Raymond K. Houck is a serial entrepreneur and has been the co-founder of four technology and biopharmaceutical companies. His expertise includes product development of both technology and drug products, business development, sales and marketing, capital markets, M&A processes and recent IPO processes.
Most recently, Mr. Houck was the CEO, President and co-founder of Thar Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company that focused on transforming intravenous (IV) drugs into oral drugs for existing and new indications. Thar’s lead product, T121, is a composition-of-matter patented, Phase 3-ready, prodrug-like oral version of zoledronic acid that is targeted for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome, an orphan disease with no approved FDA or EMA therapies. Thar was acquired by Grünenthal GmbH in October 2016. Previously, Mr. Houck was the CEO, President and co-founder of Automated Cell, Inc., a company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, with a focus in melanoma. Prior to Automated Cell, Mr. Houck co-founded Suprex Corporation (acquired by Teledyne Technologies, Inc.), an analytical instrument and separation science company, where he served in positions including President, Vice President of Marketing & Sales, and Vice President of Research & Development. He has more than twenty issued and pending US and worldwide patents. Mr. Houck holds an MS in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.