Title: 1) Owner; 2) Founding Partner and Head of Chemical Sciences; 3) Founding Member and Head of Chemical Sciences; 4) Founding Partner
Company: 1) Garst Pharma LLC; 2) Akrivista LLC; 3) Whitecap Therapeutics; 4) PharmaChem Associates LLC
Location: Newport Beach, California, United States
Michael E. Garst, Owner at Garst Pharma LLC, Founding Partner and Head of Chemical Sciences at Akrivista LLC, Founding Member and Head of Chemical Sciences at Whitecap Therapeutics, and Founding Partner at PharmaChem Associates, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
Dr. Garst’s illustrious career in the pharmaceutical industry is marked by his strategic roles and innovative contributions, spanning over a decade. As the owner of Garst Pharma LLC in Newport Beach, California, he continues to influence the field with his area of expertise.
In addition to his work at Garst Pharma LLC, Dr. Garst has been instrumental as a founding member and head of chemical sciences at Whitecap Therapeutics since 2015, where he is working to develop a prescription drug for glaucoma. He has also been a founding partner and head of chemical sciences at Akrivista LLC since 2015, where he has been leveraging his expertise to design an over-the-counter ophthalmology product. Additionally, Dr. Garst has been serving as a founding partner at PharmaChem Associates LLC, a consulting company, since 2015. All three of the companies are based in Orange County, California.
Dr. Garst’s professional trajectory included significant roles, such as the founding partner of Winston Pharmaceuticals, which was rebranded as Alevium Pharmaceuticals, from 2008 to 2014, following his role as a senior vice president of chemical sciences at Allergan plc from 2004 to 2015. Affiliated with Allergan plc for more than 30 years, he was first appointed as the section manager of synthetic chemistry in 1983 before being named the director of chemical sciences between 1987 and 1989, and as the vice president of chemical sciences for another 15 years, until 2004.
At Allergan, Dr. Garst played a crucial role in developing new drugs and managing chemical production for clinical trials. His leadership extended to overseeing a team of chemists whose work was integral to the company’s research pipeline until internal operations were restructured following Actavis’s acquisition of Allergan.
Early in his career, Dr. Garst dedicated 1976 to 1984 to the classroom as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla. He also served on the scientific advisory board at the University of California, Irvine, for 10 years, from 1989 to 1999, and held similar roles at the University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Fullerton.
Dr. Garst’s journey began with a pivotal decision during his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where Dr. Peter Beak inspired him to pursue chemistry over medicine. This choice led Dr. Garst to earn a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, with honors, in 1969. Furthering his education, he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in organic chemistry from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1973. He then completed postdoctoral research at both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University under esteemed mentors Daniel Schaeffer Kemp and William Summer Johnson. From there, Dr. Garst obtained a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, in 1987.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Garst has been an active member of several prestigious organizations, such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where he is a fellow. He is also affiliated with the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Dr. Garst’s contributions to science are underscored by his prolific inventorship, holding over 200 U.S. patents, including those related to Lumigan and cyclosporine compounds. As a respected scientist, he has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications that have been foundational in the field of chemistry.
Throughout his career, Dr. Garst has witnessed significant changes in the scientific landscape, including shifts in federal support for science in the U.S. He remains committed to fostering innovation and adapting to these evolving trends. Dr. Garst’s advice to aspiring scientists emphasizes finding environments that align with one’s values and adapting to the modern landscape of scientific careers, where change is constant yet offers opportunities for growth and development.
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