Qualyst, a startup biotechnology firm, is expanding its management team with two new executives.
Marc Sedam, the newly named vice president of corporate development, certainly is familiar with Qualyst. Sedam was Associated Director at the Office of Technology Development at UNC Chapel Hill as the business concept for Qualyst developed.
Also joining the firm is Robert St. Claire as director of chemistry.
“The addition of Marc and Bob will allow Qualyst to continue its high level of customer support and innovation to the life sciences industry,” said Scott Neuville, president and CEO of Qualyst, in a statement.
Qualyst is developing technology to more accurately predict drug interactions with the body. Its technologies deal with analysis of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicology, or ADMET.
The company closed an oversubscribed A round earlier this year. Neuville was hired in July of last year. The company was founded in 1999, and it has already struck one deal with at least one major pharmaceutical firm, AstraZeneca. Its drug screening technology is patented.
Sedam, will handle intellectual property management and licensing, the company said.
“I have worked within UNC on the business idea that grew into Qualyst since 1998,” said Sedam. “The combination of Qualyst’s innovative technology, its existing team and the opportunity to join and help grow this dynamic company made this the right time for a return to the industry.”
St. Claire formerly worked for Glaxo, Glaxo Wellcome, Triangle Pharmaceuticals and Gilead Sciences. Gilead acquired Triangle. He has 18 years of experience in bioanalytical and analytical chemistry.
“The most exciting aspect of Qualyst is the opportunity to contribute to the development of ADMET technologies with utility across all therapeutic areas,” St. Claire said.
Qualyst: www.qualyst.com
