About

Within the intricate tapestry of biotechnology, Patrick Mahaffy emerges as a master craftsman, specifically skilled in molding oncology-centric drug pathways in the expansive terrains of the US and Europe. From crafting legacies in Boulder, Colorado, he has now transitioned his craft to the vibrant landscapes of South Florida.

 

Crafting Biotech Landmarks

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The inception of Clovis Oncology in 2009 stands as a testament to his recent handiwork. Guided by his visionary craftsmanship, Clovis carved innovative solutions for ovarian and prostate cancer across continents. Alongside, the enterprise ventured into the promising realm of targeted radionuclide therapy. Yet, the challenges of 2022, marked by COVID-19’s ripple effects on cancer screenings and the FDA's meticulous scrutiny of specific ovarian cancer therapies, presented intricate designs to navigate.

 

Before sculpting the story of Clovis, he meticulously chiseled the chronicles of Pharmion from 2000 until its amalgamation with Celgene in 2008 (later folded into the vast repository of Bristol Myers Squibb). Earlier, between 1992 and 1998, he was instrumental in shaping the narrative of Nexstar Pharmaceuticals until its meld with Gilead Sciences. Under his astute craftsmanship, these entities emerged with groundbreaking oncology innovations for the European and US terrains.

 

Validating his craftsmanship, therapies crafted under his tutelage stand out as signature sculptures or elite designs in their respective medical arenas.

 

Setting the foundation for his career, he polished financial blueprints at Warburg Pincus from 1986 to 1992, emerging as a keen-eyed investment banker.

 

Academic Craftsmanship

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In academia, he carved out his Master's in International Affairs on the esteemed slate of Columbia University in 1986, shortly after etching his Bachelor's in the same discipline at Lewis and Clark College in 1985.

 

Chiseling Philanthropy

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While his charitable engravings are often subtly inscribed, they accentuate numerous philanthropic landscapes, especially those echoing the tales of family support. Moreover, he consistently lends his craftsmanship to the Board of Trustees at Lewis & Clark College.

 

Masterpieces Unveiled

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His strategic sketches, unifying artistry, insatiable quest for innovation, and profound experience in drug molding have consistently added depth to the organizations he nurtured. Renowned for designing influential commercial frameworks in both the US and Europe, he ensures that the therapeutic masterpieces crafted remain timeless fixtures in the healthcare realm.

 

Craft Beyond the Workspace

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Stepping outside his professional workshop, Patrick Mahaffy immerses in diverse passions: charting mountainous landscapes, refining golf strokes, and diving into literary treasures. A fortuitous archaeological find in 2009 at his Colorado residence-tools echoing the age-old Clovis era added a layer of historical craftsmanship to his palette. These ancient treasures, now showcased as the "he Cache," offer rare glimpses from the Clovis epoch in North America and enrich the University of Colorado History Museum. While his professional engravings are expansive and intricate, he cherishes the close-knit mosaics he crafts alongside his family and confidants.

 

He stands out as a distinguished biopharmaceutical executive with a considerable track record in oncology-focused drug development and commercialization across the United States and Europe. Throughout his extensive career, he has successfully held several significant roles, including President, CEO, and Board Chair, in various leading companies within the industry. Moreover, he has dedicated his time to serving on the boards of multiple rapidly expanding biotech companies, taking particular pleasure in mentoring emerging CEOs.

 

He has consistently demonstrated a strategic vision and has offered valuable insights into commercial development, marketing, and portfolio strategy. He is especially recognized for his expertise in novel oncology therapeutics, including the promising field of targeted radiotherapeutics. In addition to his work with traditional oncology firms, His board service includes companies specializing in immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases and musculoskeletal therapeutics.

 

In his most recent leadership role, he served as the President and CEO of Clovis Oncology, a company he co-founded in 2009. Under his direction, Clovis successfully developed, obtained approvals for, and marketed Rubraca, a drug used to treat ovarian and prostate cancer in the US and Europe. Clovis also initiated early-stage clinical trials of targeted radionuclide therapy. Regrettably, the company was forced to wind down its operations in early 2023 due to the negative impacts of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses and subsequent FDA concerns regarding outcomes for Rubraca and the broader class of PARP inhibitors in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Notably, these concerns were not shared by the wider opinion leader community or other regulatory authorities, leading to Rubraca and PARP inhibitors remaining the standard of care for ovarian cancer treatment.

 

Before his time at Clovis, he was President and CEO of Pharmion Corporation from 2000 to 2008. Pharmion, a global drug development and commercialization company focused on hematological and solid tumor cancers, was acquired by Celgene (now known as Bristol Myers Squibb) in 2008 for $2.9 billion. Pharmions primary drug, Vidaza, continues to be the standard for treating myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. Moreover, Pharmion successfully navigated the complex regulatory process to secure European approval for thalidomide as a treatment for multiple myeloma, despite the drug's historical association with congenital disabilities when previously used as a morning sickness remedy in Europe.

 

Mahaffy’s inaugural CEO role was at Nexstar Pharmaceuticals, where he served from 1992 to 1998. Nexstar, a company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing products for severe and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, was acquired by Gilead Sciences in 1999 for $550 million. Nexstars flagship drug, Ambisome, continues to be the standard of care for certain life-threatening fungal infections.

 

Throughout his remarkable career, he has consistently advocated for developing and commercializing innovative oncology drugs in the US and Europe. His leadership has been instrumental in the success of three Boulder, Colorado-based companies that achieved public listings on the Nasdaq exchange. Notably, the marketed drugs developed and commercialized under his direction at each of these companies continue to be the standard of care (or belong to the class considered the standard of care) for the conditions they are approved to treat in the US and Europe.