Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical isn’t your ordinary biotech company.

It’s out to relieve those suffering from cancer, diabetes, respiratory infections, heart disease, and arthritis — all by focusing on one particular problem.

That problem is inflammation. Perhaps surprisingly, eighty percent of all major human diseases are a result of inflammation. And 150 million Americans alone suffer from it.

Inflammation is the hidden culprit behind diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and even alcohol-related hangovers. It’s also a major factor in the opioid epidemic. Thirty percent of the fifteen million Americans who are prescribed opioids to manage chronic pain are diagnosed with opioid use disorder.

Bottom line: Inflammation is the root cause of disease — not a consequence of it. The problem is that today’s healthcare system attempts to treat inflammation when it’s too late.

That’s why Sen-Jam is changing this treatment approach. By repurposing FDA-approved small molecules, the company is developing innovative, proprietary, potent anti-inflammatory medicines. As the company says, its approach to treating inflammation is the biggest pharmacological advancement since aspirin was invented 125 years ago.

Sen-Jam is led by scientific advisors with experience at the Mayo Clinic, Boston Medical Clinic, Harvard School of Public Health, and Cornell University. These are published Ivy League doctors who are solving the world’s toughest health challenges.

Essentially, Sen-Jam aims to treat inflammation at the source, thereby preventing or stopping disease progression. Its approach is based on a mechanism of action that prevents acute inflammation from becoming chronic. And it involves modulating (i.e., varying) four key cytokines — certain cells in the immune system that have an impact on other cells.

Simply put, Sen-Jam’s therapeutics are the first to reduce the rate at which mast cells — human immune-system cells — release proteins that cause inflammation. Countless scientific articles are now pointing to the value of understanding inflammation as the root of tissue damage and disease. And Sen-Jam has even published nine papers in reputable scientific journals in the issue.

Sen-Jam has twelve licensable assets — an asset is a term for a potential drug or therapeutic that is undergoing clinical trials to reach regulatory approval. And these assets are protected by more than sixty patents in twenty-one countries.

Three of these assets are at or nearing pivotal Phase II clinical trials. While Phase I trials are focused on safety and finding the appropriate dosage, Phase II trials ensure that a drug is effective for its intended use. Working with Sen-Jam at this stage are KVK Tech (manufacturing partner), People Science (virtual-trials partner), and Duke University (in-person trials partner).

One asset — SJP-001 — is an oral alcohol-hangover prevention medication. It could be the first hangover cure approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Another — SJP-005 — is an oral medication to support opioid withdrawal by regulating the inflammation it causes in the body.

Sen-Jam will earn revenue by licensing its intellectual property. The assets in its platform can be licensed individually, or its entire platform can be licensed or acquired at Phase II trials. Licenses typically include an upfront payment in addition to milestone payments and royalties.

Sen-Jam aims to generate around ten million dollars in revenue this year, and around sixty million dollars in revenue in 2025. By 2028, it projects to bring in $260 million.

Team Background

Jim Iversen - Co-Founder & CEO

Jim is a serial entrepreneur who’s completed five previous successful exits.

Prior to Sen-Jam, he was CEO of JMI Capital Group, a consulting business focused on leadership. Before that, he was an advisor and board member with W&H Systems, a logistics and supply-chain company, where he served as CEO earlier in his career.

For three years, he was CEO of Horizon Foods, a food-products company, and before that spent ten years as CEO of AL Systems, a software-development company.

Jim earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Jackie Iversen - Co-Founder & Head of Clinical Development

Jackie is a pharmacist and clinical-research expert in pharmacokinetics and pain management.

Prior to Sen-Jam, she was a hospital pharmacist at Northwell Health, New York state’s largest health-care provider. Before that, she completed a pharmacy-research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Throughout her career, her work has been cited in more than twenty scientific publications.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Buffalo and a Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy from St. John’s University.

Thomas Dahl - Head of Product Development

Tom is a pharmaceutical clinical development and regulatory expert.

He has held several senior-management positions with companies ranging from startups to established global operations. His expertise includes technical analysis of products and technologies, business strategy and operations, development-program strategy, clinical-trial design, and interfacing with pharmaceutical partners.

He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biology from Johns Hopkins University.

Co-Investors