ANAC

Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

A biopharmaceutical company that built its medicines on an unusual ingredient — the element boron — to treat fungal, bacterial, and inflammatory skin conditions. Its first approved product was Kerydin (tavaborole), a topical antifungal for toenail fungus, prescribed by doctors. Founders Lucy Shapiro and Stephen Benkovic stumbled onto boron's medicinal potential almost by accident while hunting for new antibiotic targets, and Pfizer later acquired the company.