Countervail Corporation

About Us

The Countervail Corporation

Countervail Corporation was formed in June 2007 to commercialize galantamine as an antidote to pesticide poisoning and volatile nerve gas.

Product development studies over the years have consistently demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of Countervail’s drug technology.  As a compliment, the company recently added and is developing a novel diagnostic test technology  for the detection of exposure to these toxins.

As a result of its success in the biotechnology industry, Countervail has garnered the support of federal funding, through grants and contracts, which it applies to the continued development of its drug and diagnostic technologies projects.

Countervail’s technologies are protected by issued and pending patents worldwide.

Management

Mr. G. William Basinger Jr., Chief Executive Officer And President
Mr. Basinger brings more than 30 years of experience in biotechnology, business development, sales and marketing to the Countervail team. He is an expert in new technology acquisition/licensing, strategic and market planning, new product introduction, project management, market research, market assessment, sales force and marketing organization management, and distribution networks development. Mr. Basinger has held executive management positions at several large corporations, such as Becton Dickenson, Pharmacia, Analytab (division of American Home Products) and bioMérieux, as well as at a number of small, start-up organizations that include global responsibilities. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and holds a Master of Science degree from the University of North Carolina.
Dr. Richard Gammans, Ph.D., MSM; Director of Drug Development
Dr. Gammans brings more than 30 years of drug experience to Countervail in all areas of pharmaceutical development, including CNS dug development. He has successfully directed corporate research and development departments, developed seven new molecular entities and obtained 50 national marketing authorizations with seven approved NDAs while working for companies such as MediciNova, INCARA, Bristol-Myers Squib and others.
Dr. Kristin Clement, Ph.D., Product Development Specialist

Prior to joining the Countervail team, Dr. Clement worked for more than a decade at Battelle Memorial Institute, a contract research organization, developing a myriad of biodefense/CBRNE/medical countermeasures in a cGXP/ICH environment. At Battelle, she served 11 years as a study director overseeing numerous studies compliant with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements that provided data for FDA filings. These research projects focused on designing novel assays, validation studies, analyzing multi-factorial data, interpreting complex statistical reports, and preparing reports and manuscripts. Her education in cell and molecular biology, coupled with more than 19 collective years of ligand binding assay development and validation, is strongly supportive of the diagnostic test development effort. Her career includes 14 years of experience working in the government contract research arena which has provided her with insight into project management, specifically how to deliver timely, on-budget deliverables that fit within the scope of the project.

She has been recognized as a Subject Matter Expert on anthrax and Ebola virus ligand binding assays (ELISA, ECL and cell based toxin neutralization assays), served on a validation committee at Battelle’s Biomedical Research Center, and was the principal investigator that led efforts to produce and qualify a critical reagent repository to support assay work requiring rare reagents for biothreat assays. Also, as study director in a GLP lab, Dr. Clement became adept at developing novel protocols (including IACUC and IRB approved protocols), supervising technical staff, evaluating research data, preparing technical reports, interacting with QA, monitoring safety and training, and liaising project timelines and budgets with management and sponsors.

Dr. Edna F.R. Pereira, PhD, PharmD(eq)
, Principle Investigator/Technical Consultant
Dr. Edna Pereira earned her Pharm D (eq.) degree at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in 1987 and her PhD from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1996.  Dr. Pereira has extensive experience in the fields of molecular, cellular and animal pharmacology and toxicology.  In Dr. Edson Albuquerque’s laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, she received training in neuropharmacology and toxicology.  In 1999 she joined the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has worked closely with Dr. Albuquerque in testing the effectiveness of galantamine in reducing the neurodegeneration triggered by different insults.  Dr. Pereira has been a key collaborator in demonstrating galantamine’s ability to prevent the neurodegeneration induced by organophosphorus insecticides and nerve agents. She currently directs the Translational Toxicology Laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Robert Schiff, Ph.D., RAC, CQA, Regulatory Consultant

Dr. Schiff is founder and CEO of Schiff & Company, a 26-year-old regulatory affairs, compliance and clinical research organization. Prior to founding Schiff & Company, Dr. Schiff served with a number of companies, including the Warner Lambert Company as group vice president of Diagnostics Research and Development; Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. as director of the Department of Diagnostic Research and Product Development; the J. T. Baker Chemical Company (Richardson-Vicks) as director of Research & Development for the Diagnostics Division; the Hyland Division Travenol Laboratories (Baxter) as manager of Serology Research; and as an assistant professor in the Department of Anatomy at Tufts University’s Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine.

Dr. Schiff has authored more than 50 publications and holds several patents on medical products. He received his bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York, a master’s degree from Iowa State University, and his doctorate from the University of California at Davis. He was a member of the Graduate Business faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University and also lectures on International Business and Compliance with FDA rules and regulations. He serves on the boards of several companies, is a member of the Editorial Board of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society and is listed in Marquis’ “Who’s Who in America,” “Who’s Who in the World,” “Who’s Who in the East,” “Who’s Who in Science & Engineering” and “American Men of Science.” Dr. Schiff is board certified in regulatory affairs and is a Certified Quality Auditor.