therapeutics, Dr. Zhang held various roles of increasing responsibility at Merck, where she was responsible for more than ten vaccines in development and life-cycle management and had extensive experience in working with FDA, EMA, PMDA, MHRA, NMPA and other regulatory authorities. She also worked at FDA where she reviewed more than 60 drug applications and gained extensive regulatory experience. Dr. Zhang received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Colorado, and an M.D. from the Medical School of Peking University. Dr. Zhang is a lifetime member of the Food and Drug Administration Alumni Association (FDAAA) and serves as a board director for Alliance for mRNA Medicine (AMM). Recognized for her achievements, she was named as one of the Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Pennsylvania for 2023.

                    • Roberta Duncan

                      Roberta Duncan
                      Chief Strategy Officer

                      Roberta Duncan is the Chief Strategy Officer at Arcturus Therapeutics and has been in the biopharma industry for more than 26 years with experience from start-up and small biotech to pharma and CROs. She is currently the Board Vice-Chair of the Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM) and previously held the role of Vice President leading CSL’s enterprise-wide mRNA Program. Roberta has led complex programs, driving profitable growth, enhancing productivity, accelerating critical growth assets into the pipeline, leading revenue generating products, and enabling commercial launch and market expansion. Roberta has an extensive and diverse background across multiple therapeutic areas and business functions, inclusive of strategy, business development, business planning and operations, governance, portfolio and program management, program leadership, alliance management, R&D (including clinical development, regulatory, clinical operations, R&D systems and compliance), and product development.  Her experience spans across industry-leading organizations such as CSL, Eli Lilly, Bristol Myers Squibb, Shire Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Takeda), Trevi Therapeutics, Kendle International (acquired by Syneos), and Quintiles (now IQVIA).

                      Roberta earned her BA in Biochemistry from New York University,  as well as two MBAs in International Management and Strategy from Krannert School of Management (Purdue University) and TiasNimbas Business School (Tilburg University, The Netherlands).