John R. Plachetka, Pharm.D., is president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of POZEN.

Prior to founding POZEN in 1996, Dr. Plachetka was vice president of development at Texas Biotechnology Corporation for two years, where he led the development of argatroban, a novel thrombin blocker. Previously, he served for two years as president and chief executive officer of Clinical Research Foundation-America, a top-10 contract clinical research company in the U.S. This was preceded by a nine-year career at Glaxo Inc. where Dr. Plachetka held various executive positions including director of cardiovascular clinical research and led the U.S. development program for Imitrex®, Trandate®, and a thromboxane antagonist. He also participated in the development program for Zantac® tablets and injection.

Dr. Plachetka was formerly assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice and Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Arizona. He earned his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy and holds a doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

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