Patrick Soon-Shiong: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:59, 16 February 2025

Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-American surgeon, medical researcher, businessman, and philanthropist. He is the inventor of the drug Abraxane, which became known for its efficacy against lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer. Soon-Shiong is the founder of NantWorks, a network of healthcare, biotech, and artificial intelligence startups. He is also the owner of the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Early life and education[edit]

Soon-Shiong was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Chinese immigrant parents who fled from China during the Japanese occupation in World War II. He completed his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand and his surgical residency at the University of British Columbia.

Career[edit]

Soon-Shiong joined the UCLA Medical School faculty in 1983, where he performed the first full pancreas transplant and developed the first encapsulated human islet transplant and the first pig to man islet cell transplant in diabetic models.

In 1991, he founded a biotechnology firm called Abraxis BioScience. The company developed the drug Abraxane, which is used in the treatment of breast cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Abraxis BioScience was sold to Celgene in 2010.

In 2011, Soon-Shiong founded NantWorks, LLC. The company encompasses businesses across multiple sectors, including healthcare, biotech, and artificial intelligence.

In 2018, Soon-Shiong purchased the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Philanthropy[edit]

Soon-Shiong has made significant contributions to various causes, including healthcare, education, and the arts. He has pledged to give away at least half of his wealth to philanthropy, following the Giving Pledge campaign by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

Personal life[edit]

Soon-Shiong is married to Michele B. Chan, an actress and former television news anchor. They have two children and reside in Los Angeles, California.