Vijendra Nalamothu, PhD

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
ApoStrata, LLC

Biography

Dr. Vijendra Nalamothu obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of the Sciences’ Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, studying 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 stepped down to pursue new ventures.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nalamothu has contributed to numerous publications, secured patents for his inventions, and frequently presents at international conferences. In 2024, North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, appointed Vijendra as the Member of the Board of Directors to North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation. 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.