Robert C. Nowinski, Ph.D. Biotech entrepreneur Responsible for some of the most profitable drugs on the market today, Dr. Robert Nowinski is a biotechnology financier and consultant who has founded six pioneering biotech companies. In addition to acquiring initial technology for those companies, Dr. Robert Nowinski recruited top management, provided research oversight, brought startup financing to the table and ultimately took four of the companies public through IPO financing. Proof of his success, major pharmaceutical companies have acquired three of the companies founded by Dr. Robert Nowinski. Bristol-Myers acquired Dr. Robert Nowinski’s Genetic Systems in 1987 for $310 million; Chiron/Novartis bought PathoGenesis in 2000 for $660 million; and Eli Lilly acquired Icos in 2006 for $2.2 billion. Collectively, Dr. Robert Nowinski’s companies have developed and marketed diagnostic tests and drugs with annual sales of more than $2.0 billion. Research credentials An accomplished researcher, Dr. Robert Nowinski earned his Ph.D. in immunology from the Sloan-Kettering Institute in 1971. From 1971 to 1975 he was an assistant professor of Oncology at the University of Wisconsin. From 1975 through 1981, Dr. Robert Nowinski was an associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Washington. Dr. Robert Nowinski was also a founding scientist and head of the Virology Program of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle. From 1981 through 1982, Dr. Robert Nowinski was both a FHCRC member and a professor of Microbiology at the University of Washington, researching cancer-causing retroviruses, as well as antibody cancer treatments and antibodies for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. Entry into biotech In 1981, Dr. Robert Nowinski took his first major step into biotech entrepreneurship and founded Genetic Systems Corporation in Seattle, which went through an IPO financing within its first month. Dr. Robert Nowinski was chairman and CEO from the company’s founding through 1985. Genetic Systems developed the first rapid test for chlamydia, decreasing the average diagnosis time from 21 days to 45 minutes and dramatically lowering diagnosis cost, ultimately expanding the U.S. market from 150,000 tests a year to some 20 million. Genetic Systems also co-developed what was then the most accurate blood test for HIV. Cancer diagnostics In 1983, Dr. Robert Nowinski founded Genetic Systems subsidiary Oncogen LP, focusing on cancer diagnostics. In 1985, Bristol-Myers Corporation bought interest in Oncogen and a year later wholly absorbed Genetic Systems and Oncogen LP. Dr. Robert Nowinski was appointed corporate vice president for New Technology at Bristol-Myers and chairman of the new Genetic Systems division, bringing him to corporate headquarters in New York City. Icos and Cialis success In 1989, Dr. Robert Nowinski returned to Seattle and founded Icos Corporation, along with Immunex founder Christopher Henney. Icos focused on inflammation and novel methods for drug discovery. As CEO, Dr. Robert Nowinski took the company public in 1991, attracting Bill Gates to its Board of Directors and major shareholder status. Icos developed the erectile-dysfunction drug Cialis, which today generates annual sales of more than $1.2 billion for Eli Lilly. PathoGenesis makes mark in cystic fibrosis In 1992, Dr. Robert Nowinski founded PathoGenesis, a company focused on the cause and treatment of chronic illnesses that went public in 1993. Dr. Robert Nowinski served as chairman from 1992 to 1995 and then as chairman emeritus. In 1997, PathoGenesis received FDA approval to market an aerosolized form of tobramycin (TOBI) for treating cystic fibrosis. TOBI is now the leading treatment for cystic fibrosis; annual sales exceed $600 million for its current owners. VaxGen scores against anthrax In 1995, Dr. Robert Nowinski founded VaxGen, Inc., bringing it public in 1998 and serving as its chairman and CEO until December 2000. VaxGen completed the only Phase 3 trial of an HIV vaccine to date, AIDSVAX. Although the vaccine was ultimately deemed ineffective, VaxGen has since developed vaccines against anthrax and smallpox. In 2003, the U.S. government, which sponsored VaxGen’s anthrax vaccine development, ordered 100,000 doses of the vaccine, worth $1 billion. The company is publicly traded. Primal technology Taking on the challenge of creating products to address appetite, sexuality, mood, pain and addiction disorders, Dr. Robert Nowinski founded Primal Inc. in 2000 with Dr. Linda Buck, who went on to win the 2005 Nobel Prize for Medicine. The Seattle-based company focuses on gene knock-out technology in mice and the biology of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Primal was the first to describe the full complement of 475 GPCR genes in humans and has patent claims for the entire family of GPCRs as potential drug targets. In 2002, Dr. Robert Nowinski stepped away from active company management. He lives in New York City. Robert Nowinski at Zoominfo Robert Nowinski at robertnowinski.com Robert Nowinski at robertnowinski.net Robert Nowinski at Ziggs Robert Nowinski at robertnowinski.org  | |||||
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