Dr. Gary Bridger joined Ventures West as a Venture Partner in June 2010.
Dr. Bridger completed his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry in 1987 at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UK) and subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Boston College with Prof. T. Ross Kelly, developing bisubstrate reaction templates that catalyze intermolecular reactions.
In 1990, Dr. Bridger joined the medicinal chemistry group at Johnson Matthey (West Chester, PA) and initially worked on the synthesis of a series of azaspirane compounds that resulted in the development of Atiprimod, currently in clinical trials at Callisto Pharmaceuticals for both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. He was subsequently involved in the discovery and medicinal chemistry of a group of bicyclam molecules that exhibit potent and selective inhibition of HIV replication via blockade of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. Dr. Bridger is named co-inventor on a series of pharmaceutical and composition of matter patents covering CXCR4 antagonists, including US 5,583,131, “Aromatic linked cyclic polyamine macrocyclic compounds with anti-HIV activity” that specifically encompasses AMD3100 (plerixafor) - the active pharmaceutical ingredient in MozobilTM. During the same period, he also co-developed a hydrazinonicotinamide linker for the 99mTc-labeling of proteins and small molecules for nuclear imaging applications, in collaboration with Dupont Merck. In 1996, Dr. Bridger completed a visiting fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where this technology was applied to imaging neuroblastoma tumors with radiolabeled antibodies directed against the disialoganglioside GD2.
In 1996, Dr. Bridger also became the Director of Research and co-founder of AnorMED Inc, a spin-out of the pharmaceutical research group of Johnson Matthey that incorporated all prior intellectual property. In 2000, he was appointed Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer of AnorMED and was responsible for the direction of all research, development and clinical programs within AnorMED and a group of around 120 employees within the company. During this period, AnorMED became a leading company in the development of chemokine receptor inhibitors, particularly compounds targeted at CXCR4, for a variety of disease applications. Dr. Bridger was involved in the development of AMD11070, an orally bioavailable CXCR4 antagonist that demonstrated proof-of-principle activity for the treatment of HIV. He was also responsible for the development of AMD3100 (plerixafor, MozobilTM), a new stem cell mobilizing agent for treatment of multiple myeloma and non-hodgkins lymphoma patients, including the design and completion of two randomized Phase 3 clinical trials. In late 2006, AnorMED was acquired by Genzyme for US $600 million and Mozobil was approved by the US FDA in December 2008.
Dr. Bridger is named inventor on 34 granted US patents and is the co-author of more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific articles. He currently serves as an Observer for Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Celator Pharmaceuticals and Presidio Pharmaceuticals for Ventures West. As well, he serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Alectos.