Mr. Duffy brings extensive experience at both big pharma and start-up organizations.He acquired more than 30 years of big pharma experience at Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
As a founding member of Alamo Pharmaceuticals, he created a fully integrated, national pharmaceutical company to market Fazaclo, a patented reformulation of Novartis' anti-psychotic drug, Clozaril.
After completing the sale of Alamo to Avanir Pharmaceuticals he became founding CEO of Validus Pharmaceuticals, creating an entirely new type of private-equity-backed pharmaceutical company.
Most recently, Duffy served as President, US Commercial Operations for UK-based multinational, Amarin Pharmaceuticals. Vigilant is a result of these collective experiences.
James Hunter Partner
Mr. Hunter has over 30 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical sector. Over his sixteen-year tenure with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Mr. Hunter served various roles in the areas of Finance, Business Development, Sales and Marketing Management.
Mr. Hunter was responsible for creating and leading the Novartis Neuroscience Sales Force and introducing and promoting products in the areas of Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Migraine, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease.
After his departure from Novartis, he participated in two startup operations, RxMarketplace, an online drug wholesaler and Relialab, a point-of-care diagnostic test company. In 2007, he co-founded Validus Pharmaceuticals as CEO. At Validus, he was responsible for the acquisition of over twenty established branded products from various big pharma companies.
David Pickar, MD Partner
David Pickar, M.D., is an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Pickar has served on the Psychiatry Drug Advisory Committee for the FDA.
He is Fellow Emeritus of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and is Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Pickar has served on the Psychiatry Drug Advisory Committee for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2014-2018.
Dr. Pickar was the founder and President of Gabriel Sciences advancing the development of a novel treatment for schizophrenia. Dr. Pickar was also co-founder of Comprehensive Neuroscience, Inc where he served as a Director, Executive Vice-President and Chief Science Officer. Dr. Pickar has authored or co-authored more than 300 scientific articles and holds two US patents.
Dr. Pickar is also the Producer of the documentary film, “The Realities of Serious Mental Illness.”
Glenn Kazo Partner
Glenn has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector as a C-Suite executive, corporate officer and scientist, with extensive corporate financing, venture investing, strategic planning, business development and marketing experience in the global health arena. In addition to his operational experience, Glenn has been responsible for raising over $500 million in capital from international investors, including leading efforts in three successful IPOs.
Glenn has served on the Board of Directors of, Prolong Pharmaceuticals Inc., XTL, IviGene Corporation, and several other start-ups. He was the founding Chair of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Strategic Development Committee, and actively participates in industry/trade association meetings. Glenn is Managing Member of Kazo Associates LLC, an advisory firm focusing on Biotechnology Financing, Strategy and Development.