PATH’s Drug Development program has appointed Dr. Hing Sham as director, research and preclinical development.

Dr. Sham brings an extensive background in drug discovery and research. He most recently served as senior vice president of research at Elan Corp., a neuroscience-based biotechnology company. Previously, he was a distinguished research fellow in global pharmaceutical discovery at Abbott Laboratories.

Leading the search for new drugs

In his new role with PATH’s drug development team, based in South San Francisco, Dr. Sham will be involved with discovery and preclinical research for PATH’s drug development portfolio. He will drive the development of the existing product pipeline and lead the scientific effort to evaluate new development opportunities.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Sham to PATH,” said Dr. Jacqueline Sherris, vice president of Global Programs at PATH. “With his expertise and passion for drug development, he will provide critical experience and leadership to support PATH’s work in researching and creating lifesaving drugs to treat unmet health needs around the world.”

Award-winning inventor

Over his 30-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Sham led major projects in research and pharmaceutical discovery for various diseases, including HIV, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Sham’s many awards and recognitions include the 2003 Heroes of Chemistry award from the American Chemical Society for the invention of Kaletra, a second-generation HIV protease inhibitor. He also received the 1997 National Inventor of the Year award from the Intellectual Property Owners Association for the invention of Norvir, a first-generation HIV protease inhibitor.

Dr. Sham holds a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Hawaii and an MS in physical organic chemistry from Iowa State University. Dr. Sham has participated in efforts that led to 79 US-issued patents, and his work in medicinal chemistry has been widely published.

About PATH’s Drug Development program

PATH’s Drug Development program was established through its affiliation with OneWorld Health, a nonprofit drug development organization. The program works to develop and ensure the availability and accessibility of safe and effective new medicines for diseases disproportionately affecting people in developing countries. For more information, please visit http://sites.path.org/drugdevelopment/.

About PATH

PATH is an international nonprofit organization that transforms global health through innovation. PATH takes an entrepreneurial approach to developing and delivering high-impact, low-cost solutions, from lifesaving vaccines, drugs and devices to collaborative programs with communities. Through its work in more than 70 countries, PATH and its partners empower people to achieve their full potential. For more information, please visit www.path.org.

Contact: Elena Pantjushenko, 650.392.2537, epantjushenko@path.org