The $2.5 Billion Man with Tom Finn and Charles Theuer

Feb 23 2023 • 36 mins

He is changing the way pharmaceutics source their research and development, reducing the cost and time while keeping high standards. He discusses the topic of insourcing versus outsourcing, and how to ensure your company is streamlining the cost and length of projects.

Talking Points:

{02:00} Charles’s role as CEO of TARGEGEN Pharma

{05:10} How to pivot and keep the organization working.

{07:50} Insourcing versus Outsourcing.

{11:30} The dynamic of how the money is parlayed when you develop drugs.

{15:30} Non-diluted capital

{19:09} Charles journey

Charles Theuer Bio:

As President, CEO, and Board Member of TARGEGEN Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Charles Theuer is trying to solve the $2 billion drug problem facing the medical community. His work is aimed at transforming outcomes for cancer patients by helping pharmaceutical companies streamline the costly and lengthy process of research and development. Through their paradigm-shifting Product Development Platform (PDP), TARGEGEN Pharmaceuticals reduces the cost and time of drug development without compromising on the rigorous standards demanded by the FDA. Dr. Theuer has been a leader in the development of significant oncology breakthroughs including Sutent®, which transformed the treatment of advanced kidney cancer.

Theuer earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before attending the University of California, San Francisco for his M.D. He received a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of California, Irvine and completed his residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Reflecting on his time at Harbor-UCLA, he remembers, “We were taught to treat each patient like they were a family member and do well by them. It’s a lesson that I carry with me to this day.”

While working as a board-certified general surgeon, Dr. Theuer was approached by a friend from medical school. His prior classmate was with the biotechnology firm IDEC Pharmaceuticals and thought Dr. Theuer’s background in antibody research made him a natural fit. Dr. Theuer wrestled with the notion of walking away from surgery, and ultimately decided he would be better able to make a global impact on cancer patients through clinical research. He joined IDEC as the Director of Clinical Development in 2002.

After IDEC, Dr. Theuer was a Director of Clinical Development at Pfizer, where he oversaw the development of Sutent in kidney cancer. He then joined TargeGen, Inc. as Chief Medical Officer prior to becoming the President and CEO of TARGEGEN Pharmaceuticals in 2006, where he works to this day.

Dr. Charles Theuer works and resides in the San Diego area.

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