Thomas Richardson, PhD, MBA

President

Biography

Thomas Richardson is an entrepreneur and biotechnology executive integrating a broad background as a scientist, engineer, entrepreneur, and business development and strategy executive. Over the past 23 years, he has worked in a variety of roles from industry, academia, and non-profits. He was one of the first scientists at Momenta Pharmaceuticals (acq. by Johnson & Johnson) in Cambridge, MA and led a research team as the company went public and filed its first ANDA for Exonaparin. He moved to business development with Medarex (acq. by Bristol Myers Squibb) in Princeton where his focus was on licensing and establishing collaborations on OPDIVO® (nivolumab), the immuno-oncology drug. He was one of the first investors in Neothetics (acq. by Evofem Biosciences), an aesthetic product company initially founded on technology Thomas developed as a post-doc. He spent several years at Rutgers establishing industry collaborations and then moved to a strategy role with BioNJ, the biotechnology trade association where he focused on promoting venture capital and entrepreneurship.

Thomas has worked with over 100 university research faculty, startup companies and entrepreneurs aiming to start their own biotech companies, develop business plans, raise venture capital funding, and solicit grants from organizations at the federal, state, corporate, and foundation levels. He has helped secure millions of dollars of investments in early-stage companies and has executed numerous licenses, gifts and grants, and sponsored research. He executed many licensing deals for targets, technologies and drugs and led numerous partnering initiatives, including the creation of a flavor and fragrance research center. Thomas has an MA and PhD in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Biologic and Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He also has an MBA from Babson College / Rider University.