MISSION
MedPharm is a phytopharmaceutical and intellectual property holding company that has been created to develop innovative cannabis products, using accepted pharmaceutical formulation techniques, to reliably produce identifiable and replicable dosage forms for human use.
VISION
MedPharm will lead the industry in developing products to improve the human condition and better the lives of those who suffer from disease. It is MedPharm’s intent to position itself to have safe, reliable, proven products ready for Phase I formulations when such trials become available.
OBJECTIVE
Scale and implement a state-based production laboratory model to test, create and produce pharmaceutical-type cannabis, using intellectual property or proprietary formulations and methods for a variety of dosage forms.
OPERATION MODEL/SCIENCE METHODOLOGY
To provide cannabis pharmaceutical-type products using current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) that would include pre-formulation, formulation development, small scale commercial manufacturing, analytical method development and validation, routine quality control analysis, and stability studies.
To create pharmaceutical dosage forms and produce ingredients utilizing pharmaceutical technology to be used in the delivery of cannabis extracts. The goal is to provide a reliable clinical effect through the use of well-crafted and well-researched oil analytics and dosage forms.
MedPharm is not making specific therapeutic claims. The use of the term pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical grade, pharmaceutical dosage forms, etc. are indicative of the process by which new formulation products will be created with the intent of accurately identifying the active ingredients and the amount of each in each dosage form using best practices associated with traditional pharmacy formulations. MedPharm is seeking to take existing anecdotal evidence and through its own formulation process further identify which cannabis varieties and strains are best suited to which disease states.
CHRIS NELSON, MANAGING PARTNER
Chris Nelson is president & CEO of Kemin Industries, a global nutritional ingredient company specializing in improving human and animal health through molecular innovations. The company operates manufacturing facilities on six continents and has more than 45 offices worldwide. Kemin touches more than two billion people daily with products for specific health and nutrition solutions.
Dr. Nelson began his career with Kemin in 1980 as director of research and development (R&D); however, since 1993, he has served as president of Kemin. Distinguished among the company’s many commercial and scientific advances is the fact that Kemin pioneered the process of isolating and purifying the antioxidant molecule lutein for human consumption in supplements and fortified foods. Researchers have identified lutein as playing a central role in human eye health, specifically in reducing risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of adult blindness. Over 60 million people consume lutein daily through multivitamins or concentrated lutein supplements. Under his leadership at Kemin, the company has more than quadrupled in size and now employs nearly 2,000 people.
Dr. Nelson received his undergraduate training at Northwestern University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics from Washington State University. He holds 15 patents and has authored numerous peer reviewed, published research studies.
Dr. Nelson was named one of the top 100 CEO Leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in June 2013. In July 2015, he was named as co-chair of the STEM Advisory Council. He also serves on the board of the Des Moines Symphony, and the Des Moines Community Foundation, among others. He continues to have a passion for science education and serves on the Board of the Science Center of Iowa, where he helped lead a successful development effort for construction of the $62 million interactive learning center.
ANDY WILLIAMS, MANAGING PARTNER
Andy Williams is the President and CEO of Medicine Man in Colorado. He is veteran of the US Army, and served three years as a Cavalry Scout in the 3rd Infantry Division. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo, CO.
Andy has worked in a wide range of manufacturing industries as an industrial engineer, and in leadership positions. He is a lifelong entrepreneur. In 2009 the Ogden letter was published stating the Department of Justice would not utilize their resources to prosecute those individuals following state marijuana laws. That was the call to a new opportunity in the marijuana industry for Andy and his brother Pete.
In December of 2009 they launched Medicine Man with the concept of being the Costco of marijuana. Six years later Medicine Man is now a $17 million a year corporation and has branched out to assist start up marijuana companies and grow facilities across the country with their consulting company, Medicine Man Technologies. They are known as industry leaders throughout the United States.
T.J. JOHNSRUD, BSPh, MANAGING PARTNER
TJ Johnsrud, BSPh is founder and president of NuCara Management Group, LLC, headquartered in Conrad, Iowa, which oversees pharmacy locations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas. The NuCara pharmacies are jointly owned by NuCara Management Group and Dakota Drug. In addition to community pharmacy practice, NuCara offers Home Medical Equipment, specialty pharmacy, respiratory services and is an industry leader in sterile and non‐sterile compounding developing patent-ready formulations.
Mr. Johnsrud has been honored for his commitment to excellence in pharmacy in Iowa with the 1991 Bowl of Hygiea, the 2001 Robert G. Gibbs Distinguished Pharmacist Award, the 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and the 2014 Osterhaus Medal for Lifetime Achievement.
He has served as Past President and remains a current member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association where he is Chairman of the Task Force on the Iowa Pharmacists New Practice Model. He was the first Chairman of the Board of PACE Alliance multi‐state pharmacy buying group. He is a member of the National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the National Association of Chain Drugstores, and a lifetime member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association.
He has served the University of Iowa on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Pharmacy, on the College of Pharmacy Second Century Fundraising Campaign Committee, the University of Iowa College Curriculum Advisory Council and by participating as a President’s Club member since 1983, Golden Hawk member since 1982 and the Kinnick Society since 2003.Mr. Johnsrud was a Liberal A Arts major at Creighton University before graduating with high distinction in 1966 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy.
