David Lenz

Background

About David Lenz

Partnering With Clients To Improve Medical Protection Against Chemical Warfare Threats Through Research, Development and FDA Licensure Headed a multinational research effort that led to the development of a catalytic protein drug capable of providing in vivo efficacy against G-type nerve agents. This program has the potential to reduce or eliminate the need for a multiple drug therapeutic approach to medical protection against chemical warfare agents. Member of the National Academy of Sciences panel on Overcoming Challenges to Develop Interventions against Aerosolized Bioterror(ism) Agents: Appropriate Use of Animal Models, July 2005 – July 2006. Served as the chairman of the NATO technical group (TG) – 004, “Task Group on Prophylaxis and Therapy against Chemical Agents Medical Chemical Defense”, October – May 2005. The work of the pyridostigmine bromide integrated product team (PB-IPT) resulted in the granting of a license by the FDA for use of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) as a pretreatment for soman poisoning in conjunction with currently fielded therapy. This was the first drug licensed by the FDA under the new ‘animal rule’ clause. The research on the utility of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) as a biological scavenger led to BuChE being granted investigational new drug status by the FDA in 2006. These efforts expanded to a large-scale research program, of which I was the technical coordinator, designed to identify catalytic biological scavengers as a 'next generation’ prophylactic approach to protection against chemical warfare nerve agents. The research on immunoprophylaxis led to the development of the first method of protecting animals against multiple LD5O's of an organophosphorus compound, without any additional drug therapy or physical support. Author/coauthor of over 98 peer reviewed scientific publications and holder of 4 patents Specialties: Extensive knowlege of chemical warfare threats and the development of medical countermeasures against those threats. Extensive experience leading large multi-disciplinary research projects both nationally and internationally. Extensive experience in molecular biology, enzyme kinetics and protein physical chemistry. Experience in obtaining FDA licensure for small molecule and protein drugs under the Animal Rule.