John Crowley, a New Jersey biotech executive and the inspiration for a Hollywood feature film, appears to be moving toward a GOP Senate run.

Crowley this week disclosed plans to leave his role as CEO of Amicus Therapeutics “to devote more time to interests related to public policy, civic service, and philanthropic endeavors.”

GOP officials in Washington, D.C., think Crowley has the personal wealth and biography to become an instant contender in the 2012 race against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

Amicus Therapeutics announced that Crowley will transition from chairman and CEO to executive chairman of the biotech company that he helped to create in part to research the rare disease that threatened the lives of his young children. His story is captured in the 2010 Hollywood film “Extraordinary Measures,” which stars Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford.

“John is an extraordinary leader for Amicus and a champion for the rare disease community,” Donald Hayden Jr., lead independent director of Amicus, said in a statement. “He has developed an outstanding management team at Amicus and we look forward to continuing to work closely with John during his term as executive chairman. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish John great success.”

The company announcement notes that Crowley will serve as executive chairman and a member of the board of directors until October 2011, with a possible extension for up to three months.

That timeline, of course, would give Crowley plenty of time to run a competitive race.

Roll Call Politics rates Menendez’s race as Leans Democratic.