President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Merchant has over 18 years of progressive experience as a scientist, consultant, entrepreneur and senior biotech executive. His entrepreneurial activities commenced in 1992 with the establishment of a consulting firm, Avicenna Medica, Inc. In 1994, he co-founded a spin-off contract manufacturing company (INTELLIgene Expressions) and built it into one of the fastest growing companies in Alberta. In 1999 the City of Edmonton awarded Dr Merchant the Ambassadors Award for his contributions to the high tech industry. By strategic in-licensing of targeted toxins he transformed Avicenna from a small consulting firm to a $90 million company. He sold Avicenna in 2001 to KS Biomedix plc (LSE) where he was their Chief Technology Officer (until 2002) and a Board member until its subsequent sale to Xenova (LSE and Nasdaq). Dr. Merchant’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.
Ismailimail 