​Having 20 years’ experience with biotech companies, Raj Prabhakar serves as a Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President of Rocket Pharmaceuticals in New York City. Raj Prabhakar has a range of professional interests, notably rare pediatric diseases. One of the least common of these illnesses is progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Guilford syndrome. Children with the condition age prematurely during their first two years of life, leading to hardening of the arteries, stroke, and other cardiac problems. Their average life expectancy is about 13 years. Progeria features a range of symptoms, such as below normal height and weight, an unusually large head compared to the face, and a high-pitched voice. Other signs include large eyes that don’t fully close, thin and wrinkled skin, prominent veins, and early hair loss. Patients experience stiff joints, reduced hearing, weak bones, and immature teeth, among other internal issues. The disease is extremely rare - at any one time only 400 or so of the world’s population have it. Progeria is caused by a single-gene mutation that possibly inhibits the creation of enzymes that slow the aging process. Progeria is incurable, but a new treatment has just reached the market. The medication, called Zokinvy, has been shown in clinical trials to enhance patients’ blood flexibility and improve their weight, hearing, and bone density.

​An MBA graduate of Harvard Business School, Raj Prabhakar is a seasoned business leader with more than two decades of industry experience in the biopharmaceutical sector, focusing the last decade on cell and gene therapy for rare diseases. He serves as Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President at Rocket Pharmaceuticals. Raj Prabhakar has devoted his professional endeavors to funding and advancing pediatric rare diseases.

Rare Diseases and specifically pediatric rare diseases is growing concern in the United States. Many believe that public awareness of the risks of not genetically testing early enough is essential to finding cures early. Business leaders can actively spread genetic testing awareness and disease prevention when possible.

Engagement in research awareness and early detection can potentially be curative. Business leaders can incentivize workers to engage in better communication by spreading awareness of their health benefits both within their company and the general community. Business leaders can also create weekly walkathons, fundraising activities, and even genetic testing days at local hospitals . Since many of these diseases are genetic, testing family members and extended family can help spread awareness and benefits of genomic testing so it becomes more routine in the community.

Business leaders can engage employees to participate in programs with local hospitals. Prime beneficiaries include bone marrow cell banks, transplant centers and hospitals, and leading academic and research institutions.

In addition, businesses can sponsor screening tests at local hospitals by hosting free-coupon programs for certain diseases and even for organ transplants. Through these programs, employees and their families can get tested potentially for free when sponsored by the biopharmaceutical industry. These programs help promote early detection of diseases, which is pertinent to successful treatment.

For close to two decades, biotechnology executive Raj Prabhakar has focused on the funding of new cancer therapies. Raj Prabhakar leads as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Caladrius Biosciences, where he has partnered programs and overseen cancer clinical trials, including the treatment of the common liver cancer hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

In the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of liver cancer, tumor classification can help physicians to individualize appropriate treatment. Recently, scientists at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, released research that may be instrumental in understanding the metabolic processes of tumors, and in turn may help doctors to predict the efficacy of certain drug therapies.

The study tracked the metabolism of cancer cells in oxygen-deprived conditions. Cancer cells require a steady supply of the molecule acetyl-CoA to maintain their reproductive rate. Under normal conditions of oxygenation, this molecule comes primarily from sugars. Study researchers found, however, that oxygen-deprived cancer cells are able to break down short chain fatty acids to create the acetyl-CoA molecule.

A naturally occurring substance known as endocannabinoids, structurally similar to marijuana, can assist in this process through the activation of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors. Research findings suggest that the blocking of these receptors may be effective in interrupting cellular reproduction in certain HCC tumors. Efforts to develop receptor antagonists are currently underway.                             

A longtime operations executive in the biopharmaceutical industry, Raj Prabhakar serves as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Caladrius Biosciences. Previously, Raj Prabhakar oversaw liver cancer research efforts at Celsion Corporation, leading a number of clinical trials using ThermoDox treatment.

Celsion has implemented its unique heat-based Lyso-Thermosensitive Liposomal Doxorubicin (LTLD) technology to create a number of liver cancer treatments. Recently, the company has incorporated the popular cancer pharmaceutical doxorubicin in its patented ThermoDox product. When heated to a temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, the product’s liposome alters its form, creating small holes through which doxorubicin enters the patient’s cancerous tissue.

With this method, Celsion has conducted several clinical trials to assess the use of ThermoDox in the treatment of unresectable cancers of the liver. The FDA most recently granted clearance to initiate an OPTIMA study, which aims to determine the effectiveness of ThermoDox when used in combination with traditional radio-frequency ablation (RFA) treatment. The trial is assessing the treatment of more than 550 patients across 100 international clinical trial sites. By implementing the product 15 minutes prior to RFA, researchers have seen a nearly 60 percent improvement in overall survival (OS) rate of those with liver cancer. In a subgroup of 285 patients, this optimized treatment has also increased typical OS from 53.6 to nearly 80 months. 

Having dedicated more than a decade to Celsion Corporation, Raj Prabhakar has been heavily involved in liver cancer research and development. Raj Prabhakar oversaw Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer.

HCC is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While it is unclear what cells cause HCC, studies indicate the condition may derive from hepatic stem cells. The illness predominantly affects patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The latter develops in people who have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which becomes a problem with the onset of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Patients with HCC develop tumors that can be identified during routine screenings. Likewise, the masses may cause various symptoms due to location and size, which will alert a person to see a physician. Depending on the individual, an HCC tumor can form as a single mass or diffuse growth. Ablation therapy and surgical resection are options for removing cancerous tumors to avoid liver failure or more severe outcomes.                             

A biotechnology executive in the field of clinical research, Raj Prabhakar has dedicated nearly two decades to the industry. Raj Prabhakar most recently led liver cancer programs at Celsion - EGEN, and currently partners cell therapy programs for Caladrius Biosciences.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the deadliest forms of primary liver cancer. Each year, 26,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States. Worldwide, the population reaches 750,000. Individuals with hepatitis B or C have a higher likelihood of developing the condition. By 2020, the World Health Organization predicts HCC will be the most common form of cancer.

In response to these statistics, Celsion is conducting clinical trials for a product called ThermoDox. It uses radio-frequency ablation (RFA) to release doxorubicin, a type of anthracycline chemotherapy, in targeted regions affected by cancer cells. ThermoDox creates thermal zones in the liver that expand the treatment area, thus providing the ability to destroy micrometastases. The Phase III clinical trial includes 550 patients. A Phase II study is also underway to evaluate the effectiveness of ThermoDox in recurrent chest-wall breast cancer.                             

Since 2004, Raj Prabhakar has worked at Celsion Corporation and serves as the Vice President of Business Development at Celsion Corporation, which develops innovative drug development technologies. Raj Prabhakar currently manages collaborative licensing and project development efforts for the corporation’s liver cancer and oncology programs.

A person’s risk of developing liver cancer can be increased by a wide range of physical and environmental factors, including hemochromatosis and aflatoxin exposure. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, primary hemochromatosis has been defined as a genetic disorder that occurs at birth. People with primary hemochromatosis absorb excessive amounts of iron via the digestive tract, and that iron accumulates in the body, particularly the liver. Secondary, or acquired, hemochromatosis can be caused by other blood-related disorders, multiple blood transfusions, or long-term alcohol abuse.

Along with hemochromatosis, liver cancer can be caused by exposure to aflatoxins, which are toxins created by molds that develop on improperly stored crops. The Mayo Clinic explains that aflatoxins can contaminate products like peanuts or corn that are then used to make other foods. While safety regulations in the United States limit Americans’ risk of aflatoxin exposure, aflatoxin contamination is more prevalent in regions of Asia and Africa.