Pre-1981

Dr. Ronald G. Micetich joins the University of Alberta as Adjunct Professor

Dr. R.G. Micetich was born and raised in India. He immigrated to Canada in 1960 where he attended the University of Saskatoon, earning his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. After graduating, Dr. R.G. Micetich moved his family to Edmonton, Alberta where he worked for Raylo Chemicals for several years. Eventually he made the move to the University of Alberta where he was an Adjunct Professor with the goal of establishing his own research company.

1981

Dr. Ronald G. Micetich and his team discover Mofezolac

While an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, Dr. R.G. Micetich and his team of scientists discovered a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This treatment is currently marketed worldwide and generates sales of more than $100 million annually.

1982

Dr. Ronald G. Micetich and his team patent Tazobactam

While an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, Dr. R.G. Micetich and his team of scientists discovered a beta-lactamase inhibitor known as Tazobactam. Tazobactam, paired with the antibiotic Piperacillin, hit the market in 1992, distributed by Pfizer under the registered name Zosyn. Zosyn is regularly prescribed to treat the most resistant bacterial infections and is used in hospital ICUs worldwide. Zosyn generates revenues in excess of $1 billion annually.

Interesting fact: The prefix “Tazo-“ in Tazobactam was selected by Dr. R.G. Micetich because of his thorough amusement with the Tazmanian Devil from Bugs Bunny.

1987

SynPhar Laboratories Inc. is created as joint venture with Taiho Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Ronald G. Micetich.

Based on the promising results of the Tazobactam and Mofezolac projects, Taiho Pharmaceuticals Inc. agreed to establish a joint venture company with Dr. R.G. Micetich to explore new drug discovery opportunities… the only such venture of its kind. SynPhar Laboratories Inc. was established in 1987, occupying a 20,000 square foot laboratory and office space in Edmonton Alberta Canada (later to become the Ronald G. Micetich Research Center), with an initial staff of 15 employees.

Interesting Fact: Taiho Pharmaceuticals presented Dr. R.G. Micetich with the gift of a special ceramic wall estimated at $250,000, depicting 50 flying Taiho birds (representing the 50 Taiho Shareholders), known for their hard work and perseverance to reach their destination. A special installer from Japan accompanied the 2-ton ceramic wall to ensure it was properly installed at SynPhar’s laboratories.

1990

Dr. Ronald G. Micetich is awarded ASTECH Award.

In 1990, Dr. R.G. Micetich is the first recipient of the Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) Award. He and his company will go on to win numerous other awards over the years, including Company of the Year in 2013 from BioAlberta.

http://astech.ca/awardee/1990-pioneer-micetich-dr-ronald-g

1999

NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc. is established.

After closely collaborating with Taiho Pharmaceuticals for eleven years, due to differing research interests and changes in the market, Dr. Ronald G. Micetich and Taiho decide to part ways. A separation of SynPhar assets is agreed upon and shortly afterwards Dr. Ronald G. Micetich establishes NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc., an early-stage chemistry-based R&D company that is 100% family owned. He retains all of his North American-based staff and embarks on a path to grow his company, continue his drug discovery efforts, and establish a contract research division. NAEJA embarks on research in a variety of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, anticancer, anti AIDS, and antibiotics. Through their contract research division, NAEJA will go on to work with more than 150 global R&D companies.

Interesting Fact: NAEJA stands for North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia… a company with a truly global perspective on drug discovery.

November 2005

Dr. Ronald G. Micetich passes away.

On his birthday, May 28th, 2005, Dr. R.G. Micetich suffers a massive stroke from which he will not recover. He passes away on November 23rd, 2005. His funeral is attended by more than 500 mourners; the world has lost a research giant. NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc. continues forward with the group of world recognized scientists selected and trained by Dr Ronald G Micetich

2007

Alberta Biotech Hall of Fame

In 2007, Dr. R.G. Micetich is inducted into the BioAlberta Hall of Fame.
http://www.bioalberta.com/ron-micetich

2012

NAEJA discovers, patents and licenses new beta-lactamase inhibitor project.

NAEJA Pharmaceuticals Inc. licenses its project developed in-house to a virtual pharmaceutical company established in 2012, and continues to develop the chemistry component of this project. As beta-lactamase inhibitors like Zosyn are nearing the end of their patent life, projects like this one become more and more important to address the growing issue of drug-resistant bacterial infections.

2014

Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor project created and developed by NAEJA Pharmaceuticals is licensed to a major European pharmaceutical company.

The value of this deal is estimated by the licensing company to be $750 million, anticipated to be the largest pharmaceutical deal in Canadian history.

Interesting Fact: NRC IRAP success story

2016

Mrs. Celine Micetich continues Dr. Ronald G Micetich’s vision by acquiring NAEJA's assets.

After NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc.’s management made an unsuccessful proposal to the company’s creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in February, 2016, NAEJA’s assets were placed in the hands of a Bankruptcy Trustee. Mrs. Celine Micetich, the widow of Dr. R.G. Micetich, purchases assets from the bankruptcy, hires a new management team that negotiates research space in the Ronald G. Micetich Research Center, hires back key scientists from NAEJA Pharmaceutical Inc. who were trained under Dr. Ronald G. Micetich, acquires NAEJA intellectual property, and starts over again. Included in the Intellectual Property acquisition is a new antibiotic project that was supported by the NRC’s IRAP program, showing very promising early-stage results, and protected by a provisional patent.

June 2016

NAEJA-RGM Pharmaceuticals is established in Edmonton Alberta Canada.

NAEJA-RGM Pharmaceuticals Inc. is established in June 2016; operations begin in July 2016. The early focus of the team is to hit the patent-filing deadline in December 2016 for the new antibiotic project.

Interesting Fact: The “RGM” in NAEJA-RGM stands both for the initials of Dr. Ronald G. Micetich and the company’s tagline “Research for Global Medicine.”

December 2016

NAEJA-RGM files patent on new antibiotic project.

With significant chemistry work accomplished in only six months, NAEJA-RGM files the full patent application for its new antibiotic project on schedule.