Jeffery Ziyi Li, PH.D and MBA
Vice President and Founder
ESP Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Jeffery Ziyi Li
has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare ranging from academic research, biotech start-up to marketing and business development with fully integrated pharmaceutical companies. Before founding ESP Pharma, Dr. Li was a partner at ESP Partners, LLC, a healthcare consulting and investment firm. Before founding ESP Partners, LLC, in 2000, Dr Li held various managerial positions with increasing responsibilities at Warner-Lambert Company. Prior to Warner-Lambert, Dr Li was a founding member of Enzyme Design, Inc. a biotech company located in Michigan. Dr. Li received his doctoral and post-doctoral training from Harvard and published various peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals.Dr. Li holds a Doctor of Science from Harvard, an MBA from the University of Michigan and BS from Tsinghua University.
Abstract: Starting a company is too often easily said than done, especially in current down market and in high entry barrier industry such as pharmaceuticals. After the burst of the internet bubble, the glamour of entrepreneur has evaporated as quickly as it arrived. With right management team, sound business model, and persistence, ESP Pharma, Inc has shown that a pharmaceutical startup is possible even in current environment. ESP Pharma, Inc., is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, acquiring, and maximizing the potential of novel in-market and late-stage development drugs for treating the acute phase of chronic diseases. ESP recently acquired the U.S. rights to four cardiovascular drugs from Wyeth (NYSE:WYE). The four products -- Cardene®IV, Sectral®, Tenex® and Ismo® -- had been marketed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and compiled 2001 sales of approximately $27 million.