Philippe Villain-Guillot

Founder and director and of a biotechnology company

My career path

I have always been attracted by the health domain, and in high school, I saw the importance of chemistry in this sector. I therefore started my higher education in “classes préparatoires” (CP). After completing the competitive entry to engineering schools, I had the choice of orienting my career towards either telecommunications or chemistry. My interest for health had long been the strongest and so I entered the ENSCM (Montpellier School of Chemistry) which offered a Chemistry-Biology-Health section. During my studies, I had the opportunity to work for one year in Mexico, in a biotechnological center for the valorization of agro-resources. On returning to Montpellier, I did my final year project in a start-up dedicated to anti-infectious therapeutic innovation and found that this domain particularly interested me. I then obtained my first job in England, in the company Evotec, doing chemistry for pharmaceutical laboratories. After gaining two years experience, I came back to Montpellier to undertake a doctorate in antibacterial pharmaceutical chemistry. At the same time as my research work, I found out about starting an innovative company. At the end of my PhD, I set off on this adventure and created, with an associate, the biotechnology company: Nosopharm.

My job

Today, I am the director of this young innovative company: Nosopharm. We have developed a biotechnological platform which permits the discovery of new antibiotic molecules, in particular against multiresistant nosocomial infections, from microbial biodiversity. At the moment, I have many functions: human resources, sales development, accountancy, financing, communication, research and development, and the most interesting, the definition and application of the company development strategy. This may sound a lot, but it works because it is primordial to work with a network of the right people.

In conclusion

After high school, I oriented myself towards a career in chemistry in order to work in the health domain. I then specialized in anti-infectious pharmaceutical chemistry (or therapeutic chemistry). My ambition today is to discover a new antibiotic which will bring a real medical benefit against multiresistant nosocomial infections. This is what motivated my interest in pharmaceutical research, including the economics and strategy. So, strong with my knowledge and experience (higher education studies and a PhD, and an understanding of the « ecosystem » of the pharmaceutical industry), I set out on the passionate adventure of creating on innovative company in health/biotechnology.