Business Strategy of Australian Biotech, Phylogica
January 2008
Business Strategy of Australian Biotech, Phylogica
Interview with Stewart Washer
Business Strategy of Australian Biotech, Phylogica
In this exclusive interview, Fintan Walton talks to Dr Stewart Washer, CEO of Phylogica, about the company’s research using its peptide-based drug discovery technology platform. He discusses the challenges faced by an Australian preclinical-stage biotech in obtaining funding, and how Phylogica’s business model aims to do this through both equity financing and deals with other companies. Dr Washer talks about Phylogica’s current collaborations with Johnson & Johnson Research and with Opsona, and how he believes that the interest of bigger pharmas in Phylogica will grow once the company’s compounds are in Phase I/IIa clinical development. Finally, he discusses how Phylogica’s strategy also includes gaining complementary technologies – both disease targets in the area of inflammation and drug delivery technologies – through acquisitions and partnerships.
About Stewart Washer
Dr Stewart Washer is CEO of the Australian company Phylogica. He has over 12 years’ experience in the biotechnology industry, as well as extensive international capital market experience, and has raised over $38 M in private shareholder and government funds. Before his appointment at Phylogica, Dr Washer was CEO of Celentis, where he managed the commercialisation of IP from the largest Crown Research Institute in New Zealand (AgResearch). During this time, and before this when he was based in Australia, Dr Washer formed and governed a number of successful biotechnology companies.
About Phylogica
Phylogica is an Australian biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of novel biopharmaceuticals directed at proteins and their interactions. Its proprietary technologies (Phylomer® peptide libraries and the Blocker Trap tool used for Phylomer® selection) originate from a close collaboration between the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, Western Australia and The Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, US, which were responsible for founding Phylogica in 2001. These technologies are currently being applied to the development of drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including asthma, stroke and diabetes.
