Anifera introduces new board members
The Board members are experienced animal health and pharmaceutical professionals.
New animal health firm Anifera has announced the appointment of four experienced animal health and pharmaceutical professionals to its board.
Anifera aims to be the innovator and leader in researching and developing solutions for adjunct therapy with antibiotics. The company was formed by Swiss-based Stonehaven Incubate and Agile Sciences in September 2020.
The new Board members include Tony Benitz, Mark Heffernan, Malcolm Thomas and Simon Wheeler, each of which has extensive knowledge of the animal health sector.
Stonehaven Incubate Venture partner, Dr Gwynneth Thomas, said: “We’re very pleased by the strong team we’ve assembled to lead the business. As well as their extensive experience, they possess a range of complementary skills. They are excited by the opportunities Anifera’s technology provides in the livestock and companion animal industries and are looking forward to leading the company to success.”
Benitz joins the Board following a 35-year career in animal health where he served in senior roles in research and development in several companies, including Global Head of R&D for Pharmacia Animal Health and Novartis Animal Health. A senior advisor at Stonehaven Consulting, his experience includes bringing a range of new therapeutics and vaccines for animals to the market and working closely with regulatory agencies in numerous international markets.
Heffernan is is the CEO of Stonehaven Incubate and has spent almost two decades as co-founder and CEO in private and public companies. He is experienced in human biotechnology start-ups and animal health R&D companies, building successful global teams to execute drug discovery and development and raising more than $150m in private and public capital.
Before his role as CEO of Agile Sciences, Thomas was president and CEO of Arbovax, a biotechnology company commercialising technology that can be used to make vaccines against insect-borne viral diseases. He has held roles including vice president of operations for StemCo Biomedical and director of international marketing for Bayer Biologicals.
The CEO of animal diagnostics company, Vetsina, Wheeler is a veterinary surgeon and strategic leader with more than 20 years’ experience in the global animal health industry. He has reached senior positions in clinical veterinary academia in the UK and US, lecturing at international meetings, conducting research, and publishing three books, more than 125 articles and mentoring trainees.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
