Marvin Caruthers’ forte: Converting lab research into commercial ventures

BOULDER — Chances are when you come across a successful biotech company in the Boulder Valley, Marvin Caruthers had a hand in it.

So said Kyle Lefkoff, partner with Boulder Ventures Ltd., who has worked with Caruthers for about 15 years.

Lefkoff couldn’t be happier to see Caruthers, professor of biochemistry and bio-organic chemistry at the University of Colorado at Boulder, win the Boulder Chamber of Commerce’s 2003 Esprit Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement award.

The two have collaborated on launching numerous biotech startups from old-timers Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc. and NeXstar Pharmaceuticals Inc. to youngsters Dharmacon Research Inc. and Array BioPharma Inc.

The relationship…