About Us
Kalohexis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company shaping the next era of metabolic disease care.
At Kalohexis, we are shaping the next era of metabolic disease care by harnessing the melanocortin system to develop first-in-class and best-in-class treatments. The melanocortin system is the body’s natural regulator of metabolic homeostasis but has been misunderstood and suboptimally targeted in the past. With more than a decade of expertise in melanocortin biology, our team developed a proprietary pipeline of therapeutic peptide candidates designed to safely and effectively drug central melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors (MC3R/MC4R) to treat metabolic disorders, such as obesity and cancer cachexia, and help people live healthier lives.
Leadership
Russell Potterfield, M.B.A.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Russell Potterfield, M.B.A.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Russell Potterfield is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Kalohexis. In 2026, he led the spin-out of Kalohexis from Endevica Bio, where he has served as CEO since 2020, after helping found the company in 2015 as the lead investor in the company’s angel round. Russell has over 20 years of experience in executive leadership, bottom-line responsibility, intellectual property strategy and business scaling. Prior to Endevica, he was CEO of 511 Capital and Portfolio Companies, which he founded as a “startup foundry” to research opportunities and launch businesses into those opportunities. At 511 Capital, he established the operational infrastructure, ERP and financial systems across multiple entities. Earlier in his career, Russell founded and served as CEO of Battenfeld Technologies, a consumer products design company he led through nine consecutive years of growth before leading its successful exit to a private equity acquirer in 2012. At Battenfeld, he led IP strategy, M&A and corporate transactions, international operations and capital formation. Russell earned an M.B.A. with a focus on Corporate Strategy and Organizational Design and a B.A. in English Language and Literature from University of Michigan.
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical and Scientific Officer
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D.
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D., is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Kalohexis. He co-founded and since 2022 has served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Endevica Bio, which spun out Kalohexis in 2026. Dr. Marks is a pediatric endocrinologist and academic with over 30 years of experience and more than 200 publications in the neuroendocrinology of weight regulation, with special emphasis on body weight dysregulation during chronic disease. Research in Dr. Marks’ lab has led to the hypothesis that an increase in melanocortin signaling in the hypothalamus may be responsible for many of the features of illness-induced cachexia. Prior to Endevica, he held multiple roles at the Oregon Health & Science University, including Senior Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Patient Resiliency Program for the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Ray Hickey Chair for Pediatric Research, and Director of the Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute. From 2014 to 2018, he served as Consulting Senior Advisor for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Marks earned an M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and completed his residency at the University of Utah, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Oregon Health & Science University.
Tony Mitchell, M.B.A.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Tony Mitchell, M.B.A.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Tony Mitchell, M.B.A., is the Chief Financial Officer of Kalohexis. Tony has over two decades of finance and accounting leadership experience, spanning both private and publicly traded companies. Prior to joining Kalohexis, he served as VP, Controller at COUR Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, where he led the finance and accounting functions, including IPO readiness. Previously, Tony served as VP, Controller at Jaguar Gene Therapy, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, where he oversaw the build out of the accounting function. Prior, Tony served in leadership roles responsible for SEC reporting, accounting and tax functions at OFS Management, a full-service provider of capital and leveraged finance solutions, and at Melinta Therapeutics, a publicly traded, commercial-stage pharmaceutical company acquired by CorMedix Therapeutics. Tony began his career in public accounting at LJ Soldinger Associates. He earned his B.S. in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and he is a certified public accountant.
Barry Badeau, Ph.D.
Chief Development Officer
Barry Badeau, Ph.D.
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Barry Badeau, Ph.D., is Chief Development Officer of Kalohexis. He is also Head of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) at Endevica Bio, where he provides strategic and operational leadership for lead programs across CMC, nonclinical, clinical and regulatory strategy. Barry has deep technical and hands-on expertise in establishing robust, scalable, compliant peptide processes and products. Prior to Endevica, he served as Principal Scientist at NeuBase Therapeutics where he scaled manufacturing of a novel peptide nucleic acid platform for precision genetic medicines. Barry earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington, a B.S. in chemical engineering and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Minnesota.
Jordan Delev
Chief Discovery Officer
Jordan Delev
Chief Discovery Officer
Jordan Delev is Chief Discovery Officer of Kalohexis. He is also Head of Research and Development at Endevica Bio, where he led the discovery and development of what is now Kalohexis’ lead obesity asset. Jordan is an organic chemist with over 10 years of research and drug development expertise and numerous years of patient-focused healthcare experience. Prior to Endevica, he trained as an organic and organometallic chemist and conducted research at NorthShore University Health System (now Endeavor Health). Jordan earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Loyola University Chicago.
Board of Directors
Russell Potterfield, M.B.A.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Russell Potterfield, M.B.A
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Russell Potterfield is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Kalohexis. In 2026, he led the spin-out of Kalohexis from Endevica Bio, where he has served as CEO since 2020, after helping found the company in 2015 as the lead investor in the company’s angel round. Russell has over 20 years of experience in executive leadership, bottom-line responsibility, intellectual property strategy and business scaling. Prior to Endevica, he was CEO of 511 Capital and Portfolio Companies, which he founded as a “startup foundry” to research opportunities and launch businesses into those opportunities. At 511 Capital, he established the operational infrastructure, ERP and financial systems across multiple entities. Earlier in his career, Russell founded and served as CEO of Battenfeld Technologies, a consumer products design company he led through nine consecutive years of growth before leading its successful exit to a private equity acquirer in 2012. At Battenfeld, he led IP strategy, M&A and corporate transactions, international operations and capital formation. Russell earned an M.B.A. with a focus on Corporate Strategy and Organizational Design and a B.A. in English Language and Literature from University of Michigan.
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Medical and Scientific Officer
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D.
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Daniel Marks, M.D., Ph.D., is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Kalohexis. He co-founded and since 2022 has served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Endevica Bio, which spun out Kalohexis in 2026. Dr. Marks is a pediatric endocrinologist and academic with over 30 years of experience and more than 200 publications in the neuroendocrinology of weight regulation, with special emphasis on body weight dysregulation during chronic disease. Research in Dr. Marks’ lab has led to the hypothesis that an increase in melanocortin signaling in the hypothalamus may be responsible for many of the features of illness-induced cachexia. Prior to Endevica, he held multiple roles at the Oregon Health & Science University, including Senior Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Patient Resiliency Program for the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Ray Hickey Chair for Pediatric Research, and Director of the Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute. From 2014 to 2018, he served as Consulting Senior Advisor for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Marks earned an M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and completed his residency at the University of Utah, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Oregon Health & Science University.
Eugene (Gene) Gerke
Director
Eugene (Gene) Gerke
Director
Gene Gerke is the President and owner of Gerke & Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm with nearly five decades of expertise in business analysis, benchmarking, strategic planning and operations. His clientele has included start-up companies, family owned-firms, high-growth enterprises and several Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Gerke co-founded and serves on the board of the Centennial Investors Angel Network, a Missouri angel investor network focused on early-stage companies with high-growth potential. Since 2015, he has served on the Board of Directors of Endevica Bio, which spun out Kalohexis in 2026, and also currently serves on the boards of Alexander Forrest Investments, LLC, Start Right Foods, Inc., Lund Food Holdings, Inc., Sacred Heart Catholic Community Foundation and the Missouri Innovation Center. Mr. Gerke received a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from University of Missouri and a M.S. in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University.
Bobby Sandage, Ph.D.
Director
Bobby Sandage, Ph.D.
Director
Bobby Sandage, Ph.D., has over 40 years of executive leadership expertise in the biopharmaceutical industry and over a decade of experience in life sciences venture capital investing. Currently, Dr. Sandage is a Managing Director of the Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation and Lightchain Capital, a venture fund, and a General Partner at Cultivation Capital Life Sciences Fund II. Dr. Sandage served for 11 years as President and CEO of Euclises Pharmaceuticals until 2026. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Coronado BioSciences, Inc. (now Fortress Biotech), taking the company public in 2011. For 19 years, Dr. Savage served in senior leadership roles at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., including as Chief Scientific Officer, EVP of Research & Development, Quality, and Manufacturing at the time of the company’s acquisition by Endo Pharmaceuticals in 2009. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sandage held senior drug development positions at DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, DuPont/American Critical Care, Merrell Dow and Dow Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Sandage has served on the Board of Directors of Endevica Bio, which spun out Kalohexis in 2026, since 2017. He also currently serves on the boards of Predicta Biosciences, Immunophotonics and BioVentures, LLC., at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy and has published over 50 scientific articles. Dr. Sandage received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacy from Purdue University School of Pharmacy.
Jeffrey Sherman, M.D., FACP
Director
Jeffrey Sherman, M.D., FACP
Director
Jeffrey Sherman, M.D., FACP, is a physician and drug development executive with more than 35 years of pharmaceutical experience. Previously, Dr. Sherman served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Horizon Therapeutics, until its acquisition by Amgen. Prior to Horizon, Dr. Sherman served as Senior Vice President of Research and Development and CMO at IDM Pharma; Vice President of Clinical Science at Takeda Global Research & Development Center; CMO and Executive Vice President at NeoPharm, Inc.; and held senior roles at Searle/Pharmacia and Squibb/Bristol-Myers Squibb. He was the former board chairperson and now inaugural fellow of the Drug Information Association (DIA), a board member of the Center for Healthcare Innovation, and a past steering committee member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sponsored Clinical Trial Transformation Initiative (CTTI). Dr. Sherman currently serves on the boards of Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, Larimar Therapeutics, and DIMERx. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and is an advisory board member of the Stanford University School of Medicine Master in Translational Research and Applied Medicine program. Dr. Sherman received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, completed his Internal Medicine training at Northwestern University, and his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also served as a research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Allergy and Immunology.