Charles B. Hensley

Charles B. Hensley
Born	Charles Benjamin Hensley (1953-10-12) October 12, 1953 McAlester, Oklahoma, US
Residence	Los Angeles
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Southern California (PhD, 1988)
Occupation	Entrepreneur - Venture Capitalist

Charles B. Hensley is an American businessman, entrepreneur and venture capitalist. In the 1990s, he invented and developed Zicam cold remedy. He is currently the Chairman of The Hensley Group, Inc. (www.thehensleygroupofcompanies.com), a collection of corporate entities in the pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, aviation and entertainment sectors.^[1]

He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in Physiology and Biophysics. Hensley completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California School of Medicine where he specialized in the regulation of gene expression, molecular cardiology and drug development.

In the mid 1990s invented and developed Zicam cold remedy and its underlying nasal delivery system. Hensley then created his first corporate venture in order to market and sell the product and Zicam went on to become a successful over-the-counter product and an iconic brand in the decades that followed.^[2]

Business ventures

Pharmaceuticals

In 1997, Hensley invented and developed Zicam cold remedy, one of the most successful OTC remedies for the common cold on the market. Hensley also invented and developed the underlying nasal delivery system used in the Zicam products. As a means to fast track Zicam to the marketplace, Hensley and his partners co-founded Gel Tech, LLC. (now Zicam, LLC.),^[3] with Gum Tech International (now Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.).^[4]

In 2001, Hensley formed PRB Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop anti-viral cocktails aimed at emerging viral disease. During the Taiwan SARS epidemic of 2003, the government of Taiwan requested PRB Pharmaceuticals to assist in the SARS crisis by providing their expertise and antiviral technologies to front line health care professionals and government officials. PRB Pharmaceuticals and its CEO (Hensley) were onsite at the epicenter of SARS in Taipei for the duration of the SARS epidemic before moving the company's operations to Hong Kong. During this time, the company produced the anti-viral VIRA 38 which was shown effective against the SARS virus ^[5] and subsequently avian influenza (H5N1) ^[6] and it quickly became a popular alternative to the influenza drug Tamiflu.

Upon his return to California in 2005, PRB Pharmaceuticals acquired NeoDiagnostics, Inc. and Hensley refined the technology that emerged from his "Taiwan and Hong Kong days" which ultimately led to the development of a suite of broad spectrum anti-viral products. In 2006, Hensley licensed the anti-viral products to Pacific BioPharmaceuticals, which as part of the licensing deal, merged with Abattis Biologix Corporation making Hensley a major shareholder.^[7]

In 2007, Hensley founded Nasal Therapeutics, Inc. to develop and market nasal spray technologies and products. That same year, Nasal Therapeutics, Inc. entered into a licensing agreement with Therabiogen, Inc. (TRAB.OB), which allowed them the exclusive right to manufacture, market and sell two nasal therapeutic nasal sprays, THERAMAX Cold and Flu Relief and THERAMAX Allergy Relief . As a result of the deal, Hensley became Therabiogen's largest shareholder.^[8]

In 2011, after a six-year investigation into PRB Pharmaceuticals' aggressive marketing tactics, Hensley was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles and charged with four felonies and eight misdemeanors.^[9] Subsequently, the United States Attorney's Office reduced the charges to one misdemeanor.^[10]

In 2013, Hensley developed a new platform technology based on his theory of altered functioning of EAA transport proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. From this platform, Hensley developed a series of therapies including one for the treatment for migraine headaches. Hensley subsequently formed Migranade, Inc. (www.migranade.com) to further develop the migraine treatment for the market.^[11] Hensley and his company has received the National Drug Code (NDC) from the FDA clearing the therapeutic for sale in the United States.^[12]

References