Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> October 26, 2004
WILLIAM H. PURSLEY is currently Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board of Directors of CepTor Corporation. He was President and Vice
Chairman of Xechem International, Inc., where he developed a new focus
for that company, significantly increasing its value and spearheading
the acquisition of Ceptor Corporation. From August 2002 until September
2003, Mr. Pursley was CEO of Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-
held, mesenchymal stem cell biotechnology company, and led a turnaround
that revamped management and operations and significantly increased the
company's value through corporate partnerships with Boston Scientific,
among others. Prior to this, from April 1999 until August 2002, he was
Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for Transkaryotic
Therapies, Inc., where he developed its European business unit to launch
Replagal, an orphan drug for Fabry disease. Previously, Mr. Pursley has
served in executive positions at Genentech, Genzyme, Inc., and Bio-
Technology General Corporation where he played key roles in the
commercialization of over $2 billion in orphan drugs. The long-time
industry executive started his career 25 years ago with Merck. Mr.
Pursley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University
of Louisville. Profile
of what you do?
Mr. Pursley: The company was incorporated in 1986 and was basically in
incubator status until April of
