Dr. Shan started CVT with a colleague in 1992 as a University of Alberta spin-off company with the goal to combine western medical research and traditional herbal medicine. The company’s success caps a decade of R&D at a cost of roughly $20 million. The transformation from a company that burns money into a company that makes money came when Dr. Shan, who had been Chief Scientific Officer, took over the reins as CEO in 2003. CVT was recently ranked 16th on Alberta Venture’s list of the top 100 performing public companies in Alberta.

Currently CVT markets six products. Its number two lead remedy, REMEMBER-fX, treats memory loss. Other products – CELL-fX, MENTA-fX, and PRESSURE-fX – deal with conditions such as cardiovascular and joint disorders. The company is significantly increasing its scientific capabilities to further support its products through clinical trials.