Biography

Dr. Michael Trigg is President and Managing Partner of MET Development LLC, providing contract and consultative work for CROs (Clinical Research Organizations), Biotechs, Pharmaceutical Companies and non-clinical/non-medical investors. Since 2021, most of the CRO work has been for PPD, now a part of ThermoFisher Scientific, but have completed advisory roles for a variety of biotechs working in the area of hematology (malignant & non-malignant disease), oncology, gene therapies including SCD and hemophilia, immuno-therapeutics and cellular therapies including CAR-T treatments.

Following the completion of his work with Worldwide Clinical Trials, he held the position of Global Scientific/Medical Director at Janssen Oncology, primarily working on the CAR-T underdevelopment for Multiple Myeloma (cilta-cell). He conceived the strategy and wrote the initial protocol for the use of Anikinra for the prophylaxis/prevention of CRS and neurologic sequelae often associated with CAR-T therapies. He left Janssen Oncology prior to the marketing approval of Cilta-cel in early 2022.

Dr. Trigg was the Vice President-Scientific Solutions (Oncology) at Worldwide Clinical Trials, a small CRO (clinical research organization) from October 2018 until November 2020. In this newly created position as of October 2018,Dr. Trigg worked closely with colleagues at Worldwide Clinical Trials to expand their footprint and activity in Oncology, particularly in the areas of immuno-therapeutic approaches to the treatment of cancer and in pediatric oncology.

Prior to his position with Worldwide Clinical Trials, Dr. Trigg joined the Medical-Scientific Advisory Board of Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (APT) in early 2017 and then assumed the position of Chief Medical Officer as of May 2017. During Dr. Trigg’s medical school education and training, Dr. Trigg had studied and worked with APT Chief Scientific Officer Carl Merril when Dr. Merril worked at the NIH. During the years that Dr. Trigg worked with Dr. Merril, he published seminal results on the distribution and handling of phage by germ free animals and participated in phage genetic engineering work. Dr. Trigg worked closely with the scientific staff at APT to establish clinically validated procedures in support of the clinical protocols that  form the basis of the FDA IND submission and initiation of clinical studies in 2019. Dr. Trigg completed the writing of the phase I/2 study and Expanded Access[EA] study that will be part of the IND submission. In addition, Dr. Trigg wrote the companion study to the phase 1/2 study that will further the signal of the use of phage to treat urinary tract infections in those with recurrent/refractory (RUTIs). Dr. Trigg wrote the Investigational Brochure for APT that will be used for the IND submission. During Dr. Trigg's time as the CMO of APT, he made significant presentations of the anticipated work of APT to several investor groups and directed much of the activity for the eIND cases that were managed by APT and The Navy. Dr. Trigg resigned from the position of CMO with APT at the end of May 2018. Dr. Trigg continues to provide ongoing consultations in his areas of expertise to a variety of pharmaceutical companies with products in development.

TIME Magazine article highlighting Phage Therapy and APT

For the duration of his 30 year academic career (1981-2014), most of his research interests have centered on the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and innovative methods for stem cell transplantation. For almost 10 years (1985-1993), he was the chair of the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Strategy group of the Children’s Cancer Group [CCG], directing the design, implementation, conduct, analyses and publications of numerous national ALL studies in children and adolescents. After the merger of the CCG with 3 other pediatric cooperative cancer groups to form the Children’s Oncology Group, he served as the chair of the ALL Open Studies Committee until August 2005. He was a pioneer in the 1980’s perfecting techniques of T-lymphocyte depletion from marrow stem cell preparations making possible haploidentical transplants and furthering the possibility of using less than perfectly matched unrelated donors as sources of stem cells. In the early 1990’s, he began a series of international meetings of those involved in pediatric stem cell transplants and was honored in 2007 for the initiation of these meetings. He was honored with the “Fly for Eagles” national award in 2005 for his contributions to the research and care of those with childhood leukemias. In 2006, he was invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in New Delhi India, to provide instruction to Dr. Abdul Kalam, the President of India, on the use of umbilical cord stem cells for the treatment of a variety of hematologic and non-hematologic disorders.

Dr. Trigg is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine [MD]. He trained in Pediatrics at Northwestern University, Children’s Memorial Hospital and in Pediatric Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. In his most recent academic position, Dr. Trigg served as the Chief, Division of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the A. I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE from 1997 to 2005 and founded/directed the stem cell processing laboratory in support of the transplant programs. He was also Professor of Pediatrics at the Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Prior to coming to the Jefferson Medical College, he held tenured Professor positions at the University of Wisconsin in Madison [1981-1986] and The University of Iowa in Iowa City [1986-1997]. At both the University of Wisconsin and the University of Iowa, Dr. Trigg established Pediatric stem cell transplant programs and established/directed stem cell processing laboratories. He has served as an editorial board member, guest editor and manuscript reviewer for more than 12 journals and has authored more than 175 articles in referred journals, 18 book chapters, more than 20 other publications in print or on internet sites or books, and has co-authored more than 130 abstracts in print. In total, he has more than 380 publications, including 4 books detailed below. From 2000-2006, he was the chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for Cryo-Cell International Inc., one of the largest repositories of umbilical cord blood and other fetal-derived tissues for transplant purposes headquartered in Clearwater Florida.

In 2005, Dr. Trigg joined Merck as the National Science Director-Oncology. All of his time at Merck, from 2005-2013, was in Medical Affairs, supporting the Oncology franchises, as an executive medical director and then joining the Regional Medical Director program. He also supported and worked with the commercial and research groups involved with Hepatitis C product development, HIV and the marketed HIV integrase inhibitor, development of an anti-CMV compound, development of an attenuated zoster vaccine for those with compromised immune systems, and a new formulation of an oral anti-fungal indicated for those undergoing stem cell transplants and for those undergoing AML induction therapy. His scientific and clinical activities supported the launch of Emend for those receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, Emend for Injection, Zolinza, Victrelis and a new formulation of Noxafil. Dr. Trigg was an active speaker in the Merck Academy providing a series of unbranded educational sessions to academic and community oncology programs on subjects of interest to the cancer community.

In 2014, Dr. Trigg joined Bristol-Myers Squibb as an Oncology Scientific Advisor in US Medical Affairs. In that position he focused on Immuno-Oncology therapeutics and those compounds under investigation with a variety of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies, working to establish innovative programs supported by BMS at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Northwestern University Developmental Therapeutics Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center and the Multiple Myeloma program at Dana-Farber Cancer Center. In addition, he organized extensive pediatric related activities at BMS including setting up a pediatric oncology advocacy group with regular meetings. Dr. Trigg initiated a pediatric survivorship fellowship grant program at BMS in 2015 and was also involved in MSL clinical teaching/education. He worked closely with Dr. Joseph Leveque and Dr. Cynthia Brogdon while at BMS, and in addition, worked closely with the Geriatric Oncology Consortium along with Dr. Brogdon.

Please view Dr. Trigg's LinkedIn Profile for more details: View Profile

Honors & Awards

Books & Publications

The Treatment of Childhood Leukemia-A Guide for Parents, Families and Friends

A step-by-step guide as to the questions that arise when children, adolescents and young adults are treated for leukemia, the issues that should be discussed and subjects that should be considered by all involved in the treatment. An invaluable resource as patients, families, parents and friends proceed through the treatments.

Adoption Advice for the Single Male

For single males considering adoption to start a family, this short and concise book provides the practical advice that the prospective parent, family and friends need to begin the process. Written by a pediatrician who adopted two young boys from Vietnam, the valuable hints and perspective help to minimize the anxiety associated with the adoption process.

What do you see and hear?--Homonyms and Homophones

For early readers and for those learning the English language for the first time, this volume explores the sounds, meanings and spellings of words that all sound alike but have multiple meanings or that are spelled similarly but with very different meanings. The accompanying pictures accent the texts and help solidify the learning from each page.

Lessons From Golf: Greg All ALone

Talented high school golfer making his way through the second round of a two-day national high school golf tournament, played on a course in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. During the round, his father traces Greg’s preparation for the tournament and the conduct of golfers specifically in this tournament and also throughout many high school golf tournaments that Greg’s father has witnessed.

Respectful Golf: Etiquette for the Beginng and Junior Golfer

Beginning and junior golfers benefit by following the every-day golf etiquette to improve enjoyment of the game. In addition, following the usual etiquette preserves the respect for fellow golfer, for those who care for the course and for the game itself. Golf etiquette is different from golf rules, which all beginning and junior golfers will also need to master.