Dr. Gray has spent 35 years in the biotechnology industry, focusing on drug discovery for critical diseases. He has a passion for working in small companies with aggressive timelines—Genentech, ICOS, Macrogenics, Nura and Accelerator were all less than 60 employees when he joined. Dr. Gray’s career accomplishments include the first cloning and characterization of Hepatitis B surface antigen, Interferon-gamma, multiple Interferon-alpha genes, Lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), Bactericidal Permeability Increasing Protein, LPS-Binding Protein, Platelet Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase, CCR5 (subsequently shown to be the HIV co- receptor), Macrophage Derived Chemokine, and PI3K p110-delta. These discoveries led to numerous clinical trials, several approved human pharmaceuticals, and characterization of targets for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and small molecules. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Dr. Gray previously held senior scientific management positions, including Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, and CEO. Dr. Gray received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Colorado and his BS in Biology from the University of Oregon. He is currently an affiliate professor at the University of Washington.
Overview
About Us
Our goal at Pascal Biosciences is to advance innovative therapies for serious diseases. We are a contract research organization with the expertise to accelerate your technology with our research and consulting services.
We directly collaborate with your team to immediately create additional value for your program. We coordinate project planning and our in-house laboratory research to develop a customized, cost effective way to expand your capabilities and meet key milestones. While cancer continues to be our primary focus, we have expertise in immunology, neuroscience, and critical care. Strategically, we aim to leverage our innovative technologies, experienced leadership, and scientific team to develop new, effective therapeutics that will change the lives of patients.
Our leadership Team and Board of Directors have been responsible for the discovery and development of numerous approved pharmaceuticals, including Recombivax (Hepatitis B vaccine), Actimmune (Interferon-gamma), Roferon (Interferon-alfa), Herceptin (Trastuzumab), Idelalisib (Zydelig), and Lifitegrast (Xiidra).
Our team is well versed in the requirements and efficiencies needed to rapidly advance your product into the clinic. In addition, we have worked with many other research groups, including CROs, academic labs, and government organizations. We can provide introductions to appropriate CROs and negotiate a fair price and rapid timeline.
Furthermore, our scientists have been inventors on more than 100 patents. In addition to providing scientific input, we can direct you to excellent patent and legal counsel. We can also provide strong scientific advice on biotech patent issues.
Team
Our leadership Team and Board of Directors have been responsible for the discovery and development of numerous approved pharmaceuticals, including Recombivax (Hepatitis B vaccine), Actimmune (Interferon-gamma), Roferon (interferon-alfa), Herceptin (Trastuzumab), Idelalisib (Zydelig), and Lifitegrast (Xiidra).
Leadership
Patrick W. Gray, PhD
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Larry Tjoelker, PhD
Dr. Tjoelker has over 25 years of research experience in the biotechnology industry, particularly in drug discovery for immunology and oncology. Prior to joining Pascal, Dr. Tjoelker was at public clinical-stage biotechs including ICOS, MacroGenics, and Omeros. During his 11-year tenure at ICOS Corporation, he cloned genes for modulators of inflammation which entered late stage clinical trials. As Director of Cancer Discovery at MacroGenics, Dr. Tjoelker and his team discovered 50 new cancer targets for monoclonal antibody therapy. He has also served as Director of Science at Omeros Corp. where his team discovered the first functional monoclonal antibodies against a proinflammatory complement cascade protease. Dr. Tjoelker received his PhD at the University of Michigan.
Thomas Deckwerth, PhD
Dr. Thomas Deckwerth has 20 years of industrial experience in the research and development of therapeutics and medical devices. Prior to Pascal, Dr. Deckwerth was Vice President of Cancer Drug Development at Presage Biosciences where he led preclinical development and clinical drug product manufacturing. As Senior Director of Biological Chemistry at Ikaria, he led and managed therapeutics and diagnostics projects in the critical care space. As Head of Cellular Pharmacology at Idun Pharmaceuticals, he worked in collaborations with Novartis on caspase inhibitors for stroke and with Abbott Laboratories in the development of bcl2/bclxL antagonists for cancer. He received his PhD in neuroscience from Washington University School of Medicine.
Board of Directors
Patrick W. Gray, PhD
Dr. Gray has spent 35 years in the biotechnology industry, focusing on drug discovery for critical diseases. He has a passion for working in small companies with aggressive timelines—Genentech, ICOS, Macrogenics, Nura and Accelerator were all less than 60 employees when he joined. Dr. Gray’s career accomplishments include the first cloning and characterization of Hepatitis B surface antigen, Interferon-gamma, multiple Interferon-alpha genes, Lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), Bactericidal Permeability Increasing Protein, LPS-Binding Protein, Platelet Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase, CCR5 (subsequently shown to be the HIV co- receptor), Macrophage Derived Chemokine, and PI3K p110-delta. These discoveries led to numerous clinical trials, several approved human pharmaceuticals, and characterization of targets for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and small molecules. In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Dr. Gray previously held senior scientific management positions, including Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, and CEO. Dr. Gray received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Colorado and his BS in Biology from the University of Oregon. He is currently an affiliate professor at the University of Washington.
Terry Pearson, PhD
Dr. Pearson is a retired professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria. He obtained his BSc in Microbiology and PhD in Immunology from the University of British Columbia. After postdoctoral work at the Medical Research Council Laboratory in Cambridge, England, Dr. Pearson worked as a staff scientist in its Division of Cell Biology. Over the past decade, his research has focused on translation of basic research discoveries into application to clinical diagnostic medicine in both the developed and developing world. He currently serves on the boards of several private and public biotechnology companies.
Jens Biertumpel
Mr. Biertumpel is managing director and co-founder of Mont Blanc Capital Management AG, a FINMA regulated asset management firm in Zurich, Switzerland. Over the past 8 years, he grew the asset management business from Europe into Asia and created the Lipper award winning Mont Blanc China Opportunity Fund. He is also a director with Bight Petroleum, a privately held offshore exploration company. Previously, he was a director with Astrum Capital, a Hong Kong and Cayman-based hedge fund advisor. Prior to that, Mr. Biertumpel operated his own capital company and held positions with different TSXV listed companies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Tom Gadek, PhD
Dr. Gadek has had an illustrious career in the biotechnology industry spanning 33 years. He discovered and developed several novel first in class molecules addressing emerging protein therapeutic targets. These efforts have been chronicled with Dr. Gadek as an author on 54 peer reviewed publications and as an inventor on 64 issued and 76 pending United States patents. Dr. Gadek initially gained experience and expertise at larger companies, 5 years at Syntex and 15 years at Genentech. He founded the venture backed startup SARcode, where he was CEO. Dr. Gadek engineered the target identification, lead discovery, and clinical proof of concept for the development of Lifitegrast, a treatment for dry eye. This resulted in the acquisition of SARcode by Shire, and the approval of Lifitegrast by the FDA in 2016. His expertise covers the realm of immunology and inflammation, particularly in the fields of ophthalmology and dermatology. Dr. Gadek obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley following a Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado and a Masters degree from MIT.
Michael Shepard, PhD
Dr. Shepard was a 2019 recipient of the Lasker Award for medical research and public service, conferred for his role in the discovery and development of the drug Herceptin (trastuzumab). The Lasker Awards are regarded as America’s top biomedical research prize, and approximately 90 past recipients have proceeded to win a Nobel Prize. Herceptin treats breast cancer patients with HER2-positive tumors, marking an especially aggressive form of the disease. Over two million patients have benefited from this discovery. Dr. Shepard began his career in biotechnology at Genentech where he discovered Herceptin. He subsequently founded several successful biotech companies and later served as vice president and chief scientific officer of Halozyme Therapeutics. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Warren Alpert Prize from Harvard Medical School and the Warren Alpert Foundation. Dr. Shepard is author of over 90 peer reviewed publications and has been an inventor on more than 50 patents. Dr. Shepard received his BS degree from the University of California, Davis and his PhD from the University of Indiana.
