Summary:
Richard
has nearly twenty years’ experience successfully leading research programs and identifying, building and managing strategic
partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the area of drug discovery and development. He
most recently served as Senior Director of Strategic Alliances for MDS Pharma Services, and chaired the Pharmacology Scientific
Advisory Board.
Previously, Richard was Senior
Director, Pharmacology, and lead the Pharmacology Product Team, growing revenues more than 13-fold during the 13-years he
was responsible for the molecular pharmacology business at MDS Pharma Services.
Before joining MDS Pharma Services
(Panlabs), Richard was Senior Scientist for California Biotechnology Corp. (Scios/Johnson & Johnson), cloning and expressing
genes encoding angiogenic growth factors.
Richard performed postdoctoral
research in nuclear oncogenes at The Salk Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Inder Verma and holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology
from the University of Minnesota, where he worked under Dr. Tony Faras researching Rous Sarcoma Virus transformation mechanisms.
Richard completed his B.A. in Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Richard is an excellent
speaker, a scientific and business leader, and a team-player with a proven results-oriented approach. He has outstanding
experience in the pharma and biotech industry, garnered from nearly 15 years leading the molecular pharmacology program at
MDS Pharma Services, providing drug discovery and development services to nearly 400 pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies.
Comprehensive Bio:
Ph.D. trained
molecular biologist (oncogenes/virology/growth factors/nuclear receptors) with an extremely broad skill set applicable
to a broad range of technologies and businesses. Very articulate with a high degree of credibility in a range of scientific
and business discussions. Experienced in technical and sales presentations. Excellent understanding of the balance between
scientific and business imperatives. Considered “the visionary” of MDS Pharma Services, charged with the responsibility
of leading the company to new scientific/business collaboration or acquisition opportunities. Experienced manager with a track-record
of success and continued growth in responsibility.
Sr. Dir. Strategic Alliances. Led acquisition of Skeletech (~US$10MM)
and other strategic alliances. Provided guidance for company's position of section 271(e)1 of the Hatch-Waxman Act,
instrumental in acquisition of cellular dielectric spectroscopy (CDS) technology for MDS Sciex, and MDS Pharma Services.
Chair of MDS Pharma Services Pharmacology Scientific Advisory Board. Manager
of MDS Pharma Services largest pharmacology client program (a top 5 pharmaceutical company).
Sr. Dir., Pharmacology; Leader of the MDS Pharma Services (formerly MDS Panlabs, Panlabs
Inc.) Assay Development Team for 13+ years. Assays developed by the team resulted in a 13-fold growth in revenues
over the period (the fastest and most consistent and successful growth of any MDS Pharma Services/Panlabs service line over
the interval). Comprehensive and broad test development included assays for receptor targets (GPCRs, growth factors and cytokines,
transporters, ion channels, others), enzyme targets (peptidases, kinases, phosphatases, cyclooxygenases, phosphodiesterases,
others), cell-based assays (transporters, GPCRs, cytokines, transcription response, others). Techniques employed by the group
included traditional molecular biology (cloning, sequencing, _expression, purification, and analysis/assay by numerous methods)
and pharmacological approaches.
Leader of the MDS Pharma Services Product Team (US, Taiwan, and Switzerland
staff) with responsibility for determining the strategic and tactical initiatives responsible for growing the pharmacology
CRO service. Successfully implemented R&D programs resulting in more than 300 new molecular pharmacology assays, and over
1300% revenue growth (>18% CAGR) in revenues derived from molecular pharmacology tests over 13 years.
Technical presentations to US and international clients (North America, Asia, and Europe). Provided extensive
PowerPoint material for Sales staff, and technical training for Sales staff.
Proposed, designed, implemented MDS Pharma Services (then Panlabs, Inc.) first Pharmacology Services annual
catalog, which became the model implemented by the Sales and Marketing team.
Proposed, designed, programmed, implemented, supported, trained staff on comprehensive data analysis and reporting
system. Provided full technical support for the system during its operation (3+ years). Eventually used as a model for a system
designed by Arthur Andersen Consulting (8 FTE x 2 years to implement).
Proposed, designed, coded, supported (5+ years) the Panlabs, Inc (and subsequently MDS Panlabs) website (this
3000 “page” website presented a comprehensive view of MDS Panlabs services and capabilities across all service
lines). Participated in MDS Pharma Services website design team which replaced the “local” website with a centrally
managed website.
Proposed, designed, coded, supported (5+ years) an “internal” website that provided supplemental
information on Panlabs, Inc. (and MDS Panlabs, MDS Pharma Services) tests for Business Development (Sales) staff.
Proposed, designed, programmed, maintained, trained staff on comprehensive Pharmacology Quoting system that
provided customized quotes to clients for more than 2 years. Provided customers with highly interactive, extensively hyperlinked,
customized quotes for very complex and diverse testing requirements, automatically handling a wide variety of automated functions
and multi-year pricing (system is being used as a model for a replacement quoting system implemented by an IT team (4 FTE
x 1 year). Pioneered the use of automated reporting using hyperlinking to internal and external data sources.
Provided technical due diligence to MDS Sciex on numerous acquisition/collaboration opportunities. Initiated
discussions and provided technology assessment leading to acquisition of cellular dielectric spectroscopy technology from
Signature Biosciences for MDS Sciex (cellular dielectric spectroscopy).
Reestablished discussions with Skeletech, Inc., provided technology due diligence and proposals to MDS Pharma
Services resulting in acquisition of Skeletech, Inc. in a ~$10 million deal.
Member of the Collaboration Management Board of MDS Pharma Services and Iconix Pharmaceuticals to provide technical
guidance to the DrugMatrix and PharmMotif product lines.
Provided technical due-diligence to MDS Capital on numerous Venture Capital investment opportunities.
