Nathaniel David
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel David is an American scientist and entrepreneur, who co-founded a series of technology companies in the biotechnology
and sustainable energy
sectors, including Syrrx (acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
), Achaogen, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Sapphire Energy
and Kilimanjaro Energy. These companies have raised more than $700 million and employ more than 300 scientists, engineers and business people.
and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from University of California, Berkeley
. In 2002, he was named to the MIT
Technology Review
TR100
as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35.
David co-founded his first company, Syrrx, during the final year of his doctoral work at UC Berkeley. Syrrx was the first company in the world to build a high-throughput structural biology ‘factory,’ i.e.: the use of automation, nano-scale experiments, and crystallography
to make the determination of atomic structures of proteins easier, faster and cheaper,. It was also the first company in the world to fund the construction of a synchrotron beam line at the Advanced Light Source
at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
.
He left Syrrx to co-found Achaogen and Kythera Biopharmaceticals. He served as Chief Science Officer of Kythera for four years, during which time two first-in-class drugs entered human clinical trials—ATX-101, a fat destroying drug with worldwide sales projected to be in excess of $1B annually, is currently in Phase III clinical trials in ten countries and is partnered with Bayer AG outside of North America. ATX-104, an ‘injectable implant’ that, if approved, would allow the creation of any convex feature on the human face, was the co-invention of David and Johns Hopkins University
professor Dr. Jennifer Elisseeff. This material can be injected into people, shaped, and then locked into any desired shape with light, enabling the rapid and non-invasive alteration of human appearance. ATX-104 entered clinical development but was later withdrawn due to the development of foreign body responses.
In 2007, while still serving as Chief Science Officer at Kythera, David co-founded Sapphire Energy
, a company with the mission to develop renewable, algae-derived, transportation fuels that are 100% compliant with the existing energy infrastructure. In 2008, Sapphire successfully produced 91-octane gasoline from algae that fully conforms to ASTM certification standards. In 2009, Sapphire participated in a test flight using algae-based jet fuel in a Boeing 737-800 twin-engine aircraft. That same year, Sapphire provided the fuel for the world’s first cross-country tour of a gasoline vehicle powered with a complete drop-in replacement fuel containing a mixture of hydrocarbons refined directly from algae-based Green Crude. In 2010, Sapphire began construction of its Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery in Southern New Mexico, a project that was awarded more than $100 million in federal grant money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act through the United States Department of Energy
and a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Bio-refinery Assistance Program.
David recently co-founded Kilimanjaro Energy a startup developing technologies that capture atmospheric CO2 for fuel production, turning the world’s largest waste stream (CO2) into the world’s largest product (transportation fuels).
David lives in Northern California with his wife, Maureen, and their son, Magellan.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
and sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
sectors, including Syrrx (acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
is the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and Asia and a top 15 pharmaceutical company. The company has over 19,000 employees worldwide and achieved $15.7 billion USD in revenue during the 2008 fiscal year...
), Achaogen, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Sapphire Energy
Sapphire Energy
Sapphire Energy is a San Diego-based energy company that produces oil made from algae.- History :On May 29, 2008 the Los Angeles Times reported that Sapphire expects to introduce its first fuels based on green crude. Sapphire Energy announced a second round investment, including the Microsoft...
and Kilimanjaro Energy. These companies have raised more than $700 million and employ more than 300 scientists, engineers and business people.
Biography
David earned an A.B. in Biology from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. In 2002, he was named to the MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
Technology Review
Technology Review
Technology Review is a magazine published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was founded in 1899 as "The Technology Review", and was re-launched without the "The" in its name on April 23, 1998 under then publisher R. Bruce Journey...
TR100
TR35
The TR35 is an annual list published by MIT Technology Review magazine, naming the world's top 35 innovators under the age of 35.Some of the most famous winners of the award include Larry Page and Sergey Brin , Linus Torvalds , Jerry Yang , Jonathan Ive , Mark Zuckerberg...
as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35.
David co-founded his first company, Syrrx, during the final year of his doctoral work at UC Berkeley. Syrrx was the first company in the world to build a high-throughput structural biology ‘factory,’ i.e.: the use of automation, nano-scale experiments, and crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
to make the determination of atomic structures of proteins easier, faster and cheaper,. It was also the first company in the world to fund the construction of a synchrotron beam line at the Advanced Light Source
Advanced Light Source
The Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California is a synchrotron light source. Built from 1987 to 1993, it currently employs 210 scientists and staff. Part of the building in which it is housed was completed in 1942 for a 4.67 m cyclotron, designed by...
at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
.
He left Syrrx to co-found Achaogen and Kythera Biopharmaceticals. He served as Chief Science Officer of Kythera for four years, during which time two first-in-class drugs entered human clinical trials—ATX-101, a fat destroying drug with worldwide sales projected to be in excess of $1B annually, is currently in Phase III clinical trials in ten countries and is partnered with Bayer AG outside of North America. ATX-104, an ‘injectable implant’ that, if approved, would allow the creation of any convex feature on the human face, was the co-invention of David and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
professor Dr. Jennifer Elisseeff. This material can be injected into people, shaped, and then locked into any desired shape with light, enabling the rapid and non-invasive alteration of human appearance. ATX-104 entered clinical development but was later withdrawn due to the development of foreign body responses.
In 2007, while still serving as Chief Science Officer at Kythera, David co-founded Sapphire Energy
Sapphire Energy
Sapphire Energy is a San Diego-based energy company that produces oil made from algae.- History :On May 29, 2008 the Los Angeles Times reported that Sapphire expects to introduce its first fuels based on green crude. Sapphire Energy announced a second round investment, including the Microsoft...
, a company with the mission to develop renewable, algae-derived, transportation fuels that are 100% compliant with the existing energy infrastructure. In 2008, Sapphire successfully produced 91-octane gasoline from algae that fully conforms to ASTM certification standards. In 2009, Sapphire participated in a test flight using algae-based jet fuel in a Boeing 737-800 twin-engine aircraft. That same year, Sapphire provided the fuel for the world’s first cross-country tour of a gasoline vehicle powered with a complete drop-in replacement fuel containing a mixture of hydrocarbons refined directly from algae-based Green Crude. In 2010, Sapphire began construction of its Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery in Southern New Mexico, a project that was awarded more than $100 million in federal grant money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act through the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
and a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Bio-refinery Assistance Program.
David recently co-founded Kilimanjaro Energy a startup developing technologies that capture atmospheric CO2 for fuel production, turning the world’s largest waste stream (CO2) into the world’s largest product (transportation fuels).
David lives in Northern California with his wife, Maureen, and their son, Magellan.