Leonard Mazur - CEO, and Chairman of Citius Pharmaceuticals

Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Leonard Mazur, a powerhouse in the pharmaceutical industry with over five decades of experience building and leading successful companies. Leonard is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Citius Pharmaceuticals, a company at the forefront of critical care innovations. Having personally invested nearly $23 million into Citius, Leonard is deeply committed to its mission, most recently, preparing for the launch of Lymphir, the company’s first FDA-approved treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We dive into Leonard’s remarkable journey, from his early days as an entrepreneur to his leadership in transforming Citius Pharma into a commercial-stage company. He shares key lessons from his career, the challenges and strategies behind bringing a new drug to market, and how he and his team identify breakthrough opportunities in the pharmaceutical space. Beyond business, Leonard is also passionate about giving back. While he and his wife Helena made a $5 million donation to Temple University to support future business leaders, they’ve donated even more to their high school alma mater, demonstrating their deep commitment to education and mentorship. In our conversation, he reflects on why giving back is so important and what it takes to build a successful company in a highly regulated industry. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Citius Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CTXR), with a personal investment of nearly $23 million in the company. • Preparing to launch Lymphir, the company’s first FDA-approved drug for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. • Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, awarded to those who immigrated to the U.S. and showed outstanding commitment to serving the country • Philanthropist who donated $5 million to Temple University and a similar amount to his alma mater, West Catholic High School, to support education and mentorship for future leaders. • Over five decades of experience in building and leading successful healthcare companies • Co-Founder and Chairman of Leonard-Meron Biosciences, Inc. prior to its merger with Citius in 2016 • Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Akrimax Pharmaceuticals, LLC • Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Triax Pharmaceuticals LLC (2005-2012) • Founder and CEO of Genesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was sold to Pierre Fabre in 2003 • Extensive experience in sales, marketing, and business development from roles at Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation, ICN Pharmaceuticals, Knoll Pharma (a division of BASF), and Cooper Laboratories How to connect with Leonard Mazur • https://citiuspharma.com/home/default.aspx • https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-mazur-4a8222177/ Show Notes [1:40] Brief intro on Leonard and how he got to where he is today. [13:49] The personal investment of nearly $23 million into Citius Pharma and the deep commitment to the company's mission. [15:53] The preparations for the commercialization of Lymphir and the strategies in place to ensure it reaches the patients who need it most. [18:26] The process of identifying and evaluating new opportunities in the pharmaceutical space. [20:36] Upcoming developments and innovations at Citius Pharma and what’s next for the company. [24:13] The importance of philanthropy and mentorship, and the motivation behind a generous $5 million donation to Temple University to support future business leaders, as well as significant contributions, equal to or exceeding that amount, to West Catholic High School. [27:47] How to connect with Leonard and learn more about Citius Pharma [28:10] Essential qualities for entrepreneurs aiming to build successful companies in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices