Alejandro Zaffaroni
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Zaffaroni is a serial entrepreneur who is responsible for founding several successful biotechnology
companies in Silicon Valley
.
Born in 1923 in Montevideo
, Uruguay
, Dr. Zaffaroni received his B.Sc. from the University of the Republic in 1945, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry
from the University of Rochester
in 1949.
He joined Syntex
, then a small chemical company in Mexico, as a biochemist in 1951. He participated in turning Syntex into a major multinational pharmaceutical company, moving it to Palo Alto, California. He was appointed president of the U.S. subsidiary in 1962.
In 1968, he founded Alza
, a portmanteau of his name, to develop medical treatments through controlled drug delivery. He modeled new delivery systems after the processes discovered in endocrinology
– where glands deliver very small amounts of hormones but have a tremendous effect –.
Alza's first controlled drug delivery product was used to treat glaucoma
. Other products that incorporated Zaffaroni's drug delivery technologies include Glucotrol, for non-insulin-dependent diabetes; Duragesic
, for management of severe chronic pain; NicoDerm CQ, for smoking cessation
; and Transderm-Scop, to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness
.
In 1980, Zaffaroni established DNAX
, a developer of macromolecular products that combines the technologies of genetic engineering
and immunobiology.
In 1988 he co-founded Affymax, specializing in combinatorial chemistry
to reduce the cost and time of identifying new medicines.
In 1991 he founded Affymetrix
, specializing in using genetics for developing new medicine. He was also involved in the creation of Perlegen Sciences, an Affymetrix spin-off which works on finding genetic causes of disease.
In 1994, he founded Symyx Technologies
, a company dedicated to utilizing combinatorial chemistry technologies.
Other companies he founded include Maxygen
(1997), a developer of technologies that improve the development of protein
s and genetic elements, and SurroMed, focusing on the development of technologies for surrogate disease markers. In 2000, he founded Alexza Pharmaceuticals, a company working on rapid onset of action
drug delivery technologies.
In 1995, Dr. Zaffaroni received the National Medal of Technology
from President Bill Clinton
for his contributions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In 2005 he received the Bower Award for Business Leadership from the Franklin Institute
for his creation of new biochemical processes and drug delivery technologies. Also in 2005 he was awarded the Gregory Pincus Award from the Worcester Foundation.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
companies in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
.
Born in 1923 in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Dr. Zaffaroni received his B.Sc. from the University of the Republic in 1945, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1949.
He joined Syntex
Syntex
Laboratorios Syntex SA was a pharmaceutical company formed in Mexico City in 1944 by Russell Marker to manufacture therapeutic steroids from the Mexican yam....
, then a small chemical company in Mexico, as a biochemist in 1951. He participated in turning Syntex into a major multinational pharmaceutical company, moving it to Palo Alto, California. He was appointed president of the U.S. subsidiary in 1962.
In 1968, he founded Alza
ALZA
Alza Corporation was a pharmaceutical and medical systems company founded in 1970's by Dr Alejandro Zaffaroni; the company's name is a portmanteau of his name. Alza pioneered the field of drug delivery systems, bringing over 20 prescription pharmaceutical products to market, and employing about...
, a portmanteau of his name, to develop medical treatments through controlled drug delivery. He modeled new delivery systems after the processes discovered in endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
– where glands deliver very small amounts of hormones but have a tremendous effect –.
Alza's first controlled drug delivery product was used to treat glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
. Other products that incorporated Zaffaroni's drug delivery technologies include Glucotrol, for non-insulin-dependent diabetes; Duragesic
Duragesic
Duragesic and Durogesic are trade names of fentanyl transdermal therapeutic systems, and are used for relief of moderate to severe pain. Since Duragesic/Durogesic release Fentanyl, a potent opioid, slowly through the skin, one patch may provide 72 hours of pain relief...
, for management of severe chronic pain; NicoDerm CQ, for smoking cessation
Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. This article focuses exclusively on cessation of tobacco smoking; however, the methods described may apply to cessation of smoking other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the...
; and Transderm-Scop, to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness
Motion sickness
Motion sickness or kinetosis, also known as travel sickness, is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system's sense of movement...
.
In 1980, Zaffaroni established DNAX
DnaX
DnaX is the gene that codes for the τ and γ subunits of the DNA clamp loader of prokaryotes. The eukaryotic equivalent to the DNA clamp loader is Replication Factor C, which is encoded by RFC1, RFC2, RFC3, RFC4, and RFC5....
, a developer of macromolecular products that combines the technologies of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
and immunobiology.
In 1988 he co-founded Affymax, specializing in combinatorial chemistry
Combinatorial chemistry
Combinatorial chemistry involves the rapid synthesis or the computer simulation of a large number of different but structurally related molecules or materials...
to reduce the cost and time of identifying new medicines.
In 1991 he founded Affymetrix
Affymetrix
Affymetrix is a company that manufactures DNA microarrays; it is based in Santa Clara, California, United States. The company was founded by Dr. Stephen Fodor in 1992. It began as a unit in Affymax N.V...
, specializing in using genetics for developing new medicine. He was also involved in the creation of Perlegen Sciences, an Affymetrix spin-off which works on finding genetic causes of disease.
In 1994, he founded Symyx Technologies
Symyx Technologies
Symyx Technologies is a pioneer in the area of combinatorial chemistry applied to heterogeneous catalysis and homogeneous catalysis, polymer formulations, electronic and magnetic materials....
, a company dedicated to utilizing combinatorial chemistry technologies.
Other companies he founded include Maxygen
Maxygen
Maxygen Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing improved versions of protein drugs using DNA shuffling and other protein modification technologies...
(1997), a developer of technologies that improve the development of protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s and genetic elements, and SurroMed, focusing on the development of technologies for surrogate disease markers. In 2000, he founded Alexza Pharmaceuticals, a company working on rapid onset of action
Onset of action
Onset of action is the duration of time it takes for a drug's effects to come to prominence upon administration. With oral administration, it typically ranges anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the drug in question. Other methods of ingestion such as smoking or injection can...
drug delivery technologies.
In 1995, Dr. Zaffaroni received the National Medal of Technology
National Medal of Technology
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
from President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
for his contributions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In 2005 he received the Bower Award for Business Leadership from the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
for his creation of new biochemical processes and drug delivery technologies. Also in 2005 he was awarded the Gregory Pincus Award from the Worcester Foundation.