ANN ARBOR—BlueWillow Biologics, the Ann Arbor-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel anti-infective products and nasal vaccines, announced the appointment of Chad Costley, MD, as chief medical officer.
Costley is a board-certified family physician with more than 20 years of medical and entrepreneurial experience. As CMO he will direct the advancement of the company’s topical nanoemulsion platform, being developed to address global health problems.
Costley previously served on BlueWillow’s board of directors.
Said BlueWillow CEO David Peralta: “The value Dr. Costley brings to BlueWillow is immeasurable. He has spent decades treating patients. His patient care expertise and business acumen will help guide development efforts in alignment with society’s needs.”
Prior to joining BlueWillow, Costley practiced primary care medicine in Atlanta for more than 10 years. In addition to being the founder, owner and lead physician at Ponce Primary Care, Costley has helped advance innovative technologies as the managing director of two private equity investment funds.
“The BlueWillow technology platform holds great promise for preventing devastating diseases. The role of CMO includes the responsibility to further advance this exceptional technology and accelerate impactful development,” Costley said. “NanoBio Protect is one example of the potential of our unique platform. Along with the entire BlueWillow team, I’m committed to progressing efforts at this critical time. We have an opportunity to make a difference right now, to help protect our communities, and to set the stage for a dramatically improved approach to prevention as the country continues to fight against the spread of infection and takes steps to embrace a return to normalcy.”
Costley received his medical and undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan, where he also completed his medical residency. He later attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship. Costley has served as an advisor and board member of several early-stage technology companies.
BlueWillow recently announced plans to commercialize NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution that can be used to help reduce germs that could cause infections. In addition to NanoBio Protect, BlueWillow is currently developing intranasal vaccines that elicit both systemic and mucosal immunity for several respiratory and sexually transmitted infections, including RSV, HSV2, pandemic influenza and anthrax, as well as intranasal immunotherapy for peanut allergy and other allergic conditions.
Visit BlueWillow.com for details on the company’s pipeline and studies completed to date.