Professional Experience
Protein Therapeutics, Inc., President and CEO (11/1998 to 7/2006)
(A company dedicated to the development of new drug therapies for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases)
- Obtained three exclusive worldwide licenses based on intellectual property developed at UCLA and administered by Research Corporation Technologies.
- Expanded the original IP to treat adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to cover over 30 immune-mediated diseases and several unique forms of the drug.
- Secured Orphan Drug Designations for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal dysfunction in autistic children, and inflammatory idiopathic myopathies.
- Managed three Phase II clinical trials under FDA accepted INDs in adult RA, juvenile RA, and autistic GI dysfunction
- Directed the development of new dosage forms.
- Secured financing for the trials from qualified private investors, a private placement, a rights offering, loans, and a merger
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US Ninth District Court (Arizona), Court Appointed Manager, 6/95 to 3/98)
(The Court ordered the removal of the Minerec Mining Chemical, Inc. manufacturing plant from the Tohono O'odham Nation)
- Managed the moving of a company that was a severe threat to the health and safety of its residential neighbors and the residents of the Indian Nation.
- Generated income for the project by manufacturing one product that did not generate waste and therefore complied with the Court Order.
- Conserved cash by converting over 2 million gallons of waste chemicals to saleable products.
- Established educational programs for government agencies and the residential neighbors that changed the company's image and eliminated numerous 911 calls.
- Completed remediation of the site for its lease to another tenant in less than 3 years to the Court's and the Indian Nation's satisfaction.
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Protein Technologies, Inc., President and CEO (3/85 to 8/94)
(A company founded for the commercialization of protein synthesis and purification technologies, some of which became part of the NASA space shuttle program)
- Licensed electrophoresis technologies from NASA and the University of Arizona.
- Developed and patented several additional technologies in protein synthesis and purification that were successfully commercialized.
- Obtained US distribution rights for products complementary to the licensed products from foreign manufacturers.
- Raised funds for the development of the company from alliances and joint ventures with Rohm and Haas, TOSOH Corporation, and Research Corporation Technologies.
- Established domestic and international distribution for the equipment and reagents used in the synthesis and purification of proteins.
- Sold the company with a substantial return to its stockholders.
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Vega Biotechnologies, Inc., President and CEO (11/74 to 9/85)
(A company established to design and manufacture equipment for the automated production of peptide hormones by the pharmaceutical industry)
- Designed and manufactured production equipment for peptide drugs, like salmon calcitonin.
- Developed, manufactured, and sold automated peptide and DNA synthesizers as well as reagents to research and development organizations worldwide.
- Sourced finance via private funds and venture capital.
- Financed state of the art biochemical manufacturing facilities with low interest SBA and EDA loans.
- Manufactured peptide hormones for clinical trials conducted by international pharmaceutical customers.
- Established direct sales force of 15 in the US for instrument systems and biochemicals.
- Established and managed a six-continent-wide network of international distributors.
- Expanded the biochemical side of the business by acquiring Cyclo Chemical from Baxter and Het-Chem Co. from M.G.K., Inc.
- Created an exit for investors via a very successful IPO in 1983.
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Other Employment
Research Assistant Professor, University Arizona (1971 to 1974)
(Synthesized lysozyme using the solid phase method and lectured in biochemistry)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Roberts College of Istanbul, Turkey (1966 to 1969)
(Taught organic chemistry at the sophomore and graduate levels)
For further information, contact:
Leon E. Barstow, Ph.D.
1113 West Roller Coaster Road
Tucson, AZ 85704
Phone: 520-574-1632
