SEMINAR: iCeutica - the agony and ecstasy

This seminar will outline the development path of iCeutica, a Biotech company with origins at UWA, that developed from concept to multiple FDA approved drugs and exit in less than 10 years. The story has relevance for anyone contemplating commercialization of their research endeavours.

James Williams received his BSc from the University of Aberdeen in 1991, PhD from the University of Melbourne in 1994 and MBA from the University of Western Australia in 2001. Between 1994 and 2000, was a posdoc with Professor Peter Klinken where he cloned the HLS-5 tumour suppressor gene and MLF-1 oncogene. He has been Managing Director/CEO of Argus Biomedical Pty Ltd and Resonance Health Ltd, which under his guidance secured regulatory approvals for their products in the US,UK and Australia. He also co-founded UWA/Perkins spin-off Dimerix Bioscience Ltd, and remains the Executive Chairman today.

In 2009, James co-founded Yuuwa Capital as a $40 million Venture Capital fund. He is a Director of several Yuuwa investee companies, in addition to Perkins subsidiary Linear Clinical Research Ltd. He has published numerous academic research articles, is an investor of several granted patent applications and has previously been a member of the NHMRC Development Grant GRP.

Todd Shand first graduated from the University of Western Australia with first class honours in chemistry in 1992 and commenced studies towards a Bachelor of Law in 1994, which he completed in 1997, before qualifying as a patent attorney in 2000. In addition to being a Principal at Wrays, Todd is also director of Linear Clinical Research.

James conceived the business concept, co-founded and held several different roles for iCeutica throughout its development. Todd and his colleagues at Wrays have worked with iCeutica since the original concept for the business was proposed.