A chat with Donald E. Zinn Jr. (CEO/President) of Aursos, Inc.

8. May 2009 by admin.

Donald was good enough to give us a few minutes of his time, in order for us to better understand Aursos, Inc–and his management/leadership style. Please enjoy the discussion…. 

Q.  Please tell us about your company:

Aursos is an early stage pharmaceutical development company pursuing the 
unique sequences of black bear parathyroid hormone (BB PTH) for the 
treatment of osteoporosis. Lilly¹s Forteo is human PTH (1-34 ) with current 
revenues of approximately $1billion per year. Aursos is developing multiple 
constructs of BB PTH (1-34, full length 1-84 and various c-terminal 
constructs) with the expectation of improving the safety profile from the 
human substance. This work is based on the observations that the 
hibernating bear has relatively high levels of BB PTH circulating during 
hibernation and wakes up from 6 months of dormancy with no loss in bone 
density or mass.

 Q. What strategies have you used to grow your company?

A. Angel and VC investment, venture forums, collaborations with larger Pharma,
contact with the press, alternative delivery systems

Q. What has worked the best, worked the worst?

A. Angels and Collaborative efforts have been the most effective

Q. Why would/should people choose you over other alternatives / inaction?

A. Primarily because bears do not loose bone when hibernating and humans loose
when placed on bed rest even for short periods of time. But also because the
vast majority of osteoporosis suffers are on an anti-resorptive and not an
actual bone building therapy. Resorption is a natural process to eliminate
“old” bones from our bodies. Old bone = sheering fractures.

Q. What personal systems do you use to organize yourself?

A. I write down everything, use lists, calendars and outlook. I also work 24
hours a day interrupted by the occasional golf or racquet-ball game.

Q. Recommended book, program, website for other members & why?

A. I like outlook (entourage for us Mac users). Books, my library is mostly
reference materials. Always stay affiliated with a University, as an
Adjunct, give back, especially if they have a good electronic library!

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