FOUNDERS

Raj K. Razdan, Ph. D. Past CEO (Retired, 2009)

Dr. Razdan received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1954 from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. He worked for five years at Glaxo laboratories, Bombay, India where he built and commissioned the Fine Chemicals factory for the production of corticosteroids, vitamin A and other medicinal products. He spent a postdoctoral year at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor following which he worked for six years at Arthur D. Little, Cambridge, MA, as Senior Scientist. In 1970, along with Professor Harris, he co-founded Sheehan Institute of Research and Sharps Associates (SISA). In 1986 he co-founded Organix where he was the CEO until he retired in 2008. His long and impressive career in the cannabinoid field began in 1964 at the Arthur D. Little Company where he developed the large-scale synthesis of Δ9-THC for NIMH, and helped to lay the foundation for the basic knowledge of the pharmacology and toxicology of Δ9-THC. In 2003 he received the Mechoulam award for his outstanding work in the cannabinoid field. Dr. Razdan’s published work includes over 200 publications, 60 patents and several book chapters.

Peter Meltzer, Ph.D. Past President & CEO (Retired 2018)

Dr. Meltzer received his Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry in 1976 from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He spent a postdoctoral year with Sir Jack Baldwin at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1978 he joined SISA, Cambridge, MA, where over nine years he rose to the position of Vice President of Research and Development. In 1986 he co-founded Organix where he was President from 1986 to 2008 and then President & CEO from 2009 until he retired in 2018. His non-proprietary work funded by the National Institutes of Health had focused on the design and synthesis of monoamine uptake inhibitors with a view to discovery of cocaine pharmacotherapies and brain imaging agents. Dr. Meltzer’s published work includes over 100 publications, 24 patents and a book chapter. Dr. Meltzer was an active member of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the American Chemical Society where he has served as the Northeastern Section Chairman of the Medicinal Chemistry Group, a member of the Northeastern Section long range planning committee and a trustee of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society.

Howard Sard, Ph.D. Past Vice President (Retired 2021)

Dr. Sard received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1982 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working with Professor Rick Danheiser. In 1982 he joined SISA, Cambridge, MA, where he worked initially as a postdoctoral researcher, and later as a Group Leader. In 1986 he co-founded Organix where he was Vice President. Dr. Sard has published work on aliphatics, especially small carbocycles, heterocyclic compounds, nucleosides, cannabinoids and other drugs of abuse, and new synthetic methods. His non-proprietary work funded by the National Institutes of Health has focused on the design and synthesis of selective serotonin receptor compounds useful as treatments for obesity and CNS-related diseases.