Adnan M. M. Mjalli is an internationally recognized entrepreneur in drug discovery and the development of new medicines in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He is the founder of TransTech Pharma and High Point Pharmaceuticals, two drug discovery, development, and commercialization companies. They now operate as vTv Therapeutics, High Point Clinical Trials Center Inc., and PharmaCore Inc. Dr. Mjalli was chairman and CEO of TransTech Pharma from 1998 to 2014 and currently serves as CEO of High Point Clinical Trials Center and chairman of PharmaCore.
Originally from Tubas, Dr. Mjalli’s obtained his PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, in 1989. He carried out his postdoctoral work at the University of Rochester and held various positions of increasing responsibility in research and senior management at several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Merck & Co., Inc. and Ontogen Corporation. Dr. Mjalli is the author of more than 40 scientific papers and 4 book chapters. An inventor on more than 700 patents and patent applications, he has also earned dozens of awards, the most important of which include Triad Business Journal’s Most Influential People (2011–2014); MerchantCircle Circle of Excellence Award (2012); Palestine Presidential Merit and Excellence Award, (2011); #1 Top Palestinian Personalities Award (2010); and Palestine Diaspora Figure Award: Palestine International Award for Excellence & Creativity (2008).
Dr. Mjalli served on the board of directors of Siga Technologies, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the Guilford Technology Community College, and the High Point Economic Development Corporation. Currently he serves on the board of High Point University, High Point Chamber of Commerce, the Arab American University, the American Task Force on Palestine, and the America-Mideast Educational and Training Service; he is a member of the American Chemical Society, an honorary fellow of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, and an honorary member of the Palestine Academy of Science and Technology.
Dr. Mjalli has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for his companies listed above and has structured, negotiated, and concluded an excess of a dozen multibillion-dollar-worth deals with major global pharmaceutical companies. He states regretfully: “People can manufacture cars, computers, everything, faster and cheaper. Everything around us has become more portable and available, except for medicine. It’s embarrassing how Big Pharma has become an old, rusty environment for drug discovery.”
Residing in North Carolina, Adnan Mjalli frequently visits his home country, Palestine. In his rare free time he enjoys visiting family members and friends, reading, and writing.
