I like reading Rick Scott's bio on linkedin -----
Post# of 72440
As Vice President of Research at PolyMedix Inc., I led the research team responsible for the identification of the clinical lead compound, brilacidin, that successfully completed a Phase 2 clinical study for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). In addition, a second program identified a potent antagonist of heparin and low molecular weight heparins (delparantag) that reached Phase 2 clinical study where it was suspended pending further dose optimization studies. The discovery programs at PolyMedix were based on the design of small non-peptidic mimics of protein structure and function. The goal of the synthetic approach was to capture the structural and biological properties of the target proteins on a small, fully synthetic framework amenable to medicinal chemistry. These foldamer mimetics have several advantages over peptides because of their small size, which increases stability and enhances tissue distribution, and ability to fine-tune their physical properties for optimization of potency and safety. The research group also investigated other uses for brilacidin that included development for prevention of oral mucositis caused by radiation- and chemo-therapy. I was the principal investigator on 16 grants and contracts from the NIH, NSF and Department of Defense totaling over $20 MM which supported a variety of active research programs for the development of antimicrobial mimetics to treat Gram-negative infections, oral and disseminated Candidiasis, malaria and food-borne infections. Chemical optimization has produced potent and non-cytotoxic compounds that were highly selective for the target pathogens and active in vivo in relevant animal models of infection. I was also responsible for the management of the intellectual property portfolio at PolyMedix that totaled over 20 independent composition of matter and use applications filed internationally.
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