Clinical-stage biotechnology company Tharimmune (NASDAQ:THAR) announced significant leadership appointments in June 2025, positioning the company to advance its lead therapeutic candidate TH104, a novel opioid antagonist designed to protect military personnel and chemical incident responders from high-potency opioid exposure, including weaponized fentanyl.
New CEO Takes the Helm
Sireesh Appajosyula assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer effective June 2025, transitioning from his previous position as Chief Operating Officer, which he held since July 2023. Appajosyula has served as a board member since July 2021 and brings extensive pharmaceutical industry experience, including senior roles at Salix Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Bausch Health, and positions at major pharmaceutical companies including Amgen, Critical Therapeutics (now Chiesi), and Aventis (now Sanofi).
"I am honored and excited to lead Tharimmune during this pivotal time as we continue to advance our innovative therapeutic candidates," said Dr. Sireesh Appajosyula. "I look forward to working closely with our talented team, dedicated board, and strategic advisors to achieve our mission of delivering impactful treatments for high unmet needs."
Strategic Board Appointments
Vincent LoPriore, who joined Tharimmune's board in April 2025, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Board. LoPriore brings over 30 years of investment banking experience, having completed over $150 million in private placement transactions during his partnership at C.E. Unterberg, Towbin. He currently serves as a Partner at President Street Global, LLC, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, and manages the Gravitas Capital LP Fund.
"It is a privilege to take on the role of Executive Chairman at Tharimmune," commented Vincent LoPriore. "I am enthusiastic about the direction of the company, and I am confident that our combined efforts will drive significant value for our shareholders and, most importantly, for the customers we aim to serve."
National Security Expertise Joins Board
The company also appointed James Gordon Liddy, a retired Navy SEAL Commander, to its Board of Directors. Commander Liddy's distinguished military career includes serving as Senior Advisor to the Director for Strategy, Policy and Initiatives for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and as Chief of Plans and Policy for the United States Special Operations Command's Washington Office.
Commander Liddy was the principal architect for the Navy's Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Plan and led the Navy's elite Antiterrorism Assessment Team (Red Cell). He also spearheaded the creation of DoD's Anti-terrorism and Force Protection Plan DoD Directive 20012.H. His expertise is particularly relevant as Tharimmune advances TH104 as a critical medical countermeasure against weaponized fentanyl and other high-potency opioids.
TH104 Development Focus
TH104 represents Tharimmune's lead clinical asset, specifically designed as a buccal film formulation to deliver an opioid antagonist rapidly and predictably. The therapeutic candidate is being developed for temporary prophylaxis of respiratory and nervous system depression in military personnel and chemical incident responders who may be exposed to high-potency opioids, including weaponized fentanyl and its analogues.
The company is advancing TH104 through a 505(b)2 regulatory pathway for this specific indication. Beyond this primary application, Tharimmune's expanded pipeline includes other indications for TH104, such as chronic pruritus in primary biliary cholangitis.
Broader Pipeline Development
Tharimmune's therapeutic portfolio extends beyond TH104 to include TH023, described as a new approach to treating autoimmune diseases, and an early-stage multispecific biologic platform targeting unique epitopes against multiple solid tumors through its proprietary EpiClick™ Technology. The company maintains a license agreement with OmniAb, Inc. to access antibody discovery technology for targeting specified disease markers.
The leadership appointments come as Tharimmune continues to position itself as a leader in patient-centered innovation while working to deliver long-term value for shareholders in the immunology, inflammation, and oncology therapeutic areas.
