Claude H. Nash (born 1943) was CEO of Bloodstone Ventures plc. from 2007 to 2010. From 2004 to 2006 he was vice president, research and development at the

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute Formed in 1985, the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) is part of the University System of Maryland. It was created to provide a unified focus for Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Unit ...

. He previously cofounded, and was CEO and chairman of, ViroPharma Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company. Before founding ViroPharma, Nash was vice president of

infectious disease An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...

and

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

research at the Schering-Plough Research Institute.

Education

Nash has a B.S. in

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

and

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

from Lamar University, an M.S. in

microbiology Microbiology () is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being unicellular (single cell), multicellular (cell colony), or acellular (lacking cells). Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, prot ...

(1966) and a Ph.D. in microbial genetics and

biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...

(1969) from

Colorado State University Colorado State University (Colorado State or CSU) is a public land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University System. Colorado State University is classified among "R1: ...

Pharmaceutical career

From 1983 to 1994 Nash served as vice president for infectious disease and oncology at Schering Plough Research Institute. During that time, he was involved in the discovery and development of numerous biological agents, antibiotics, and antifungals. Previously, he was head of biological research at Sterling Drug, head of infectious disease at SmithKline Beecham, and head of Fermentation Technology Group at Eli Lilly. In 1997 Nash co-founded and, until 2000, was chairman, president and CEO of ViroPharma Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company based in

Exton, Pennsylvania Exton is a census-designated place (CDP) in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 5,622 at the 2020 census. The Exton Square Mall and Main Street at Exton are both located within Exton along wi ...

. Under his leadership ViroPharma completed an

initial public offering An initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and usually also to retail (individual) investors. An IPO is typically underwritten by one or more investment ...

, raised capital through public and private financing, and filed various INDs and an

NDA NDA may stand for: Military * National Defence Academy (India), a military academy in India * National Defence Act, legislation for organizing and funding Canada's military * National Defense Academy of Japan, a military academy in Japan * Nig ...

for

pleconaril Pleconaril (Picovir) is an antiviral drug that was being developed by Schering-Plough for prevention of asthma exacerbations and common cold symptoms in patients exposed to picornavirus respiratory infections. Pleconaril, administered either or ...

to treat the

common cold The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposu ...

. Nash currently serves or has served on the boards of directors for ViroPharma Incorporated (1997–2002), Adolor Corporation (since January 2000), Accera Pharmaceuticals, NoCopi Technologies and The Burnham Institute.

Academic service and honors

In 1984–1985 he was president of the

Society for Industrial Microbiology A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societi ...

. He received the Charles Porter Award from the Society for Industrial Microbiology and is a member of American Academy of Microbiology,

Phi Kappa Phi The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (or simply Phi Kappa Phi or ) is an honor society established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study, and to promote the "unity and democracy of education ...

, Sigma Xi. In 2002 he was honored as a distinguished alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Claude H. 1943 births Living people American biochemists Businesspeople from Pennsylvania Businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry Eli Lilly and Company people Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology Lamar University alumni