Dave Tapolczay knows a thing or two about new technologies. Early in his career, he developed chemical compounds for use in insecticides and, later, for pharmaceutical targets. More recently, he's helped to commercialize technologies that automate chemical processes. He has launched three biotechnology companies, a consulting firm and an investment company. And now he is taking his skill at spotting promising technology to the UK government sector as the new chief executive officer of MRC Technology (MRCT), where he'll take charge of technology transfer. See CV
In 1997, Allan Marchington, a venture capitalist with Apposite Capital in London, discussed a start-up venture with Tapolczay. Marchington says that within two minutes he knew he'd found the right person. Tapolczay had an imaginative approach to the nascent company's portfolio. "He could see the best opportunity to make commercial sense from the science," said Marchington. In 2000, they sold the company to Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and Tapolczay moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to take responsibility for the development of the entire Millennium pipeline. During his tenure, Millennium introduced Velcade, the first proteasome inhibitor marketed, and a second- or third-line treatment for multiple myeloma.
"I've had a quite varied career," says Tapolczay, noting that each sector has its appeal. In large corporations, it is the opportunity to work on cutting-edge, innovative science. For biotechnology start-ups, it is the "adrenaline of trying to keep the company alive and make it a success". Tapolczay earned a BSc and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Southampton, UK. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford, he got his start in industry at G. D. Searle Pharmaceuticals, and then moved to ICI.
Tapolczay has several goals in his new post: raising royalty revenue (MRCT had income of £46 million (US$92 million) in fiscal year 2006–07, all of which goes back into MRC research); spinning off companies from the MRC (there have been 17 in the past 20 years); licensing products to existing companies; and using new disease biomarkers, diagnostics and therapies to improve health.
Tapolczay is also keen to explore new licensing opportunities with US and Japanese companies. Still, he says the majority of his effort will be dedicated to working directly with MRC-funded institutions. "One thing I'll do is undertake an audit," says Tapolczay. He envisages rating performance on a scale of 1 to 10. "If it's a 5," he says, "I want to know how we can do better."
CV
2007–08 Chief scientific officer, SAFC Pharma, Cambridge, UK
2003–07 Vice-president, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Harlow, UK
2000–03 Vice-president, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Boston, Massachusetts