Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of Callisto Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Jacob has extensive experience in drug discovery and development, receiving his Ph.D. 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, Synergy’s iminosugar drug to treat hepatitis C patients. Dr. Jacob played a pivotal role in the development of this drug (now UT-231B) currently entering Phase II clinical testing in hepatitis C patients. Dr. Jacob was also chiefly 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. This “tenured” Science Fellow position is achieved by outside peer review requiring an international scientific reputation. From 1997 to 1998, Dr. Jacob was Director of Functional Genomics, Corporate Science & Technology, Monsanto, where he played a pivotal role in the rapid development of Monsanto’s plant genomics strategy and the buildup of the in-house advanced genomics program. From 1990 to 1997, Dr. Jacob was Director of Glycobiology and 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 an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that was clinically evaluated as a potential drug for treating AIDS.
