In the ongoing battle against cancer, many treatments often fail, leaving patients with recurrent, drug-resistant tumors and little hope. Each year, hundreds of thousands face cancers that do not respond to standard therapies, enduring harsh treatments that may only extend life by a few months while taking a heavy toll on their health and finances. However, a new wave of innovation is emerging in biotechnology labs across the United States. Scientists are developing non-toxic biologic therapies that can overcome drug resistance, stimulate the immune system, and provide real chances for survival.
Leading this promising effort is Anita Davidson, DPT, CEO of Creative BioTherapeutics LLC. After years of experience in physical therapy and healthcare business, she transitioned to biotech leadership. She co-founded Creative BioTherapeutics in 2016 alongside her husband, Dr. Donald Davidson, and took on the CEO role in January 2025. Under her guidance, the company focuses on advancing CBT300, their lead therapy.
This first-of-its-kind biologic has shown encouraging results in preclinical studies, causing tumor shrinkage in cancers such as breast, brain, and melanoma. With a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Rosalind Franklin University and a strong background in growing healthcare businesses like her own Creative Rehab clinic, Anita combines patient-centered dedication with strategic business skills to push forward treatments where others have struggled.
A Journey That Sparked a New Hope in Cancer Care
For many years, Anita Davidson and her husband and co-founder, Dr. Donald Davidson, viewed cancer from different but complementary perspectives. Dr. Donald was focused on discovering new therapies to reduce cancer-related deaths while working in big pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, Anita witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of cancer on patients in her physical therapy clinics. Although both recognized the challenges, they felt limited in their ability to change outcomes – he was frustrated by promising therapies being shelved, and she was only able to offer physical support.
Over several years, Anita persistently encouraged the idea of starting their own biotech company. With her experience in building businesses and his expertise in developing therapies, they finally agreed to establish Creative BioTherapeutics in 2016. Dr. Donald leads the scientific research as Chief Scientific Officer, while Anita focuses on guiding the company’s overall direction as CEO. Drawing on her passion for patient advocacy, business experience, and determination, she is committed to ensuring their innovative therapies reach the patients who need them most.
Leadership & Company Recognitions
Grants Awarded
- National Science Foundation: Phase I, II, IIB
- National Cancer Institute: Phase I
Leadership Honors
- Anita Davidson listed in Marquis Who’s Who 2025
- Upcoming Business Leadership Excellence Award, CXO 2.0 Conference
Industry Recognition
- Named Top 10 Innovative & Disruptive Founders by Kevin Harrington (Shark Tank) in UK Entrepreneur Magazine
- Featured among “10 Best Companies to Watch in 2025” by CEO Viewpoint
Growing Stronger Through Early Challenges
Anita’s leadership journey began years ago when she was a young clinician leading diverse healthcare teams. Gaining the respect and cooperation of team members who were often twice her age, including individuals with MBAs and physicians, was a challenge as she worked to find her voice amid the noise. She recalls one particular moment when she had to summon her confidence to present a plan, developed by her project team, to the hospital’s C-suite executives. The plan aimed to completely reorganize the hospital’s structure with a new focus on the patient.
Although her proposal was not accepted, Anita Davidson reflects, “I carried that learned confidence forward into many subsequent business ventures, realizing that titles, age, and fear really don’t matter, outcomes do.” This experience helped shape her leadership style and strengthened her determination to drive meaningful change.
Early Breakthroughs Offering New Hope for GBM
One of the key reasons for founding Creative BioTherapeutics was to develop a cure for Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. Over the past year, the company has successfully demonstrated the ability to eliminate GBM tumors in mouse studies. Additionally, it observed significant improvements in neurological function and quality of life in a companion canine patient.
Anita Davidson shared, “Our first companion canine ‘patient’ was at death’s door, and within just five doses of our lead therapy over two months, he was able to demonstrate a near-normal neurological and blood chemistry profile.” Although these results are preliminary, they are very encouraging as the company moves closer to beginning human clinical trials. This progress represents a meaningful step forward in its mission to bring effective treatments to patients in desperate need.
Creative BioTherapeutics: Key Facts
- Founded: 2016
- Location: Gurnee, IL
Team Size
- 2 Founders
- 2 Research Associates
- 1 Student Intern
(Total: 5)
Patents Granted
- US #10,905,750: Composition of Matter (>8 anti-cancer & immune therapies)
- US #12,060,410: Methods of Use (virus & cancer)
Patent Pipeline
- International applications (Method of Use & Composition of Matter for virus): 10 countries
- Trademark: Name & logo granted
- In process: Provisional & formal patents (Method of Use, 2nd-gen therapies)
Target Market:
Recurrent, drug-resistant solid tumors
- Primary focus: Metastatic Breast Cancer & Glioblastoma
Working Efficiently to Solve the Hardest Cancer Challenges
Creative BioTherapeutics was established to focus on therapeutic design and research, starting precisely where other treatments fail, which contributes to the poor survival rates seen in many cancer patients. Anita explains, “By understanding cancers’ ‘endgame’ – caused by tumor drug resistance and immune system evasion – our CSO, Dr. Don Davidson, was able to reverse engineer our therapies to attack the disease at its final stage, potentially reversing poor survival outcomes.”
Drawing from her clinical background and experience in healthcare business development, Anita Davidson emphasizes the importance of managing lean budgets, which is quite different from the typical large-scale funding in drug development. She brings this perspective to the biotech field by creating a lean and efficient business model. This approach enables the company to focus on internal work within its fully equipped laboratory while also utilizing contract support when necessary.
To date, Creative BioTherapeutics’ progress has been supported by a combination of private investors and government grants, all at funding levels significantly lower than typical biotech budgets, demonstrating the effectiveness of its unique strategy.
Creating Safer, Affordable, and Effective Therapies
Currently, much of the funding and development in biotechnology focuses on popular and emerging therapies such as AI-designed drugs, precision medicine with CAR-T treatments, antibody-drug conjugates, and combinations of already approved drugs. While these approaches have value, Creative BioTherapeutics takes a different path.
Anita explains, “We are focused on addressing the root causes of drug resistance that continue to contribute to cancer mortality. At the same time, we offer a novel therapy that is non-toxic, has no off-target effects, is easy to produce, and can be marketed at a much lower price than many of the new treatments being developed.”
The company’s mission is to make therapies that are accessible, affordable, and effective, removing cancer’s ability to survive without causing the severe toxicity often seen with conventional treatments. Creative BioTherapeutics aims to establish a new approach for treating recurrent and deadly cancers, opening the door to better outcomes for patients.
A Commitment to Ethical, Responsible Progress
Anita Davidson emphasizes that ethics are fundamental to the type of people an organization is and the legacy it aims to create. She states,“Without ethics in any business, there is no true value. You may get ahead temporarily, but a lack of ethics will eventually catch up.” At Creative BioTherapeutics, keeping the patient at the center of its work ensures that ethical practices and regulatory compliance guide every step.
She adds, “We take to heart the oath of ‘above all, do no harm’ not only in developing our therapies but also in expanding our business relationships.” Anita stresses the importance of honesty, cautioning against making exaggerated or misleading claims. “It might not always be the most exciting approach when speaking with the media or investors, but we prefer to demonstrate our value through results rather than having to backtrack later.”
The company is mindful of the many false hopes created by unproven claims about new cures, which often leave patients and healthcare providers disappointed. By maintaining transparency and integrity, Creative BioTherapeutics aims to build trust and deliver on its promises responsibly.
Recognition from Major Media and Industry Platforms
Creative BioTherapeutics and its CEO, Anita Davidson, have earned coverage in several prominent publications and media outlets. Notable features include a profile in USA Today, which highlights their journey as pioneers in cancer therapy; Success magazine; and CEO Viewpoint, focusing on their breakthroughs in treatment innovation.
Additional recognitions appear in the International Business Times, naming the company a leader against drug-resistant diseases, while Life Science Review designated Creative BioTherapeutics as the Cancer Drug Resistance Company of 2025. Anita Davidson has been featured in a Marquis Who’s Who press release, and she has also appeared on the Xraised Podcast and Close Up TV & Radio.
Open Letter to Emerging Leaders in Biotech
Dear Emerging Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals Entering the Biotech Industry,
For anyone pursuing a passion that leads them into a life as an entrepreneur, realize that the label “entrepreneur” comes after the fact. I have met many people that claim to be entrepreneurial but really, they liked the “sound” of it without really understanding the “work” of it.
Being a leader in any environment requires a dedication to the work regardless how menial it is or how afraid you are to do it. Ask yourself, “am I willing to do every job if feasible, at any time required, for any duration it takes to move this plan from the start position?” If yes, and mean it, you have the potential for success and for others to follow regardless of the industry or the title.
In my career I have frequently succeeded with a title well below the work I was doing. It didn’t matter at the time because I delivered results and ultimately generated high degrees of respect from all levels of the organizations I served. Before the concept of Servant Leadership was coined, I learned through doing and found that true leadership is based on a willingness to support the work and those that are doing it learning from and for them to optimize the process of the work.
In my experience, understanding the full spectrum of the work while also looking to the future for new development opportunities provides the infrastructure to not only build the business but your relationships with those you lead.
On a final note I think it is important to acknowledge that when I was starting out in any new ventures whether designing a class or founding a biotech, my biggest enemy was fear. Fear of being different, of failure, of embarrassment; the typical self-doubt that plagues many women leaders. I have known some women leaders that side stepped the fear and operated in an aggressive style perceived to match their male counter parts. It’s a trap.
When we lose the elements that make us unique leaders either male or female, regardless of the business, we risk losing our effectiveness. Instead of running from the fear, identify it and embrace it to drive you to make a difference one step at a time. Finally, I have been very fortunate to have a partner in my husband that encouraged me beyond my fears and I encourage you to lean on those that support you to let you thrive in all scale of new ventures.
Sincerely,
Anita Davidson, CEO
Creative BioTherapeutics LLC
5 Key Takeaways from Anita Davidson’s Inspiring Impact in Cancer Innovation
- A Mission Rooted in Real Patient Needs: Anita’s shift from physical therapy to biotech leadership stems from her firsthand experiences with patients and her commitment to bringing them better treatment options.
- Breakthrough Progress Against Deadly Cancers: Creative BioTherapeutics’ lead therapy has shown promising early results in shrinking aggressive tumors like Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), offering new hope for patients with drug-resistant cancers.
- A Lean, Efficient, and Purpose-Driven Approach: The company operates with a small team and modest funding, proving that innovation and smart planning can achieve results even without large budgets.
- Commitment to Safe, Affordable Treatments: Its therapies are designed to be non-toxic, low-cost, and widely accessible, tackling cancer without the harsh side effects of traditional treatments.
- Ethical Leadership at the Core: Anita emphasizes honesty, patient-centered decisions, and responsible communication, prioritizing integrity over hype as the company grows.
