Executive Team

Erik Emerson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apimeds Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative treatments for osteoarthritis. He assumed the role of CEO in September 2023. His experience extends from building commercial organizations to extensive fundraising and M&A transactions.

Before joining Apimeds, Mr. Emerson served as Chief Commercial Officer at Odyssey Health, Inc., where he was instrumental in driving commercial strategies. He also held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Mezzion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., contributing to the company's growth and market presence.

In 2013, Mr. Emerson co-founded Symplmed Pharmaceuticals LLC and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer, leading the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. His earlier career includes roles as Senior Director of Commercial Development at XOMA Corporation and Marketing Director at Gilead Sciences, Inc., where he gained extensive experience in product development and marketing within the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr. Emerson holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon. Erik is the father of 4 and enjoys golf, family, and the beach during his free time.

Dr. Christopher Kim has been our Chairman and Chief Medical Officer since our inception and served as our interim Chief Executive Officer from July 2022 to September 2023.

Dr. Kim is the inventor and developer of Apitox and the founder of Apimeds Korea, where he has served as a director since its inception. Mr. Kim served as the Chief Executive Officer of Apimeds Korea from May 2003 to August 2011. Prior to founding Apimeds Korea, Dr. Kim lead with the support of Guju Pharmaceuticals, clinical trials for Apitoxin in Korea, which was approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration in 2003 for relief of pain and inflammation for patients with Osteoarthritis. In 2005, he began focusing on the clinical development of Apitox in the United States, including the first of two-Phase III clinical studies for Osteoarthritis. Prior to his time with Apimeds Korea, Dr. Kim served as the President of the International Pain Institute of New Jersey from January 1983 to May 2003, a center for chronic pain and other disabling diseases that conducted clinical research and provided treatment. He served as a professor at Biomedical Center, CHA Graduate School of Medicine in Korea from March 2005 to February 2017.

Dr. Kim is a licensed physician in New Jersey, New York and Korea and a Pain Medicine Specialist (American Board). Over the past twenty years, Dr. Kim has treated thousands of chronically disabled patients with autoimmune diseases, including MS. Dr. Kim received his medical degree from the School of Medicine, CN University in Korea.

Mr. Frim has over 40 years of experience as an accountant, financial executive and consultant. He joined Helio Corporation in December 2024. In 2019, he joined CFO Squad and as a partner in the CFO Squad, LLC Mr. Frim advised clients on technical accounting and regulatory compliance, assisting numerous companies with their initial public offerings. Prior to the CFO Squad, Mr. Frim served as a director in the public company audit practice of EisnerAmper LLP. Mr. Frim as also served as a financial executive for digital media pioneer DIVA Systems Corporation. A former CPA, he has a BS in Accounting from Ball State University.

Brian Peters is a senior commercial executive with over 30 years of experience in global branding, business development, and product launches across neurology, rheumatology, hematology, cardiology and rare diseases. Most recently, he served as Chief Strategy & Insights Officer at Heller Agency, leading strategic planning, business development, and market positioning. Prior to that, he spent over a decade at Medexus Pharma, where he oversaw U.S. marketing and sales efforts, launched multiple products, and led a high-performing sales and marketing team that drove significant market share growth. He played an instrumental role in the acquisitions of IXINITY, Grafapex, and Gleolan, expanding Medexus’ U.S. portfolio.

Mr. Peters has held senior marketing and commercial leadership roles at Chiesi USA, Accera, Gilead Sciences, Biovail Pharmaceuticals, and G.D. Searle, playing a pivotal role in product commercialization, marketing strategy, and sales leadership.

He serves on the Future Pharma and PM360 Editorial Advisory Boards and is a frequent speaker at pharmaceutical conferences. Mr. Peters holds a B.A. in Communications from Indiana University Bloomington and is currently a board member of the non-profit organization Cardz for Kidz.