Michele Garufi, Chairman and CEO, co-founded Nicox with Elisabeth Robinson and a third co-founder in 1996, with the goal of addressing innovative therapies based on nitric oxide (NO) donation to patients and doctors. Since then, Nicox has developed a world-leading position in Nitric Oxide donation research. The Company is now focusing its activities in the ophthalmic field, with several promising NO-donating compounds in its pipeline. Mr. Garufi, born in 1954 in Milano, Italy, graduated with full honors in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Milan in 1977.He obtained as well the Pharmacist Degree in 1989. Mr. Garufi has extensive experience in business development, licensing and international marketing in the European pharmaceutical industry. Before 1996, he was Vice President of the International Division and Director of Licensing at Recordati Italy and Managing Director of Recordati’s subsidiary in Spain. He previously served as Director, International Division at Italfarmaco (1988-1992), Assistant to the General Manager at Poli Chimica (1984-1988), Assistant to the President at Medea Research (1983) and Technical Director of one of the Italian subsidiaries of the Lipha Group (1978-1982). In his carreer he also served as Board member for Novuspharma Srl, Novexel SA, Lica SA and he was co-founder and Board member of Scharper SpA. In addition, Mr Garufi is co-founder of Delife Srl, an Italian dermatological Company.

 Ophthalmology, Biotechnology, pharmacy