Airway Therapeutics Strengthens Board with CorMedix CEO Joe Todisco as Zelpultide Alfa Advances
Key Insights
Airway Therapeutics (search) appointed Joe Todisco, Chairman and CEO of CorMedix Inc., to its Board of Directors to support the advancement of zelpultide alfa through late-stage development and commercialization preparation.
Todisco brings over two decades of pharmaceutical industry leadership experience, including expertise in hospital channel commercialization where Airway expects to launch its lead product for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (search) (BPD (search)).
Zelpultide alfa is currently in late-stage clinical development for preventing BPD (search) in very preterm infants, a condition with no approved preventive therapies.
Airway Therapeutics (search) has appointed Joe Todisco, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CorMedix Inc., to its Board of Directors effective April 13, 2026, bringing extensive commercial and corporate development expertise to support the advancement of its lead candidate zelpultide alfa and future company growth.
The appointment comes as the late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company prepares to advance zelpultide alfa through late-stage development and toward potential commercialization for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (search) (BPD (search)) in very preterm infants.
Strategic Leadership Addition
Todisco brings more than two decades of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with a proven track record in commercial strategy, corporate development, and entrepreneurship. His expertise is particularly relevant to Airway's commercialization strategy, as the company expects to launch its lead product through hospital channels.
"Joe's deep experience in building and scaling specialty pharmaceutical businesses, combined with his strategic perspective across commercial and operational functions, will be invaluable as we advance zelpultide alfa through late-stage development and prepare for commercialization," said Marc Salzberg, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Airway Therapeutics (search). "Joe brings extensive expertise and relationships in commercializing products in the hospital channel, where Airway expects to launch its lead product for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (search) (BPD (search)), if approved."
Addressing Unmet Medical Need
Zelpultide alfa is currently in late-stage clinical development for the prevention of BPD (search) in very preterm infants, representing a significant unmet medical need as there are currently no approved preventive therapies for this condition. The biologic therapy is being developed as part of Airway's new class of treatments designed to redefine the prevention and treatment of respiratory, inflammatory, and infectious diseases.
"Airway's innovative approach to biologic therapies, particularly its lead candidate zelpultide alfa, has the potential to address significant unmet medical needs, including BPD (search)," said Todisco. "I look forward to working with the team to support its pipeline and accomplish the strategic vision."
Platform Potential
As a platform biologic, zelpultide alfa is being advanced for broader application across age groups and disease settings, with the goal of improving outcomes for vulnerable patient populations. This approach positions the therapy for potential expansion beyond its initial indication in very preterm infants.
Industry Experience
Todisco's pharmaceutical industry background includes eleven years at Amneal Pharmaceuticals, where he held senior leadership roles including Chief Commercial Officer of Amneal Specialty and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and International Operations. He was also co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gemini Laboratories LLC (search), a specialty pharmaceutical company that was subsequently acquired by Amneal.
Earlier in his career, Todisco led North American Commercial Strategy and Business Development at Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals and held various leadership roles at Par Pharmaceuticals (search). He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from Fordham Graduate School of Business.