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. Mark Corrao has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2024.

Mr. Corrao is currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Ealixir, Inc. (OTC:EAXR), a publicly traded software company specializing in digital identity management and protection. He previously served as CFO for Amesite, Inc. (OTC:AMST), Generex Biotechnology Corp. (OTC:GNBT), Brain Scientific, Inc., and several other companies across the software, biotechnology, and medical device industries. He has been the CFO of Neuropathix, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company, and was a Managing Director at The CFO Squad LLC, where he continues to serve as an advisor. He also chaired the audit committee for Success Holdings Group International and co-founded Strikeforce Technology, Inc. (OTC:SFOR), a publicly traded software development and services company. Earlier in his career, Mr. Corrao held leadership positions at Applied Digital Solutions and co-founded Advanced Communication Sciences, which was later acquired.

With extensive experience in public accounting, SEC compliance, corporate taxation, and financial planning, he also spent years on Wall Street with Merrill Lynch, Spear Leeds & Kellogg, and Greenfield Arbitrage Partners, playing a key role in initial public offerings and startup ventures. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from The City University of New York.