Kenneth Kashkin, M.D. CONTINUED
Ken graduated with a B.A in History from UCLA and an M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine, where he served on the Internal Medicine faculty. He went on to become a Fellow in Psychiatry and a Faculty member at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Ken began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in the CNS Division of Bayer, where he worked on some of the first drug treatments for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
He then joined the inflammation/CNS/oncology biotechnology company Nova Pharmaceutical Corporation in Baltimore, and led the development of Gliadel, the only FDA approved implanted chemotherapy wafer to treat brain tumors. He was part of the leadership team that successfully sold Nova to Scios, a California biotechnology company, that was subsequently acquired by J&J in a transaction estimated at $350 million.
Engaged by Abbott Laboratories as the Director of Pharmaceutical Ventures, Ken led the Abbott Ventures system that developed and gained worldwide approval for Depakote in migraine and bipolar illness, Gabatril for epilepsy, Hytrin for urinary disorders and Norvir, the first protease inhibitor for the treatment of AIDS.
Ken was then appointed as Vice President Research, Development & Medical Affairs at Knoll Pharmaceuticals/BASF Pharma. He was responsible for the commercialization of Synthroid for thyroid disease, the pain products Vicodin and Dilaudid, the anti-arrhythmic Rythmol, and the development of the first new anti-obesity drug approved in the US in over a decade, Meridia. BASF Pharma was acquired by Abbott Labs for~ $8 billion in 2000. Before the acquisition, Ken successfully designed and led all clinical development required for FDA approval of Humira, the first completely human antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Humira has consistently had sales of more than $15B/year as an Abbott product.
Ken then served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for one of the first “personalized medicine” pharmacogenomics biotechnology companies, Genaissance Pharmaceuticals. He joined the co-founders to lead the IPO for Genaissance in 2000, raising ~$130 million of financing. Under his leadership, Genaissance conducted the first prospective, 500 patient trial to discover genetic predictors for response to statins in lipid lowering indications.
At Ferring Pharmaceuticals Group, Ken was Senior Vice President of Global R&D and led the construction of the new Ferring Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, a leader in the discovery of peptide-based therapeutics. He was also Chief Medical Officer of the US affiliate of Ferring where he grew sales from $25M to over $250M in 5 years by developing and obtaining FDA approval of 4 novel Reproductive Infertility products and launching Euflexxa for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
As Vice President of R&D in the Intravenous Therapies Group at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Ken was responsible for R&D global strategy, portfolio decisions, and accountability for both new products and an existing portfolio of numerous device and drug products. While in this role, the Olimel total parenteral IV nutrition system was developed and approved, Baxter’s first new nutritional product in a decade.
Ken accepted the position of CEO and President of the Catholic Health Initiatives (now CommonSpirit Health) Institute for Research and Innovation in 2015. The Institute served more than 90 nationwide hospital and healthcare systems through its Centers for Translational Research, Clinical Research, and Healthcare Innovation. During his tenure he established life science companies in the telehealth, connected health delivery and AI enabled predictive/precision medicine market
Ken invested in and acted as Chief Operating Officer for Chromocell Corporation which has technology-enabled food flavors and drug discovery platforms. He led the company’s discovery and development of a novel sodium voltage-gated channel analgesic which is now in Phase 2 clinical trials.
Ken has been part of the investment team in the MidAtlantic BioAngels in New York City, which has invested more than $3M in early stage biotechnology companies.
He has served on the Boards of Acceptys, Essentialis, Ascension Health Ventures and the New Jersey State Opera.
He is an avid biker and swimmer, and kayaks on Lake Mohawk.
Ken graduated with a B.A in History from UCLA and an M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine, where he served on the Internal Medicine faculty. He went on to become a Fellow in Psychiatry and a Faculty member at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Ken began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in the CNS Division of Bayer, where he worked on some of the first drug treatments for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
He then joined the inflammation/CNS/oncology biotechnology company Nova Pharmaceutical Corporation in Baltimore, and led the development of Gliadel, the only FDA approved implanted chemotherapy wafer to treat brain tumors. He was part of the leadership team that successfully sold Nova to Scios, a California biotechnology company, that was subsequently acquired by J&J in a transaction estimated at $350 million.
Engaged by Abbott Laboratories as the Director of Pharmaceutical Ventures, Ken led the Abbott Ventures system that developed and gained worldwide approval for Depakote in migraine and bipolar illness, Gabatril for epilepsy, Hytrin for urinary disorders and Norvir, the first protease inhibitor for the treatment of AIDS.
Ken was then appointed as Vice President Research, Development & Medical Affairs at Knoll Pharmaceuticals/BASF Pharma. He was responsible for the commercialization of Synthroid for thyroid disease, the pain products Vicodin and Dilaudid, the anti-arrhythmic Rythmol, and the development of the first new anti-obesity drug approved in the US in over a decade, Meridia. BASF Pharma was acquired by Abbott Labs for~ $8 billion in 2000. Before the acquisition, Ken successfully designed and led all clinical development required for FDA approval of Humira, the first completely human antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Humira has consistently had sales of more than $15B/year as an Abbott product.
Ken then served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for one of the first “personalized medicine” pharmacogenomics biotechnology companies, Genaissance Pharmaceuticals. He joined the co-founders to lead the IPO for Genaissance in 2000, raising ~$130 million of financing. Under his leadership, Genaissance conducted the first prospective, 500 patient trial to discover genetic predictors for response to statins in lipid lowering indications.
At Ferring Pharmaceuticals Group, Ken was Senior Vice President of Global R&D and led the construction of the new Ferring Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, a leader in the discovery of peptide-based therapeutics. He was also Chief Medical Officer of the US affiliate of Ferring where he grew sales from $25M to over $250M in 5 years by developing and obtaining FDA approval of 4 novel Reproductive Infertility products and launching Euflexxa for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
As Vice President of R&D in the Intravenous Therapies Group at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Ken was responsible for R&D global strategy, portfolio decisions, and accountability for both new products and an existing portfolio of numerous device and drug products. While in this role, the Olimel total parenteral IV nutrition system was developed and approved, Baxter’s first new nutritional product in a decade.
Ken accepted the position of CEO and President of the Catholic Health Initiatives (now CommonSpirit Health) Institute for Research and Innovation in 2015. The Institute served more than 90 nationwide hospital and healthcare systems through its Centers for Translational Research, Clinical Research, and Healthcare Innovation. During his tenure he established life science companies in the telehealth, connected health delivery and AI enabled predictive/precision medicine market
Ken invested in and acted as Chief Operating Officer for Chromocell Corporation which has technology-enabled food flavors and drug discovery platforms. He led the company’s discovery and development of a novel sodium voltage-gated channel analgesic which is now in Phase 2 clinical trials.
Ken has been part of the investment team in the MidAtlantic BioAngels in New York City, which has invested more than $3M in early stage biotechnology companies.
He has served on the Boards of Acceptys, Essentialis, Ascension Health Ventures and the New Jersey State Opera.
He is an avid biker and swimmer, and kayaks on Lake Mohawk.