John Clark: A Steadfast Leader Aspiring to Improve the lives of Cancer Patients Worldwide

Meet Mr. John Clark, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Global Cancer Technology, Inc., a non-revenue biopharma company developing novel cancer treatments. Mr. Clark brings more than three decades of medical sales and business experience, specializing in the development and commercialization of medical technologies into corporate entities. Mr. Clark has purchased technologies and developed several patents for various medical applications. Additionally, he serves as a Board of Directors and was chairman of the Board Finance Committee for Palomar Health, a California-based hospital system.

Under his leadership, Global Cancer Technology is developing a small molecule PI3K inhibitor drug to treat a deadly brain cancer known as glioblastoma. The drug can cross the blood-brain barrier and has shown promise in preclinical cell and animal studies.

Establishing Global Cancer Technology

Mr. Clark started his journey by selling urology equipment and was the first to bring hypothermia treatment of the prostate in the U.S. With his distribution business, he was also the first to introduce long-pulsed erbium laser for skin resurfacing, which went on to be the forerunner of what is now known as ‘Fraxel’ skin resurfacing treatment.

Mr. Clark was a co-founder of Edmonds Medical Systems, which produced the first underwater treadmill for the medical rehabilitation market. “We got to know a veterinarian who was making underwater treadmills for horses. We figured that if it was good for thoroughbreds, it should be good for humans, so we bought the patents and started making the devices,” he remembered.

Mr. Clark was a major distributor of Holmium Lasers for spinal discectomies. One day, while in an outpatient surgery center, he discovered how much money could be made using his equipment. So, he bought a surgery center and started doing spine surgeries within three months.

After the surgery business, Mr. Clark moved on to producing a multi million-dollar machine known as a Rotating Gamma Knife for the non-invasive treatment of brain tumors. He also established a state-of-the-art brain tumor treatment center in Los Angeles using his technology in partnership with several neurosurgeons.

Thanks to his involvement in radiation and brain surgery, Mr. Clark was soon approached by scientists from UCSD who had patents on nanoparticles that required radiation to activate. Thus, he acquired the patents that would transfer the drug into a tumor, and once in the tumor, they would fire radiation to activate the drug. Later this company became Global Cancer Technology.

As they progressed, some leading scientists approached Mr. Clark with a unique drug to treat cancer – a PI3K inhibitor – and advised him to develop this drug for glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. They also recommended developing it for drug-resistant breast cancer and, ultimately, for psoriasis. Based on his respect for these brilliant scientists, Mr. Clark went ahead and acquired licenses for these patents and started developing the drug for brain and breast cancer. Today, Mr. Clark and his colleagues at Global Cancer Technology are seeing breakthrough pre-clinical results, and believe the drug will help improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide.

“At this point in my career, I still felt compelled to do something significant. The thought of actually being responsible, in part, for a cure for a deadly disease is a very motivating force. Each time we tested a drug, the preclinical results kept coming back better and better, and it is a commitment that takes hold of you in all your daily efforts. There are people dying that we might be able to help – that is real motivation,”- Mr. Clark explained.

Preparing for the Phase 1 Clinical Trial

Global Cancer Technology has received breakthrough clinical results in glioblastoma and drug-resistant breast cancer studies.

“My vision for global cancer technology is twofold: I want to cure these deadly diseases; secondly, I want to reword my many shareholders who have invested in our company. We plan to be in phase 2 clinical trial with glioblastoma and a phase 1 clinical trial with breast cancer by the end of 2024,” stated Mr. Clark. “Our company could be valued at more than $100 million, and we will have been acquired through an M&A with a major Pharma company or undergo an IPO.”

Tackling Challenges

Mr. Clark believes Drug development is an exciting industry. Every organization needs to go through a rigid process. When a company fails to make it through the process, it loses, and if it proceeds, every step brings increased valuation to the company. “As an example, in a strong market, phase 1 has a valuation of $25 million, phase 2 has a valuation of $80 million, and phase 3 has a valuation of approximately $250 million. All we have to do is step back and make sure the right scientists at the right universities are structuring the studies for maximum clinical entry,” he explained.

Looking at the Future

Global Cancer Technology presently has breakthrough preclinical data and is preparing to go into a phase 1 clinical trial. It has partnered with multiple leading universities that are studying its compound because of their belief in its potential.

The company’s main priorities are to continue fundraising to keep advancing drug development through the steps necessary for commercialization, and to reach a phase 1 clinical trial for glioblastoma at Baylor Scott and White.