ABOUT US

Fermalogic is a leader in early stage pre-clinical drug discovery technology overlapping the fields of actinomycete natural products, chemical biology, microbiology, metabolic engineering, molecular and synthetic biology. We have been privately owned and operated in the Chicago area since 1991. Fermalogic’s scientists have had extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and are expert in the area of early stage drug discovery. More recently, we have expanded our focus from pure basic research into the manufacturing of small molecules— core molecules—created through targeted or randomly generated mutations in actinomycetes to produce desirable molecular cores (actinocoresTM) for drug discovery programs. Our first product is erythronolide B (EB), perhaps one of the best known actinocores, but virtually unavailable until we began providing it to university researchers, small biotech startups, and pharmaceutical companies it in 2009. Additional products are under development and small quantities of other erythromycin biosynthetic intermediates are also currently available in limited quantities.


J. Mark Weber, Ph.D., Founder, President, and Senior Investigator.


Prior to founding Fermalogic in 1991, Mark worked as a senior scientist at Abbott Laboratories for four years where he conducted basic research on the erythromycin-producing bacterium Saccharopolyspora erythraea. While at Abbott, Mark was the lead scientist, and co-inventor with Dr. James McAlpine, of a new antibiotic, 6-deoxyerythromycin. This new antibiotic, which could not be made by the chemical approach, had remarkably improved properties over the parent compound, erythromycin A. Production of this new antibiotic was made possible by genetic engineering technology developed by Mark at Harvard University before coming to Abbott. Mark also worked as Director of Gene Transfer Systems for two years at the biotech firm, ThermoGen (now a part of deCODE Genetics), before focusing full time at Fermalogic. More






Roy K. Wesley, Ph.D., COO, and Senior Investigator.


Dr. Roy K. Wesley joined Fermalogic in 1991 as chief financial officer and business development manager. He is responsible for daily operations, accounting, grant administration, and human resources. Additionally, he assists with laboratory work, reviews scientific papers and manages the patent application process.

Prior to joining Fermalogic Roy was the President and Clinic Director of the National Eye Research Foundation. Previously, he was Clinic Director at Wesley-Jessen, Inc., a contact lens manufacturer which was acquired by Schering Plough and is now a part of Novartis. Roy began his scientific career as a Senior Research Investigator at Pfizer, Inc. leading contract research projects for the National Cancer Institute in virology. He later helped establish the first chemical carcinogenesis laboratory for Pfizer Central Research in Groton, Connecticut.

Roy received his Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the City University of New York and M.S. in cell biology from Wayne State University. Roy also holds an O.D. degree from New England College of Optometry, Boston, MA.

Warren Grayson, J.D., Of Counsel


Warren Grayson has worked with Fermalogic since 2006. Previously Warren held the positions of Deputy General Counsel at the NutraSweet Company, General Counsel at Somera Communications, Inc., and Vice President and General Counsel at Merisant Worldwide, Inc. Warren is a corporate attorney who specializes in corporate governance, product liability, and corporate litigation. He began his legal career as a corporate attorney for Carson Pirie Scott and Company. Currently, Warren is a consultant/solo practitioner providing legal counsel services to individuals and small to mid-size corporations regarding commercial transactions, mergers, acquisitions,and employment law.

Warren graduated with distinction from John Marshal Law School in 1980 and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals.





Fermalogic operates in a two level loft laboratory within the Jane Addams Development Corporation in the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor of Chicago.