Aqeel Fatmi is Global Vice President of Banner's Research & Development and Operations, managing the development, approval of new drugs/line extensions using softgel and SofletT drug delivery technologies as well as manufacturing and launch of new and existing Banner and Customer Products. Dr. Fatmi joined Banner in August, 2000, as Vice President of Product Development in the United States. He now directs Banner's manufacturing activities, pharmaceutical & analytical development, clinical supplies, regulatory affairs, technical services, validation, procurement and engineering activities for Banner's global operations. His strategic focus is to transform Banner as a drug delivery company, using softgel as delivery vehicles for controlled release, enteric, and enhanced absorption of poorly soluble drugs.

Prior to joining Banner, Dr. Fatmi served as a founder of the Georgia Combinatorial Chemistry Center at Georgia State University in Atlanta with a focus to discover small molecule drugs for cancer, HIV, and other infectious diseases. Dr. Fatmi spent the better part of his career spanning many years at Solvay Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Senior Vice President of Research & Development, being responsible for the development, approval, and launch of new drugs.

His professional experience has instilled in him a deep appreciation for the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in today's highly regulated and competitive environment. By heading both the R&D and Operations functions, he is in a unique position to guide the transfer of our products and technologies from R&D through manufacturing and launch of the new products.

Dr. Fatmi holds a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from The University of Georgia, Athens. After graduation Dr. Fatmi was a National Science Foundation Post Doctoral Fellow for one year at The University of Georgia.