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Key moments and achievements from Philip Low's life.
Philip was born
· West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Academic Career
Philip Low completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego in 1975 and joined the faculty of Purdue University in 1976. He would spend his entire career at Purdue, eventually becoming the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and the university's Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery.
Academic Career
Philip Low completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego in 1975 and joined the faculty of Purdue University in 1976. He would spend his entire career at Purdue, eventually becoming the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and the university's Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery.
Scientific Discovery
Low made a groundbreaking discovery that folic acid could be used like a Trojan horse to sneak imaging agents or drugs into cancer cells. Most cancer cells require large amounts of the vitamin to grow and divide, and special receptors on the cell surface grab the vitamin and whatever is linked to it. This technology formed the basis of his life's work.
Scientific Discovery
Low made a groundbreaking discovery that folic acid could be used like a Trojan horse to sneak imaging agents or drugs into cancer cells. Most cancer cells require large amounts of the vitamin to grow and divide, and special receptors on the cell surface grab the vitamin and whatever is linked to it. This technology formed the basis of his life's work.
Founded Company
In the late 1990s, Low co-founded biotechnology company Endocyte with his former graduate student Christopher Leamon, where he served as chief science officer. The company developed vintafolide and other folate-targeted therapeutics based on their research into folate receptor targeting of cancer cells.
Founded Company
In the late 1990s, Low co-founded biotechnology company Endocyte with his former graduate student Christopher Leamon, where he served as chief science officer. The company developed vintafolide and other folate-targeted therapeutics based on their research into folate receptor targeting of cancer cells.
Medical Breakthrough
Technology developed by Low enabled the first fluorescence-guided ovarian cancer surgery, allowing surgeons to visualize and remove cancer tissue that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. This breakthrough demonstrated the real-world clinical impact of his folate receptor targeting research.
Medical Breakthrough
Technology developed by Low enabled the first fluorescence-guided ovarian cancer surgery, allowing surgeons to visualize and remove cancer tissue that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. This breakthrough demonstrated the real-world clinical impact of his folate receptor targeting research.
Business Achievement
Endocyte, the company Low co-founded based on Purdue-developed intellectual property, was purchased by pharmaceutical giant Novartis in 2018 in a 2.1 billion dollar acquisition. The sale validated decades of research into folate-targeted therapeutics and drug delivery technology.
Business Achievement
Endocyte, the company Low co-founded based on Purdue-developed intellectual property, was purchased by pharmaceutical giant Novartis in 2018 in a 2.1 billion dollar acquisition. The sale validated decades of research into folate-targeted therapeutics and drug delivery technology.
Career Achievement
Over his career, Low held more than 100 U.S.-issued patents, was listed on 600 U.S. and international patents and 145 invention disclosures, and published over 500 scientific articles. He founded seven companies based on Purdue-developed IP: Endocyte, OnTarget Laboratories, Novosteo, Erythrocure, Umoja Biopharma, Morphimmune, and Eradivir.
Career Achievement
Over his career, Low held more than 100 U.S.-issued patents, was listed on 600 U.S. and international patents and 145 invention disclosures, and published over 500 scientific articles. He founded seven companies based on Purdue-developed IP: Endocyte, OnTarget Laboratories, Novosteo, Erythrocure, Umoja Biopharma, Morphimmune, and Eradivir.
Philip Low passed away
