The trailblazing West Coast biotech entrepreneur Richard Brewer, 61, died yesterday of multiple myeloma.
Brewer's storied, 35-year career in the industry included the helm position at Scios, which developed Natrecor ahead of the company's $2.5 billion sale, the chairmanship at Dendreon during its heyday as a pioneering developer, and most recently the top spot at Myrexis ($MYRX), a fledgling biotech based in Utah.
Xconomy notes that Brewer started his career at Genentech, where he worked his way up to a senior executive position. He stepped down as chairman of Dendreon ($DNDN) earlier this year during a top-level shakeup following disappointing sales of Provenge.
"Dick was a one-of-a-kind trailblazer and visionary who made an indelible mark on the biotech industry and on the lives of the many colleagues he inspired and influenced, family and friends he loved and enjoyed, and patients who benefited from his risk-taking work and advocacy," said David W. Gryska, the COO of Myrexis. "Dick was not only a fearless, dedicated and passionate biopharmaceutical executive for over 35 years who helped bring to market several important medicines that have saved, improved and extended the lives of many. He was also a patient himself who survived multiple myeloma almost twice as long as the average life expectancy for the disease, trying experimental and aggressive therapeutic regimens that could help guide many others in the future."
- here's the press release
- see the Xconomy report
- get the story from the San Francisco Business Times
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