The Rx Carousel - Softcover

Tebbutt, Anthony G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1530189861 ISBN 13: 9781530189861

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

“The Rx Carousel” is a metaphor for the drug research pipeline in pharmaceutical companies. The horses on the outer ring of the carousel represent a company’s lead products. They are beautifully presented to Wall Street and the company’s goal is to grab the brass ring of FDA approval hoping that will lead to achieving the status of “blockbuster” drug through successful commercialization. Occasionally the horses on the outside get damaged and may have to be moved to an inner circle until they possibly re-emerge with a new paint job. This book is the product of my imagination and is written purely for the reader’s entertainment. The pharmaceutical industry is constantly subject to scrutiny and criticism by the media, politicians and the public. Yet these same critics cheerfully hail the discovery of a new drug whether it be for sexual enhancement or the treatment of a cancer. The discontinuity exists because human health is perceived by many as a “right” and as a consequence, they believe that innovation in this sector should not come at a cost. This story describes the frenetic life of Jonathan Grayhall, CEO of a small drug company situated in Silicon Valley, California. The main storyline is one of a typical business and includes politics, backstabbing, setbacks, survival and success. Within the business framework is an imbedded story of romance, sexual wrongdoing, intrigue and revenge. A highly toxic jellyfish is the source of a new chemical entity for drug research but we learn it can also bring extreme pain and suffering. Like the industry, the book moves at a fast pace and the ending has a surprise twist. Where the book differs from most offerings in this genre, is the occasional peek behind the “Rx Curtain” that a 30 year executive brings to the narrative. The public is generally unfamiliar with the trials and tribulations faced by the average pharmaceutical company, how strictly they are regulated and the investments and efforts being made to correct unacceptable practices. For those from the industry, I hope there will be head nodding as they read through the pages and recognize familiar scenarios. For those who know little about the driving forces in the industry, I hope you find the dialogue illuminating.

About this title

About the Author

Anthony (Tony) Tebbutt is an accomplished pharmaceutical executive with an extensive background spanning over 30 years in senior management, marketing and sales in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Tony studied in Northern California and achieved a BSc. from Santa Clara University and an MBA from Stanford. Recruited by Eli Lilly Canada, he rose to a leadership position responsible for marketing throughout Canada. An opportunity arose at Syntex Canada and led to Tony’s appointment as Vice President of Canadian Sales and Marketing. Next came an international assignment to Maidenhead, England where he led the commercial operations for the United Kingdom. Back to N. California, he assumed a series of Vice-President roles in Sales, Marketing and New Product Planning with Syntex in Palo Alto. After a brief experience in the food industry, Tony’s next pharmaceutical move was to the role of President of UCB Pharma, the US affiliate of the Belgian multinational based in Atlanta. During his ten years at UCB (1996-2006) he helped to transform the organization from a regional business into a leading national US biopharmaceutical organization. Under his leadership, UCB achieved double-digit growth year over year as the company's revenues and personnel saw substantial growth. Seeking emerging company experience he joined Alexza Pharmaceuticals in Mountain View, California where he served as Sr. Director Corporate Strategy and Business Development until his retirement in 2009. “The Rx Carousel” is Tony’s second publication; the first was “A Rising Son in the Land of Nine Dragons.” Carousel represents Tony’s entry into the world of fiction. A creative tale of hectic life in a small biopharma company in N. California is interspersed with agendas, frailties and driving factors that only an “insider” to the pharmaceutical industry would think to include in the story. Tony and his wife Karen have been married for 42 years and have a son Jason and a daughter Heather. Now retired and living in a dream house with a panoramic view, high in the mountains of N. Georgia, Tony is able to explore his interest in writing books and enjoying the beautiful golf course in his mountain community.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1530189861
• ISBN 13: 9781530189861
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260