2022: Al Guillem, PhD

Dr. Guillem is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with nearly 40 years of leadership experience in bringing new therapies to market and readying pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities for commercial production at both well-established and start-up companies. Dr. Guillem has a deep knowledge and insight into pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing across many dosage forms and technologies. Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Al has also mentored numerous management teams via his involvement with TechFW and direct investments in North Texas life science companies. These early-stage companies include Renibus Therapeutics, OncoNano Medicine, Cage Bio, and Nanoscope Therapeutics to name a few.

In North Texas Al was Co-founder, President & CEO of ZS Pharma, a startup biotech developing a product for hyperkalemia or high levels of potassium in the blood. ZS Pharma was acquired by Astra Zeneca in 2015 for $2.7 billion and Lokelma is now a successfully marketed nephrology product. After ZS, Al co-founded Renibus Therapeutics Inc, a kidney health company based out of Southlake, where he served as CEO and Chairman of the Board until 2021.

Prior to founding ZS Pharma, Al worked for Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, where he worked closely with last year’s Dennis K. Stone Award winner, John Q. Adams, Sr. Together with other team members, they brought the Mucinex product line to the market. The company later was acquired by Reckitt Benckiser for $2.3 billion in 2007.

Earlier in his career, Al served in senior positions at Genzyme/Bone Care, Wyeth, Boeringher Ingelheim, and Medeva Americas. Al has invested in several successful startup firms in North Texas and was always available as a mentor and an inspiration.