Longtime biosciences industry innovator Jeff Keyser, Ph.D., has been announced as the 2024 Dennis K. Stone Award recipient by Irving-based BioNTX, the bioscience and healthcare innovation trade organization serving North Texas.

Keyser will be acknowledged as the recipient at the 10th Annual iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit on Thursday. The summit takes place Oct. 3-4, at the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention in Arlington.

BioNTX said the award recognizes an individual’s contributions to the North Texas biotechnology industry, and the recipient is introduced each year at the annual iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit.

‘A steadfast and energetic leader and mentor for our industry’

Keyser is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with 40 years of leadership experience in developing and commercializing new medical therapies, BioNTX said. Currently, he is president and CEO for Renibus Therapeutics and chairman of the board for Lantern Pharma.

In his career, Keyser has invented products leading to significant improvements in patient care and has numerous patents issued by the USPTO in healthcare. BioNTX said he has a track record of success in developing new companies from startup, through IPO and M&A exits.

Renibus Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to treating, improving, and extending patients’ lives by developing products to prevent disease progression, improve outcomes, and protect against organ damage associated with cardio, renal and metabolic diseases.

Keyser also co-founded ZS Pharma, which was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015 for $2.7 billion. Keyser invented the Mucinex product line for Adams Respiratory Therapeutics and developed and executed the R&D and regulatory strategy for Adams Respiratory Therapeutics as vice president of Development and Regulatory Affairs.

“Jeff has been a steadfast and energetic leader and mentor for our industry and for the teams that have been fortunate enough to work alongside him,” Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma, said in a statement. “His energy and productivity in biopharma is contagious and inspiring, and many of the milestones at Lantern would not have been possible without his guidance and acute insight. The bioscience community in North Texas is grateful to him for the impact he has made on the industry.”

More on the award and the iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit

Each year, BioNTX honors the memory and work of Dennis K. Stone by awarding an individual who has positively affected the North Texas biotechnology industry and contributed awareness and funds to life science research. Stone was an accomplished scientist and instrumental figure in biotechnology developments and advancements at UT Southwestern and in the DFW area, BioNTX said.

Last month, BioNTX announced the 2024 Rising Stars, a select group of pioneering companies that will be recognized at the summit this week. It also announced the finalists for the 3rd Annual Tech Transfer Showcase, to be held Friday at the summit.

The Tech Transfer Showcase spotlights life science innovation at universities and strengthens the development of future leaders and entrepreneurs, BioNTX said. The program is designed to assist academic institutions in presenting technologies available for licensing, collaboration, and acquisition.

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