Our Team
Mr. Refael Barkan
Founder and CEO
Mr. Refael Barkan brings decades of leadership and expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. From 1988 to 2014, he established, grew and served as CEO of Aminolab Laboratory, transforming it into one of Israel’s leading analytical laboratories, overseeing its scientific and financial operations. He trained as an associate engineer in electronics and began his career as an inter-department equipment manager at the Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University (1975–1988).
Mr. Barkan’s extensive experience has enabled him to build strong relationships and partnerships with key figures in Israel’s pharmaceutical industry. His strategic vision has played a pivotal role in founding and promoting several biotechnology and medical startups, and has now led him to the establishment of Foraviset.
Jacob (J.J.) Marx, Esq.
Chairman, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel
J.J. is a licensed attorney in Israel and New York, holding an LL.B. and LL.M. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with a specialization in Intellectual Property and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This dual focus has provided J.J. with in-depth knowledge of the regulatory and scientific landscape of the pharmaceutical industry. With over 20 years of experience in corporate law—spanning both litigation and commercial contracts—J.J. has served as a Corporate Law lecturer at the Ono Academic College’s Law Faculty, Israel’s largest law school, for 14 years.
In his extensive career, J.J. has held various roles as a private practitioner, legal counsel, audit committee member, and board director. His expertise spans corporate governance, shareholder relations, and commercial agreements, enhanced by a strong foundation in intellectual property law and hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical sector.
Alexa Weltman
Chief Business and Investor Relations Officer
Alexa is a passionate advocate for women's health with extensive experience in femtech. She has led innovative projects, including serving as CEO of a smart polymer solutions startup, developing unique applications tailored to women's health needs.
Alexa has been a long-time volunteer with the Israeli Endometriosis Association, where she contributes as a lecturer and activist to raise awareness and support for those affected by the condition.
Alexa is the founder and CEO of RAE Investments, bringing a robust background in Mergers and Acquisitions, business development, and startup management. Alexa combines strategic vision with hands-on leadership to advance medical technologies that improve women's lives.
Moran Faibish
Chief Marketing Officer
Moran Faibish is a strategic marketing leader with over 15 years of global experience in healthcare and tech. Specializing in market penetration for B2B companies, she has a proven track record of driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and building powerful brand identities. With expertise spanning go-to-market strategies, digital marketing, and crisis management, Moran excels at anticipating trends, mitigating risks, and crafting strategies that deliver real results. She holds a B.A. in Psychology, giving her a deep understanding of consumer behavior and brand positioning. A data-driven strategist and seasoned leader, she navigates dynamic global markets with precision—ensuring brands don’t just stand out, but thrive.
Prof. Uri Dior, M.D. Ms.P.H.
Deputy Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Head of the Endometriosis Center
of the Hadassah Medical Centre,
Ein Carem, Jerusalem
Prof. Dior completed his medical studies at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical School and pursued an advanced fellowship with the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society in Gynecological Laparoscopy at The Royal Women’s Hospital, Australia’s top institution for women’s health. Under the mentorship of world-renowned surgeons, he developed expertise in complex gynecological procedures. In 2018, Prof. Dior founded the Endometriosis Center at Hadassah Medical Center, where he currently serves as director. He has published nearly 90 scientific papers and received prestigious international awards for his contributions to gynecological surgery.
Dr. Yuval Kaufman, M.D.
Senior Consultant at the Department of
Obstetrics & Gynecology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa
Dr. Kaufman is a Senior Consultant in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel. He is the founder and director of the Multidisciplinary Center for the Treatment of Endometriosis and leads the Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery division at Carmel. Dr. Kaufman co-founded Noga Medical, a premier private center for excellence in gynecological and women’s surgical care. He also serves as a Clinical Lecturer at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and consults for several medical device startups, including Gynica, Ark Surgical, and MST. Dr. Kaufman is a board member of the Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis (ASEA).
Dr. Meir (Miki) Pomerantz, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. Pomeranz is a senior gynecologist and accomplished surgeon, formerly head of Emergency Services at Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. With extensive experience, Dr. Pomeranz specializes in treating a broad spectrum of obstetric and gynecological conditions, including heavy menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, fibroids, and endometriosis. He is also a faculty member at the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine. Dr. Pomeranz earned his medical degree from the Technion Institute in 1985 and completed his specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Meir Hospital between 1987 and 1994.
Dr. Moshe Neuman, Ph.D.
Bio Medical Research Design
Ltd. (B.R.D)
Dr. Moshe Neuman is the Founder and Managing Director of Bio Medical Research Design Ltd. (B.R.D), a leading Israeli regulatory affairs consulting firm. B.R.D. specializes in providing expert regulatory advice and comprehensive Contract Research Organization (CRO) services to early-stage Israeli startups in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and related medical industries. A life scientist by training, Dr. Neuman holds a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from Tel Aviv University’s Medical School and has completed advanced studies in regulatory affairs and clinical trial management in both the U.S. and the EU. Dr. Neuman brings extensive research and leadership experience from senior roles at the Life Sciences Research Israel (LSRI) division of the Biological Research Institute and as a founding team member of the Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute at Sheba Medical Center.
Dr. Shimon Amsalem, Ph.D
Chief Scientist at ADAMA Agricultural
Solutions and SpacePharma
A seasoned pharmaceutical and biotech consultant, Dr. Amsalem specializes in formulation development, drug discovery, and drug delivery. Currently serving as Chief Scientist of Delivery Technologies at ADAMA Agricultural Solutions, he is also the Chief Scientific Officer at SpacePharma in Herzliya, Israel, where he advances lab-on-chip nanosatellites for microgravity research. Previously, he held the position of CSO at Marval Pharma Ltd. (Netanya, Israel), focusing on encapsulated iodinated products for CT imaging, and he founded Nextar ChemPharma Solutions Ltd., a contract manufacturing and outsourcing firm for pharmaceutical and analytical services across the biotech, pharma, and medical device industries.
With a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr Amsalem completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. He has worked with several international pharmaceutical companies, including Nova Pharmaceutical Corp. (Baltimore, MD), Alergia Immunologia Abello SA (Madrid, Spain), and Pharmos Corp. (Iselin, NJ, and Rehovot). Over a 25-year career, he has contributed to drug discovery and the development of innovative new chemical entities, working in multidisciplinary R&D environments across all phases—from preclinical research to GMP production—of injectables, ocular, oral, and topical drug products. He has played a significant role in developing 30 new pharmaceutical products, with eight reaching U.S. and European markets, including notable drugs such as Lotemax®, Alrex®, Zylet™, Ultrasome-Q10, Gliadel, Ravimig, Raviten, and the pioneering liposomal product Doxil®.