Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> May 3, 2004
GARY S. JACOB is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of
Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Jacob has extensive experience in
drug discovery and development, receiving his PhD in Biochemistry from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his Bachelor of Science degree
(with honors) in Chemistry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
From 1999 to April 2003, Dr. Jacob was Chief Scientific Officer of
Synergy Pharmaceuticals where he was a co-inventor of SP231B, the
company's iminosugar drug candidate to treat hepatitis C patients. Dr.
Jacob played a pivotal role in the development of this drug (now
UT-231B) currently undergoing Phase II clinical testing by United
Therapeutics in hepatitis C patients, and also was responsible for the
development strategies for Synergy's in-licensed drug Atiprimod to treat
multiple myeloma patients and osteolytic bone disease. From 1990 to
1998, Dr. Jacob served as a Monsanto Science Fellow, specializing in the
field of glycobiology. From 1997 to 1998, Dr. Jacob was Director of
Functional Genomics, Corporate Science and Technology, Monsanto. As
Director of Glycobiology at G. D. Searle from 1990 to 1997, Dr. Jacob
was responsible for the development of drug discovery programs targeting
the role of glycosylation in cell-cell adhesion. From 1986 to 1990, Dr.
Jacob was Manager of the G.D. Searle Glycobiology Group located at
Oxford University, England. During this period, Dr. Jacob and his
colleagues identified and characterized the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
SC-48334 (Bu-DNJ) that was clinically evaluated as a potential drug for
treating AIDS. Profile
TWST: Could you begin with a brief overview of Callisto Pharmaceuticals?Dr. Jacob: Callisto Pharmaceuticals is an early stage biotechnology
company focused on developing new cancer