2004 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award

Kay Wagoner
Icagen

Description

Dr. Kay Wagoner is co-founder of Durham-based Icagen (www.icagen.com), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel orally-administered small molecule drugs that modulate ion channel targets. She has served as Icagen’s president and a director since the company’s inception and as CEO since September 1996.

Reasons for winning the award

Kay Wagoner is a successful entrepreneur and an inspiring role model for other high-growth business leaders. With a powerful combination of scientific vision and business acumen, Dr. Wagoner has built a strong and truly innovative company from the ground up that is recognized internationally as the leader in its field. In April 2004, Icagen filed for a proposed initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Quote

"I am surprised and delighted in the receipt of an honor from an organization which has meant a great deal to entrepreneurs throughout the area. It is always a challenge to discover new drugs, and particularly so when resources are limited as they always are for a small company. To be successful one needs a great deal of help (as much as possible affordable help) from the local community, which is striving to be better known for its entrepreneurial spirit and to bring and keep new opportunities in the State. Here in North Carolina it seems that there are always willing and able supporters -- like the CED -- who are there to lend a hand." -- Kay Wagoner, Ph.D., President and CEO, Icagen

History

Prior to founding Icagen in 1992, Dr. Wagoner served in research management positions at Glaxo Inc., a pharmaceutical company, where she initiated and led Glaxo’s U.S. ion channel discovery efforts in central nervous system, cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Dr. Wagoner received her Ph.D. in physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2001, Dr. Wagoner received the distinguished alumna award for science and business from UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Wagoner also serves on a variety of boards of directors, including the University of North Carolina’s Graduate School Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Emerging Companies Section.

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