Gensia Co-Founder

I read with interest the article entitled “A Researcher Becomes Promoter” (May 27). The article presented the reader with a fair and accurate picture of the exceptional intelligence and drive of Dr. Harry Gruber. As he has in the past, Dr. Gruber continues to play a very important role in the success of Gensia. We appreciate your efforts to bring this message to your readers.

Although the article was generally accurate, there is one omission I wish to correct. If you review the literature available on Gensia (such as our 1990 annual report), you will find that Dr. Gruber was co-founder of Gensia, not the sole founder. In fact, Dr. Gruber and I, working together, founded Gensia in 1986 after working together at UC San Diego. I was involved in every aspect of Gensia’s founding, including the company’s first capitalization and the recruitment of Mr. Hale. In 1986, after the first venture capital round was closed, I left the university to become the first employee and full time executive of Gensia.

The success of Gensia is best ascribed to a dedicated group of individuals that includes Dr. Gruber and me.

PAUL LAIKIND, Vice President, ARA Development & Technology Licensing