From Founding to Exit: A Life Sciences Business Founder Perspective

Caroline, founder of 

,  has led business teams at J&J in oncology, ENT, and cardiovascular arena coordinating M&A efforts both for early-stage investments through acquisitions. She has worked on the marketing side launching products that have doubled companies’ sales and led to acquisition, as well as strengthening investment positions both directly for industry and as a consultant. Her consulting talents have transformed over to the sell-side, as she works more often now for scientifically based companies improving product value for the market place, seeking customers or investors, as well as taking lead or board roles in companies in which she is vested.

Wendy Perrow is responsible for managing the company’s business, clinical, financial, licensing, and corporate development efforts.  Ms. Perrow previously served as CEO of Alba Therapeutics.  Under her leadership, Alba Therapeutics completed a licensing agreement with Innovate Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to joining AsclepiX, Ms. Perrow held senior executive positions with private and public pharmaceutical companies. From 2004 to 2007, she was Vice President of Marketing for Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company focused on creating novel therapies for the unmet needs of patients with Rare and Orphan Diseases. From 1989 to 2003, Ms. Perrow was at Merck and Co., Inc. in Global markets including Europe, Asia, and Latin America and the U.S. 

Robert has 25 years of experience with both big pharmaceutical companies (Merck, Roche) and small biotech companies (Yaupon/Ceptaris). Most recently Mr. Alonso successfully founded Yaupon/Ceptaris Therapeutics (formerly known as Yaupon) where he raised over $40 million in venture capital, steered the lead program through phase III testing and filing of an NDA (Approval was received in 2013). Ceptaris was sold in 2013 to Actellion Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Alonso is a seasoned executive who has completed numerous licensing and other business transactions, including raising venture capital and negotiating transactions worth over $500 million. He has brought several drugs through the Investigational New Drug (IND) process and one through successful completion of a New Drug Application (NDA). 

Richard Hughen’s thirty years of professional experience in the life science industry span three start-ups, a mid-cap, and three Fortune 500 companies. He is currently CEO of Cellth Systems, a start-up based upon proprietary Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) analysis technology. He is the founder of Life Science Planning, a strategic consultancy for life science companies with a focus on fast paced start-up, early-stage, and emerging growth companies. Ric was a member of the executive team that led start-up CSA Medical from a technology license (Navy), through product development, clinical trials, five FDA clearances, CE mark, four rounds of funding ($50M) and into a profitable commercial business. Before CSA Medical, he directed the marketing efforts for the $210 M molecular diagnostics business of Becton, Dickinson (BD).  Learn More