The monthly member spotlight is an opportunity to learn more about a leader at one of our member companies and showcase the work they are doing. This month, we spotlight Dr. Wayne Danter from Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. Learn more about Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. on their website.
Name: Dr. Wayne R Danter
Title: President and CEO
Company: Critical Outcome Technologies Inc.
We are a bioinformatics company currently focused on accelerated drug discovery. Our core competence is creating computer simulations of biological systems. Our current products are small molecule therapeutic candidates for diseases in which current therapy is either lacking or unavailable.
1. What is your role and what is your favorite part of your job?
As CEO and CSO for the company, my role is to identify and develop opportunities in the drug discovery/drug development space that have an unmet medical need and a strong business case. My favorite part of the job is seeking new treatments for people in need.
3. If you could have coffee with any business leader or industry expert, who would you choose, and why?
Dr Leo Brieman, UC Berkley professor and inventor of CART Decision Trees and Random Forests advanced modelling software. I would love to hear about the history and thought processes behind these ground breaking technologies.
4. What is the #1 business book/blog/website you would recommend?
It’s Alive: The Coming Convergence of Information, Biology, and Business, by Christopher Meyer and Stan Davis, Crown Business, 2003 also: CORANTE: In the Pipeline, Derek Lowe.
5. Looking at your company’s future, what are you most enthusiastic about?
I am enthusiastic about a number of things; COTI-2, our p53 activating small molecule, will be in Phase 1 clinical trials in the last quarter of 2014.
We will also be unveiling a number of new technologies including CHEMFirm, an investment due diligence tool using our CHEMSAS® platform, and ROSALIND an artificial cancer cell simulation for personalized gene mutation based cancer care. We are also expanding our presence into the United States in 2014.
6. What excites you most about the local tech community?
My past involvement with the TechAlliance Entrepreneur 1.0 Program has shown me that the future of our local tech community will be guided and driven by the ideas of young, hardworking, and enthusiastic individuals.
7. What causes or community activities is your company involved in?
As a member of the London and area business community, we are often called upon to contribute to wonderful charitable organizations. Since 2012, COTI has chosen to support the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada as local corporate sponsors of the Light the Night Walk. Over the past two years, we have donated $20,000 to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Visit Light the Night for more information and to lend your support.
