Donald H. Picker, Ph.D. is Vice President, Drug Development. Dr. Picker in-licensed Atiprimod and led the development of UT-231B, a drug to treat hepatitis C through a successful IND and Phase I studies. Dr. Picker was formerly CEO and President of Synergy Pharmaceuticals and a member of the Board of Directors. From June 1996 until September 1998, Dr. Picker was President and Chief Operating Officer of LXR Biotechnology Inc., an apoptosis drug development company. From 1991 until 1996, he was Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Genta, an antisense drug development company where he was responsible for the discovery and development of Genasense which is currently in 5 Phase III trials in cancer and for which the 2nd largest drug licensing deal was completed with Aventis. From 1983 to 1991 Dr. Picker was Worldwide Vice President of Research and Development for Johnson Matthey, Inc., where he developed platinum anticancer drugs, including ParaplatinTM, a worldwide leading anticancer drug, and also discovered and initiated development of Atiprimod. Dr. Picker received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the State University of New York at Albany, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute.
