John S. Schroeder

Valentis lead drug candidate, Deltavasc, may treat peripheral arterial and ischemic heart disease with a gene that spurs new blood vessels to form (a process known as angiogenesis). In early stages of development are DNA vaccines for HIV, hepatitis C, and other viral infections. Another drug candidate, eNOS, could prevent tissue rejection in transplant recipients. The company licenses its technology -- include the GeneSwitch platform, which can turn off or on gene therapies -- to other drugmakers. These licensees include Genzyme, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline.