Vijendra Nalamothu, PhD

Founder, CEO, CSO, Entrepreneur, Strategic Advisor
Specialized in Dermatological Product Development & Commercialization

Biography

Dr. Vijendra Nalamothu obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (Saint Joseph’s University), where he studied under Dr. Joseph Schwartz and Dr. Rod Wigent. Before founding Tergus Pharma, he held the position of Global Head of Dermatology R&D at Promius Pharma, where he led the development of specialty branded dermatological products from conception to market launch.

Dr. Nalamothu’s career also includes a stint at Sanofi-aventis’ Worldwide Dermatology (Dermik), where he headed the Early Compound Assessment group. His expertise spans novel dosage form design, topical drug product development, and clinical trials across multiple countries. His interests include novel dosage form design and development of topical drug products, developing new disease models in animals, designing proof of concept studies in humans, animal toxicology studies, human clinical trials, process scale-up, and manufacturing

In 2012, Dr. Nalamothu established Tergus Pharma, a Dermatology Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Under his leadership, Tergus Pharma grew significantly, culminating in the construction and FDA approval of a 100,000-square-foot commercial manufacturing facility in 2022. In 2024, he successfully merged Tergus Pharma with MedPharm and subsequently stepped down to pursue new ventures. Since then, he has founded or co-founded two companies—ApoStrata and InnoPath—both focused on developing dermatology therapeutics for skin diseases that require medical intervention.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nalamothu has contributed to numerous publications, secured patents for his inventions, and frequently presented at international conferences. His unique blend of scientific knowledge and practical experience in R&D has made him a sought-after speaker and member of various pharmaceutical research groups.

In May of 2025, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (St. Joseph’s University) in recognition of his work in pharmaceutical sciences. This milestone inspires him to continue driving innovation and leadership in the life sciences industry.