About Us

• Formulation and Process Development
• Development of Multilayer Tablet Systems & Combination Products
• Bioavilability Enhancement using Complexations and Solid-State Dispersion
• Development of Opthalamic, Solid Oral, Liquid Oral, Semi-Solid, Parenteral, and Topical Dosage Forms
• Lead Development/Assisted with Development of over 200 products.

Brian has more than 20 years experience in pharmaceutical executive management while still assisting with formulation development activities to ensure retention of his skills and keep abreast of new technology and processes.

Brian McMillan is current Founder, CEO and President of Bravado Pharmaceuticals in Lutz, Florida. McMillan is a Pharmaceutical Development scientist with over 30 years of Analytical and Formulation Development experience at nationally acclaimed laboratories such as Roxane Laboratories, Bausch and Lomb Pharmaceuticals, and MDS Pharma Services as well as cofounder and CTO of CoreRx Inc. located in Clearwater, Florida. McMillan specializes in developing multi-layer tablet dosage forms, combination products, and bio-availability enhancement utilizing complexation and solid-state dispersion among other techniques. Over the course of his career, Brian has been the lead scientist or assisted in the development of over 200 products in a variety of dosage forms, including ophthalmics, solid orals, liquid orals, semi-solids, parenterals, and topicals.

During his time at Bausch and Lomb Pharmaceuticals, McMillan was the lead formulator and process development scientist for Retisert® , a sterile implant designed to release fluocinolone acetonide locally to the posterior segment of the eye. Retisert®  is the world’s first intravitreal drug implant for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye. After joining CoreRx he developed “Peramivir” (trade name Rapivab) in solution, suspension, and lyophilized forms. “Rapivab” is an anti-viral for the treatment of pandemic H1N1. The US government stockpiled the lyophilized form for H1N1.

At Core, he also developed over a dozen analgesic oral solution products- and various formulations for both IR and MR mono and multi-layer tablet systems. McMillan was the lead scientist for the first FDA first approved drug for weight loss, Contrave®, in monolayer, bi-layer and tri-layer formats. McMillan was also the lead scientist on TesoRx oral Testosterone “TSX-049”. TSX-049 is a novel, oral formulation of Testosterone (T) containing Testosterone Undecanoate (TU) that is designed to help restore normal Testosterone levels in males with hypogonadism. Also, at CoreRx he was initial formulator of “PALFORZIA” a treatment for people who are allergic to peanuts. PALFORZIA can help reduce the severity of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to peanut.

During his career McMillan has worked on or developed over 200 dosage forms. Most recently at Bravado McMillan has been the lead formulator for CoVer Nasal Antibody Drops. The product was developed as a collaboration in the battle against Covid-19 with Stanford University and SPARK GLOBAL. The formulation forms an antibody blockade preventing CV19 from entering through the nasal cavity where it binds to the ACE receptor.

In addition to his other duties, he is an assistant professor of pharmacy at the University of South Florida’s College of Pharmacy, teaching pre-formulation and formulation development of various dosage forms. In his Medicinal Chemistry program at the University of Florida, McMillan harvested, synthesized, and elucidated natural product molecules in collaboration with Smithsonian Marine Institute, Fort Pierce, Florida. These molecules were high in antioxidant properties, which could have efficacy as anti-cancer products and age longevity. He has also been a keynote speaker on JRS PHARMA’s (the world leader in tablet excipient technology) annual advisory board and has worked with JRS on tablet excipient technology development.

EDUCATION

• The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, Ph.D. Graduate Student Medicinal Chemistry, Fall 2014 to Fall 2016
• The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, M.S. in Pharmacy with concentration in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, May 2013
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, B.A. Biochemistry, June 1989, Major area of studies in The College of Pharmacy

• Quality Assurance/Quality Control 
• Method Development/Validation
• Analytical Testing
• GMP Investigations
• Development and Execution of Training
• Formulation and Process Development

Shannon is currently an executive in the pharmaceutical industry with more than 10 years experience as a leader in the lab and quality arenas and almost 15 years experience in academia.  

Shannon Kennedy joined the Bravado Team in 2022 as Director of Quality Assurance and has since moved into her current role as VP & COO because of her commitment to this company and its clients.  Shannon has almost 25 years of experience split between academia and the pharmaceutical industry.  She taught chemistry at the high school and collegiate levels prior to joining industry in 2013, where her skills were quickly recognized, moving her up the ranks in the lab and into quality assurance. Her expertise is in GMP analytical testing, method development and validation, and quality assurance for non-sterile products. She was instrumental in the development of a formal training program for lab personnel and significantly reducing investigation timelines at CoreRx from greater than 6 months on average to less than 30 days. She also has experience with quality assurance of both sterile and non-sterile compounded products. Bravado is pleased to have Shannon’s knowledge and skills leading our lab team.
 
EDUCATION

• The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, M.S. in Pharmacy 
  (forensic science concentration),  2015
  
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, 2007
  
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, M.S. in Chemical Physics, 2004
  
• Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, B.A. Chemistry, 1998
  
• Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, B.A. Comprehensive Science Education, 1998

• Project Logistics
• Project Management
• Business Operations

Molly has more than 20 years experience as an entrepreneur and has been apart of Bravado since its inception providing support for logistics and operations.

Molly Berberich is a Michigander who transplanted to Florida in 1993. Married with three grown daughters, Molly joined Brian in Dec 2019; together they launched the Bravado team and the company’s opening on March 2, 2020. Molly brings a background of 20 years sales experience and business ownership in the corporate apparel and marketing industry.  She is effective at managing projects, organizing the administration process, coordinating marketing events, and establishing a collaborative work environment.  Her focus is centered on excellent customer relationships with clients and vendors.

• Sterile Compounding & 503B Outsourcing Facility Management
• Pharmacy Operations & Quality Assurance
• Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation (e.g., URAC, QIP)
• Formulation Strategy & Custom Compounding
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership

• Project Planning

• Procurement Management

• Resource Management

• Team Leadership

• Analytical Testing

• Cosmetic Formulation and Development

• Polymer Chemistry 

Ashley is part of the original Bravado team members pioneering our Nasal Prophylaxis “coVer” for Covid Virus prevention. Ashley has 12 years experience as a QC and R&D Chemist across pharmaceutical, polymer and cosmetic industries. She is the founder of a Medspa beauty brand Elixir beauty by Ashley Mandell. 

• Formulation and Process Development
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
• Lyophilization
• Nanotechnology
• Tableting
• Encapsulation
• Analytical Testing
• Method Development and Validation

Yev is a formally trained biologist and pharmaceutical nanotechnology scientist with extensive lab experience as a biologist and research assistant specializing in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. He currently works as a Formulation Research Chemist for Bravado, applying his skills in drug development, formulation and analysis.

Kelsey has previously worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at the Ohio State University in the Comprehensive Cancer Center.  As one of only 49 designated comprehensive centers in the Nation – Arthur G. James Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute is “dedicated to the creation of knowledge in laboratory, clinical and population-based cancer research.  Applied discoveries are used to develop more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapies – providing tomorrows standard of care today”.  The statement in her employment letter years ago says, “A Cancer-Free World Begins Here, Welcome to the OSU CCC!”.  Kelsey is currently a first-year resident at Duke Medical Center, Raleigh, NC with goals to complete her residency in Oncology over the next two years.

Kelsey’s Academic Background:

• Freedom HS, Tampa Palms, FL
• BS in Biochemistry, The Ohio State University (Minor in Pharmaceutical Studies)
• MS in Pharmacology, The Ohio State University
• PharmD, The Ohio State University