Patrick Soon-Shiong
Encyclopedia
Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-American
surgeon who was founder, chairman, and CEO
of Abraxis BioScience
, a biotechnology
company developing cancer treatment. He is co-developer of the metastatic
breast cancer
treatment drug Abraxane.
In October 2010, he bought a stake in the Los Angeles Lakers
. He also sold Abraxis at this time.
to Chinese
immigrant parents, who fled from China during World War II
. He graduated from high school at age 16 and received his medical degree at age 23 from the University of Witwatersrand, finishing fourth out of 189. After finishing his internship at Johannesburg’s General Hospital, Dr. Soon-Shiong earned a Master of Science
degree from the University of British Columbia
, where he was the first resident to receive multiple research awards simultaneously from the American College of Surgeons
, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American Association of Academic Surgery. He then moved to the United States
where he initiated his surgical training at University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), became a board-certified surgeon both as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
estimated his fortune at $5.2 billion, ranking him #195 among billionaires.
Soon-Shiong founded American Pharmaceutical Partners (APP) in 1997. On July 7, 2008 it was reported that Soon-Shiong, who owns more than 80 percent of APP, agreed to sell his stake to Fresenius SE for $3.7 billion.
In 2010, Soon-Shiong sold Abraxis BioScience to Celgene
in a $2.9 billion cash-and-stock deal. Soon-Shiong is on the Board of Advisors of RAND Health, is the Executive Director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute, was a visiting professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics and a visiting professor of bioengineering at UCLA in 2009, is Chairman of the National Coalition for Health Integration, is on the Board of Directors of the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation, and is on the board of directors for the Technology Council for the Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Northwestern University
. In September 2011, he made a multi-million donation to the University of Southern California
Engineering School.
Soon-Shiong acquired a 4.5% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers
in 2010, buying the shares of Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
South African-American
A South African American refers to a people who live in the United States and who originate from South Africa. There are 45,569 people today in the United States who claim South African ancestry...
surgeon who was founder, chairman, and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Abraxis BioScience
Abraxis BioScience
Abraxis BioScience is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to meeting the needs of critically ill patients, with over 2000 employees worldwide.-Description:...
, a biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
company developing cancer treatment. He is co-developer of the metastatic
Metastasis
Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...
breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
treatment drug Abraxane.
In October 2010, he bought a stake in the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He also sold Abraxis at this time.
Early life
Soon-Shiong was born in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
immigrant parents, who fled from China during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He graduated from high school at age 16 and received his medical degree at age 23 from the University of Witwatersrand, finishing fourth out of 189. After finishing his internship at Johannesburg’s General Hospital, Dr. Soon-Shiong earned a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, where he was the first resident to receive multiple research awards simultaneously from the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American Association of Academic Surgery. He then moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he initiated his surgical training at University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA), became a board-certified surgeon both as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Career
Soon-Shiong joined the faculty of UCLA Medical School in 1983. He left UCLA in 1991 to start VivoRx, a diabetes research firm. In 2011 ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
estimated his fortune at $5.2 billion, ranking him #195 among billionaires.
Soon-Shiong founded American Pharmaceutical Partners (APP) in 1997. On July 7, 2008 it was reported that Soon-Shiong, who owns more than 80 percent of APP, agreed to sell his stake to Fresenius SE for $3.7 billion.
In 2010, Soon-Shiong sold Abraxis BioScience to Celgene
Celgene
Celgene Corporation is a manufacturer of drug therapies for cancer and inflammatory disorders. It is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Summit, New Jersey...
in a $2.9 billion cash-and-stock deal. Soon-Shiong is on the Board of Advisors of RAND Health, is the Executive Director of the UCLA Wireless Health Institute, was a visiting professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics and a visiting professor of bioengineering at UCLA in 2009, is Chairman of the National Coalition for Health Integration, is on the Board of Directors of the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation, and is on the board of directors for the Technology Council for the Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. In September 2011, he made a multi-million donation to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Engineering School.
Soon-Shiong acquired a 4.5% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 2010, buying the shares of Earvin "Magic" Johnson.