Pharma POOL
Dr. Milind DESHPANDE
Achillion Pharmaceuticals Creates VP, Drug Discovery,Position
Achillion Pharmaceu ticals Inc. has promoted Milind Deshpande, Ph.D., to VP of drug dis covery. Achillion, New Haven, Conn., is a privately held pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative small-molecule drugs that combat drug resistance in infectious diseases.
This new role expands Dr. Deshpande’s previous duties as VP of chemistry and includes the oversight of all of Achillion’s drug-discovery efforts, as well as directing the exploration of new infectious disease targets and the identification of important new drug candidates to add to Achillion’s clinical development pipeline.
“In this newly created position, Dr. Desh pande will contribute to the strategic vision for Achillion’s drug-discovery efforts,” says William G. Rice, Ph.D., CEO of Achillion.
Dr. Deshpande has more than 15 years of experience working in infectious diseases. Before joining Achillion, Dr. Deshpande was associate director of lead discovery and early discovery chemistry at the Pharmaceutical Research Institute at BristolMyers Squibb, where he managed the identification of new clinical candidates to treat infectious and neu rological diseases.
Before that, he held a faculty position at Boston University Medical School, where he conducted research on HIV protease and on biological systems involved in regulating blood pressure and inflammation. Dr. Desh pande received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Ohio University, following his under graduate education in India.
Dr. Ronald KRALL
GlaxoSmithKline Names Senior VP, Worldwide Development
Ronald Krall, M.D., has joined GlaxoSmith Kline Plc. as senior VP of worldwide develop ment, research and development. Dr. Krall has global responsibility at the company for clinical development, medical affairs, and regulatory affairs. GlaxoSmithKline is a researchbased pharmaceutical and healthcare company with headquarters in the United Kingdom and operations in the United States.
Dr. Krall has led drugdevelopment pro grams in numerous therapeutic areas during his two decades in the pharmaceutical industry. Since 1992, he has worked in senior R&D management positions at AstraZeneca and one of its predecessor companies, including roles in which he headed global clinical development. Most recently, he was senior VP of U.S. drug development at AstraZeneca, with responsibility for all U.S. clinical and regulatory activities.
Dr. Krall holds a B.A. in mathematics from Swarthmore College and a M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and is board certified in neurology.
Wesley P. WHEELER
ICN Pharmaceuticals Appoints President of North American Operations
ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., a research based global pharmaceutical company located in Costa Mesa, Calif., has appointed Wesley P. Wheeler as president of North American operations. Mr. Wheeler is responsible for the company’s operations in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, where he leads business development and global marketing activities.
Mr. Wheeler has extensive experience in sales and marketing, manufacturing, product management, and business turnarounds. As president and CEO of DSM Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mr. Wheeler led the organization through a complete business turnaround by creating a new leadership team, launching new business metrics, rebranding the company, fulfilling all regulatory obligations, and significantly increasing new business and profitability within one year.
Previously, Mr. Wheeler was the senior VP of logistics and strategy for Glaxo SmithKline Plc., where he was responsible for managing the manufacturing merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, which included a supply network of more than 100 plants in 41 countries.
Mr. Wheeler received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and earned a master of business administration degree from the California Lutheran University.
Biotech POOL
Michael J. ASTRUE
Dr. David D. PENDERGAST
TKT Appoints President and CEO, Promotes Operations VP
Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. has appointed Michael J. Astrue as president and CEO, replac ing Richard F. Selden, M.D., Ph.D. TKT, Cam bridge, Mass., develops and commercializes human proteins for a broad range of diseases, with a focus on rare genetic diseases.
Mr. Astrue, 46, previously served as TKT’s senior VP of administration and general coun sel. He brings two decades of public and private sector experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He has served as chairman of the Massachusetts Biotechnol ogy Counsel and, before joining TKT, was VP, secretary, and general counsel for Biogen Inc. Mr. Astrue also was a partner at the law offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. Mr. Astrue has held several positions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including general counseland served as associate counsel to the President, where he advised and represented former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
TKT also has promoted David D. Pendergast, Ph.D., from senior VP of technical operations, to executive VP of operations. In this newly created position, Dr. Pendergast has line responsibility for a number of key departments, including manufacturing, quality assurance, clinical development, and research.
Dr. Pendergast, 54, has more than 25 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience. Before joining TKT, Dr. Pendergast served as VP of development and quality at Biogen Inc. Dr. Pendergast received a B.A. from Western Michigan University and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.
George DUNBAR
Industry Veteran Joins Targesome as President and CEO
Targesome Inc., a privately held bio pharmaceutical company in Palo Alto, Calif., has named George Dunbar as president and CEO. He also has been elected a member of the Targesome board of directors. Mr. Dunbar is filling the position previously held by company founder Roderick Young, who remains on the Targesome board.
Mr. Dunbar most recently was CEO of Epic Therapeutics, a privately held drug-delivery company, which completed a successful merger with Baxter Healthcare Corp. in 2002. He was a founding member of iCEO, a service provider of executive talent to early stage companies and has served in executive and board roles at several private and public companies in the lifescience field.
Mr. Dunbar received his B.S. and MBA from Auburn University and is a member of its MBA advisory board, College of Business.
In addition, he serves on the board of directors of Metrika, Molecular Probes, Sonus Pharmaceuticals, and Competitive Technologies, as well as the Valley Medical Center Foundation of Santa Clara County Hospital.
Dr. Laurent FISCHER
Auxeris Therapeutics Names CEO
Auxeris Therapeutics Inc., a seed stage biopharmaceutical company locat ed in St. Louis, has appointed Laurent Fischer, M.D., to the position of president and CEO.
Dr. Fischer previous ly served as VP of corpo rate development and chief medical officer of MedVantx Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical supply-chain management company.
Before MedVantx, he was president and chief operating officer of Rxcentric Inc., a pharmaceutical services company.
Dr. Fischer also was senior VP of DuPont Merck Inc. and DuPont Pharmaceuticals, where he launched the breakthrough anti HIV drug, Sustiva. Dr. Fischer received his undergraduate degree from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and his medical degree from the Geneva Medical School, Switzerland. He serves as vice chair of the board of directors of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the world’s largest specialized provider of AIDS healthcare.
Dr. Jerry LANCHBURY
Myriad Genetics Names Senior VP, Research
Myriad Genetics Inc. has named Jerry Lanchbury, Ph.D., senior VP of research and development. Myriad Genetics, Salt Lake City, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel healthcare products.
Dr. Lanchbury oversees all nonpharmaceutical R&D programs. He joined Myriad from King’s College in London, where he was head of the molecular immunogenetics unit at the GKT School of Medicine. Dr. Lanchbury also cofounded Immune Regulation Ltd., a privately held U.K.based company.
Dr. Lanchbury graduated with first-class honors in biology from the University of Aston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. He earned his doctorate in population genetics from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and subsequently completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the United Medical and Dental Schools of the University of London in Human Disease Genetics, where he developed DNA based analysis techniques for investigating the genetic basis of complex diseases with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions.
Dr. Robert J. MORFF
Ondine Biopharma Names President and CEO
Robert J. Morff, Ph.D., has joined Cincinnat-ibased Ondine Biopharma Corp. as president and CEO. Ondine is an early-stage biotechnology company developing innovative new antimicrobial products based upon photodynamic technology patented by and licensed from the Eastman Dental Institute at The University College, London.
Dr. Morff has had a long and distinguished career as an engineer, scientist, research and business manager, and venture capitalist.
Dr. Morff began his professional career as an electrical engineer and transitioned into the field of biomedical research after receiving his Ph.D. in medical physiology. His early research positions were in academia, where he held medical faculty positions at Texas A&M University, The Medical College of Georgia, and The University of North Carolina.
Following his academic career, Dr. Morff held positions of increasing responsibility for research and business management at Becton Dickinson and Co., and later at Eli Lilly & Co. For the past decade, Dr. Morff has been a principal at Senmed Medical Ventures, a private venture capital company. He founded two companies, managed the successful development and launch of several biomedical technologies, and contributed to the selection and management of Senmed’s investments in numerous private companies.
BOX:
GSK VP NAMED HBA’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Dr. Catherine Angell SOHN
Catherine Angell Sohn, Pharm.D., VP of worldwide business development and member of the executive committee at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, has been named the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) 2003 Woman of the Year. The HBA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in the healthcare industry. Dr. Sohn is being honored for her outstanding achievements in business, her demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, and her support for women’s career advancement.
Dr. Sohn is celebrated by her colleagues for her strategic insight, ability to lead and manage change, her skills in negotiation and diplomacy, both within the company and internationally, the courage to take risks, commitment to mentoring, her boundless energy and optimism, and her devotion to family.
Dr. Sohn has won wide recognition for her leadership in positioning GSK Consumer Healthcare as a major force in the global market. She headed the negotiations for the $1.25 billion acquisition of Block Drug and served as co-leader of the acquisition integration. Dr. Sohn also established a successful partnership with Taisho Pharmaceuticals of Japan, and has been responsible for licensing agreements with a number of U.S. and European companies.
“Cathy deserves this recognition for her many industry achievements in business development, marketing, and clinical research as well as her deep personal commitment to helping others,” says Dr. JeanPierre Garnier, CEO of GSK. “She is passion ate about the business of healthcare and the value our industry brings to society.”
Dr. Sohn’s commitment to her professional col leagues is shown in her active participation in several professional organizations. In addition to the HBA Advisory Board, Dr. Sohn serves on the board of directors for both the Con sumer Healthcare Products Association and the World Self Medication Industry Association and is a member of the Licensing Executives Society, American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists, American Pharmaceutical Association, and American College of Clinical Pharmacists. She has received many awards and accolades from her colleagues, including the 2000 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Pharmacy.
Formerly a clinical associate professor of pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Dr. Sohn now serves on the health advisory board of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and the board of overseers of the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy. She has authored six book chapters and 15 publications on infectious dis ease, clinical pharmacy, obgyn, and non-prescription drug topics.
Dr. Sohn studied biochemistry at The University of California, Davis, and received a doctor of pharmacy degree from UCSF.
The HBA has named Catherine Angell Sohn, Pharm.D., VP of worldwide business development at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding achievements in business, demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, and support of women’s career advancement.
Specialty POOL
Duncan HIGGONS
TransForm Pharmaceuticals Creates Chief Commercial Officer Position
Duncan Higgons has joined TransForm Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the newly created position of chief commercial officer, with responsibility for the continued development and expansion of all commercialization initiatives at TransForm, including business development, corporate strategy, and product development.
TransForm Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, Mass., is reinventing the pharmaceutical indus try’s approach to form and formulation, with a novel set of high-through-put, automated plat form technologies, powered by state-of-theart informatics, and a scientific and managerial team with experience in pharmaceuticals.
Mr. Higgons is an industry leader with more than 20 years of commercial experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Most recently, he was senior VP of business development and marketing for Alkermes Inc., where he managed a broad range of functions, including new product identification, portfolio planning, and business development.
Mr. Higgons is a graduate of King’s College, University of London, and received a MBA from London Business School where he was selected by the faculty for an exchange scholarship to the Wharton Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Ralph LANDAU
Bradley Pharmaceuticals Fills VP, Chief Scientific Officer, Position Through Promotion
Bradley Pharmaceuticals Inc., has promoted Dr. Ralph Landau to VP and chief scientific officer. Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Fairfield, N.J., is a specialty pharmaceutical company marketing niche prescription therapies.
Dr. Landau joined Bradley in October 2002 as VP of manufacturing, bringing more than 12 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and management. Before join ing Bradley, Dr. Landau served as director of program management/business development for Elan Pharmaceutical Technologies, where he was responsible for the management of all technical aspects of joint ventures and licensing. Previously, Dr. Landau held the positions of associate director of drug-supply management, associate director of project management, and associate director of process technologies for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Landau serves on the advisory committees for Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Dr. David E. MCCLURE
TargeGen Appoints VP, Regulatory Affairs and Drug Development
TargeGen Inc., San Diego, a vascular biology-focused biotechnology company developing therapies for ischemic diseases and cancer, has named David E. McClure, Ph.D., VP of regulatory affairs and drug development.
Dr. McClure has more than 27 years of industry experience in the regulatory and development fields with companies such as Merck, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, ICI, Molecular Biosystems, and Sibia Neurosciences. Most recently, Dr. McClure served as VP of drug development at Signal Research Division of Celgene.
Dr. McClure earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Stanford University and con ducted post doctoral research at Columbia University before moving into industry. He is an author on 22 scientific publications and is named as an inventor on 20 issued or pending patents.
Emerging POOL
Fraser J. LESLIE
Robert C.SALISBURY
Carl N. SINGER
Viragen Appoints Chairman,and President and CEO
Viragen Inc. has named two members of its board of directors to the company’s top management positions. Carl N. Singer has succeeded Gerald Smith as chairman and Robert C. Salisbury has succeeded Mr. Smith as president and CEO. Mr. Smith continues to serve on Viragen’s board of directors. Viragen, Plantation, Fla., is an emerging biotechnology company specializing in the research, development, and commercialization of natural and recombinant protein-based drugs designed to treat viral and malignant diseases.
Mr. Salisbury has served as a director of Viragen since 1998. His career includes 24 years of service at The Upjohn Co. and Pharmacia & Upjohn, where he held a number of managerial positions, including executive VP and chief financial officer.
Mr. Singer was elected to Viragen’s board of directors in 1997. He has served Viragen in a number of roles, including chairman emeritus, chairman of the executive commit tee, and as a member of the compensation committee. Mr. Singer has served on the board of directors of 31 companies, including leading managerial roles as director, president, and CEO of Sealy Inc., Scripto Inc., and the B.V.D. Co.
As part of the managerial realignment, the company also announced that Fraser J. Leslie has replaced Peter F. Cooper as director of regulatory affairs.
Dr. Robert C. SPIRO
Isto Technologies Appoints R&DVP
Isto Technologies Inc. has appointed Robert C. Spiro, Ph.D., VP of research and development. St. Louis-based Isto is an emerging biotechnology company that seeks to identify, discover, and develop advanced technologies that can lead to proprietary tissue-repair, replacement, and regeneration products.
Dr. Spiro joins Isto with more than 20 years experience in medical research and product development. He leads the development of the company’s cartilage and bone repair products and is exploring new product opportunities.
Most recently, Dr. Spiro was the director of tissue engineering at FibroGen Inc., and previously, he served as the director of bone and cartilage research at Orquest Inc. He has authored or coauthored more than 100 articles and abstracts, and has five issued U.S. patents.
Dr. Spiro received a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, and an under graduate degree in anatomy from McGill University, Montreal.
Device/Diagnostic POOL
Brad CRUTCHFIELD
BioRad Appoints VP of Life Science Business
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., a multination al manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics, has named Brad Crutchfield as VP of its lifescience group. He is responsible for the company’s worldwide lifescience business. Mr. Crutchfield replaces Norman Schwartz, who recently assumed the position of president and CEO. Mr. Crutchfield has held positions of increasing responsibility at BioRad, Hercules, Calif., for 17 years, including senior level operational roles in sales, marketing, and division management. During the past five years as manager of the biomaterials business, he has driven the company’s consumable business to record growth and profitability through the introduction of new products and a heightened focus on operational excellence. Mr. Crutchfield holds a bachelor of science in physiology and nutritional biochemistry from the University of California at Davis.
Ron HADANI
Vision-Sciences Announces Executive Management Changes
Vision-Sciences Inc. has selected Ron Hadani as president and CEO and a member of the board of directors. The company also announced that Fred Silverstein, M.D., has resigned from the company’s board of directors for personal reasons. VisionSciences, Natick, Mass., develops, manufactures, and markets flexible endoscopic products using sterile disposable sheaths.
Ron Hadani has an extensive background in the medical-device industry. He has served as president and general manager of Kontron Medical LLC and as divisional VP of U.S. Surgical Corp. and president and general manager of U.S. Surgical’s Ultrasound Technologies Division. He cofounded and was CEO of Universal Sonics Corp., which was sold to DRS Medical Systems, and was involved early in his career in development of ultrasound products at Johnson & Johnson.
Mr. Hadani has a M.S. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of New York, and B.S.E.E. degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Stephen D.LINEHAN
Mark S. MARTIN
Radiologix Names President and CEO
Radiologix Inc., a national provider of diagnostic imaging services, has named Stephen D. Linehan president and CEO. Dallas-based Radiologix also has announced the resignation of president and chief operating officer, Mark S. Martin, to pursue other opportunities.
Mr. Martin joined Radiologix in 1996 and has been an important part of the company’s growth during the past six years. Mr. Linehan, 52, has worked for more than two decades providing leadership to and man aging the operations of various healthcare organizations.
Most recently, Mr. Linehan served as president and CEO of Rotech Healthcare Inc., a provider of home respiratory care and durable medical equipment and services to patients with breathing disorders.
During his 30-year career, Mr. Linehan has held executive and board-level positions with public and private companies in the healthcare industry, including serving as president of Value Rx Inc., a pharmacy benefits management unit of Value Health Inc.
Mr. Linehan earned a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota and a MBA from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.
Dr. Mark A. TEPPER
Thermogenic Imaging Fills New Chief Scientific Officer Position
Thermogenic Imaging, a manufacturer of bioanalytical instruments used to “measure the heat of life” for drug research and development, has appointed Mark A. Tepper, Ph.D., to the newly created position of chief scientific officer.
Thermogenic Imaging, North Billerica, Mass., was formed to commercialize a new technology for drug discovery developed by GlaxoSmithKline and FLIR Systems Inc. Dr. Tepper oversees the biological aspects of the company’s Thermal Signature Analysis research and development efforts and manages all academic and industry collaborations.
Dr. Tepper has more than 25 years of experience in biomedical research with the past 15 years spent leading small molecule and protein therapeutic discovery and development projects in large pharma and biotech. Dr. Tepper has extensive experience in all phases of drug discovery and early clinical development and has contributed to the discovery and development of a number of drug candidates and marketed drugs. He has authored more than 40 scientific publications in the areas of oncology, immunology, and endocrinology research. He holds six patents.
Most recently, Dr. Tepper was president and CEO of Arradial Inc., a startup biotechnology company that is developing a novel, fully integrated, microfluidic drug-discovery platform.
Dr. Tepper was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry and bio physics from Columbia University and graduated with highest honors from Clark University with a B.A. in chemistry.
Drug-Delivery POOL
Dr. Graham JOHNSON
RibX Pharmaceuticals Creates VP, Discovery,Position
RibX Pharmaceuticals, a small-molecule drug-discovery company focused on the structure-based design of new classes of anti-infective agents, has appointed Graham Johnson, Ph.D., to the newly created position of VP of discovery.
Dr. Johnson comes to RibX, New Haven, Conn., from BristolMyers Squibb, where his 12year tenure included positions such as VP of discovery chemistry for the company’s Wallingford, Conn., facility, and interim VP of neuroscience biology.
Dr. Johnson is named as an inventor on more than 50 U.S. patents and has co authored more than 50 published scientific papers. He received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh, Scot land. In 1975, he was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholarship for postdoctoral study in the United States. Dr. Johnson completed his university education with postdoctoral research at M.I.T. and at Imperial College in London and later at the Research Institute for Medicine and Chemistry in Cambridge, Mass.
CRO POOL
Dr.Steven BARKYOUMB
Covance Strengthens Nonclinical Safety Assessment Management Team
Steven Barkyoumb, DVM, Ph.D., has joined Covance Inc., Princeton, N.J., as the senior director of pathology for North American toxicology services.
Dr. Barkyoumb will be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of clinical and anatomic pathology operations at Covance’s Madison, Wisc., and Vienna, Va., nonclinical development facilities. These facilities contribute to Covance’s global leadership position in providing non clinical contract safety assessment services to the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Barkyoumb joins Covance with more than 18 years of nonclinical safety assessment experience as a toxicological pathologist and toxicologist. Most recently, Dr. Barkyoumb was the executive director of nonclinical drug safety at Quintiles Transnational, where he was responsible for the management and growth of their toxicology, safety pharmacology, and laboratory animal services.
Dr. Barkyoumb holds doctoral and DVM degrees from Kansas State and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the American Board of Toxicology. He has extensive industry experience in toxicological pathology and in the design, con duct, and interpretation of nonclinical safety assessment studies.
Matt BOND
Dr. Michelle HUNTER
Dr. Monika PIETREK
Bucky WALSH
PRA International Promotes Key Managers
PRA International Inc., an international drug-development organization, has announced several senior management promotions as the company continues its global expansion and growth plans. With headquarters in McLean, Va., PRA International is the fifth largest clinical research organization in the world.
Matt Bond has been promoted to senior VP and chief financial officer. Mr. Bond continues to manage all PRA financial and facilities activities and remains based at PRA headquarters.
Bucky Walsh has been promoted to senior VP of business services. Mr. Walsh oversees human resources and recruiting for PRA’s worldwide staff, and ensures the continual updating of PRA’s technology infrastructure. He is based at PRA’s offices in Charlottesville, Va.
Michelle Hunter, Ph.D., has been advanced to VP of business development, and has joined the corporate leadership team. Dr. Hunter manages the business development sales staff globally, and is based in the McLean headquarters.
Monika Pietrek, M.D., has been promoted to VP of global medical and safety services, and has joined the corporate strategy team. Dr. Pietrek continues to be based in Mannheim, Germany.
Dr. Bernard BROWNSTEIN
Dr. Jose DIAZ
David EVANS
Anne HARRIS
Dawn KAMINSKI
Dr. Nancy ROTH
Premier Research Expands Management Team
Premier Research, a division of SCP Communications Inc., has expanded its management team. The Philadelphia-based contract research organization’s management expansion is designed to increase management resources, facilitate responsiveness to client requirements, and add talented members to support planned growth.
Anne Harris, RN, joins the management team as VP of clinical trial management. Ms. Harris has been with Premier Research since 1985. She is a registered nurse with 18 years of clinical research and data-management experience. Ms. Harris has strategic leadership responsibility for the clinical trials manage ment department of Premier Research, including development of standards, systems, processes, training, resource planning, and executive sponsor interaction.
Bernard Brownstein, M.D., director of medical affairs, has joined the management teamDr. Brownstein has been a family doctor for the past 25 years, including board certification five times in family practice. Dr. Brownstein also has worked in the healthcare industry, most recently as a physician advisor for Intracorp, a division of Cigna, and as an associate medical director for U.S. Healthcare for 13 years. Dr. Brownstein received his med ical degree from Hahnemann Medical College.
Also named to the executive team is Jose Diaz, M.D., as executive director of clinical affairs. Dr. Diaz had been VP of scientific and medical affairs for SCP Communications Inc. since 2001. In his position as executive director of clinical affairs, Dr. Diaz is involved in integrating the clinical research of Premier Research with the medical education capabilities at SCP. Dr. Diaz received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He was a research fellow in immunology at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco and subsequently returned to the University of Buenos Aires to complete a residency in pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology with a specialty in HIV/AIDS.
Dawn Kaminski, acting director of clinical data management, also has been chosen as a member of the management team. Ms. Kaminski has held positions of increasing responsibility with Premier Research since she joined the company in 1997. As acting director of clinical-data management, she is responsible for data operations, data management, and programming functions.
Nancy Roth, Ph.D., acting director of bio statistics and medical writing, has joined the management team. Dr. Roth has more than 20 years experience in health management. Before joining Premier Research, she was director of clinical strategic planning and operations for BristolMyers Squibb. She is an adjunct professor at Yale’s School of Medicine and has held research and teaching appointments at Rutgers University and the University of Texas. She holds a Ph.D. in health/organizational communication from the University of Texas, and a master’s degree in economics from Georgetown University.
David Evans, VP of corporate development, is a senior technology and clinical research executive with more than 20 years experience in the clinical research, regulatory services, and healthcare industries. Mr. Evans was one of the original founders of Premier Research in 1984 and the designer of the first electronic new-drug application to the FDA. Mr. Evans’ key responsibilities are to seek and establish new partner ships to expand technology options and grow strategic business interests.
Dr.Raymond E. DAGGER
Dr. Danna ROSS
Cardinal Health Retains Executives to Support Pharmaceutical Development Business
Cardinal Health Inc., a Dublin, Ohio-based provider of products and services supporting the healthcare industry, has added two senior level VPs to the company’s Pharmaceutical Development business, formerly known as Magellan Laboratories. The Pharmaceutical Development business, a full-service pharmaceutical development organization, is an out sourcing partner for the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
Raymond E. Dagger, Ph.D., has been named VP of Synthesis, a group that helps customers accelerate the provision of lead com pounds, analogs, and new chemical entities.
He joins Cardinal Health from Eisai Research Institute, where he served as executive director of chemical development.
Dr. Dagger holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College, an M.A. in organic chemistry from Temple University, and a B.S. in bio chemistry from Temple University.
Dr. Dagger is charged with driving Synthesis’ business growth through the implementation of global strategy.
Danna Ross, Ph.D., has been named VP of inhalation services, which provides inhaled product development for metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, nasal sprays, and solutions and suspensions.
Dr. Ross holds a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Kansas and a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Missouri.
Before joining Cardinal Health, Dr. Ross served as the senior technical manager of U.S. inhalation drug delivery at 3M Drug Delivery Systems.
With more than 10 years of inhaled pharmaceutical experience with 3M working in the area of HFA aerosols, Dr. Ross is expect ed to lead Cardinal Health’s strong inhalation team to achieve rapid revenue growth in this area.
Service POOL
Cheryl BUXTON
Korn/Ferry Names President, Global Healthcare Products Practice
Cheryl Buxton is the new president of glob al healthcare products practice of executive search firm, Korn/Ferry International. Ms. Buxton, based in the firm’s Princeton, N.J. office, has led the North American healthcare products practice since 1997 and specializes in searches in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical device, and clinical research organization sectors. Before joining Korn/Ferry, Ms. Buxton served as human resources director of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom.
Valerie CARROLL
SimStar Appoints Internet Marketing Veteran as VP
SimStar Internet Solutions, Princeton, N.J., a provider of pharmaceutical Internet marketing solutions, has named Valerie Car roll VP of new business development.
In this role, Ms. Carroll is responsible for new client relationships, while communicating SimStar’s mission to help pharmaceutical companies effectively use the Internet to influence and measure positive behavior change in consumer and healthcare professional customers.
Ms. Carroll brings to SimStar 15 years of experience in the areas of new business strategy, development, and account management. Before joining SimStar, she served as VP of sales for Physicians Interactive; and previously spent five years at Quest Communications/Frontier Media, where she was responsible for business development and account management of custom interactive market ing programs and strategic consulting engagements.
Kathryn GALLANT
Dr. Alice LIFTIN
Strategic Marketing Announces Promotions Across the Company
Promotions have been announced at Strategic Marketing Corp., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., an NOP World Health company and wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media Plc. SMC delivers customized programs of high-value strategic research to pharmaceutical and medical product companies.
Kathryn Gallant has been promoted to director of SMC’s Qualitative Institute. Ms. Gallant has more than 15 years experience in marketing research and marketing consult ing/communications.
She joined SMC in 2001 as a senior project director. Before joining SMC, Ms. Gallant worked as an independent consultant in qualitative market research and marketing communications, with a primary focus on pharmaceuticals.
She is a former W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow and a member or the Qualitative Research Consultants Association.
Alice Liftin, Ph.D., has been promoted to senior VP. Dr. Liftin joined SMC in 1996 and has more than 15 years of marketing research experience.
She had been responsible for new product development studies, strategic planning and market segmentation, product positioning, pricing, and forecasting research.
Dave HOLLEY
Stacey SMITH
I-Site Strengthens Design and Account ManagementTeams
I-Site, a Philadelphia-based Internet development and consulting firm specializing in the online marketing of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products, strengthened its design and account management teams by appointing Dave Holley as senior interactive designer and Stacey Smith as account manager.
Mr. Holley provides art direction and design solutions for client Websites and multimedia projects. Previously, he was senior art director at Insight Interactive Group.
He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design from Edinboro University.
Ms. Smith is responsible for managing some of ISite’s healthcare accounts, including Berlex Laboratories and Aware Foundation.
Before joining ISite, she was a project manager at Imirage Inc.
Ms. Smith is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she earned a bachelor of science in business administration with majors in marketing and operations management.
She is working toward a MBA in e-business from the University of Phoenix Online.
Marianne KOCH
Dyann LENSKOLD
Jean LIM Terri SETTEDUCATO
David STEVENS
Thomson Physicians World Promotes Staff Members
Thomson Physicians World has announced staff promotions throughout the organization.
The company, which develops advanced medical education programs for healthcare professionals, is based in Secaucus, N.J.
In the area of program management, program directors Terri Setteduca to and Dyann Lenskold were promoted to the positions of senior pro gram director.
In market research, analyst Jean Lim, of the Thomson Advanced HealthMarket Research division, was promoted to senior market research analyst.
In the editorial department of Thomson Physicians World, senior editor David Stevens has been promoted to managing editor, assigned to the National Diabetes Education Initiative editorial programs.
In addition, account director Marianne Koch was promoted to VP of account management at Thomson Physicians World.
Ms. Koch continues to play a critical role in leading one of the indus try’s most successful and longest running continuing medical education programs, the National Diabetes Education Initiative. In her new capacity, Ms. Koch is responsible for overseeing NDEI content, implementation of numerous program activities, staff training and development, and grantor relationships.
Dana MELTZER
Datamonitor Appoints Managing Director, U.S. Healthcare
Datamonitor Inc., a business information company specializing in industry analysis, has appointed Dana Meltzer to the position of managing director of U.S. healthcare. Data monitor has global headquarters in London and U.S. offices in New York.
Ms. Meltzer brings considerable strategic consulting experience to Datamonitor, and her key responsibility is to provide strategic leadership and management of U.S. healthcare consulting revenue. Her goal is to build on the strong pharmaceutical consulting revenue, ensuring that Datamonitor continues to grow and expands industry penetration.
Ms. Meltzer also brings considerable experience in the healthcare provider and man aged-care sector. Another of her goals is to build Datamonitor’s consulting presence in this sector and expand Datamonitor’s current breadth of industry coverage.
Before joining Datamonitor, Ms. Meltzer was a partner at Deloitte Consulting. While at Deloitte, she was responsible for strategy development and business planning for clients within the provider and managed-care sectors. Ms. Meltzer holds a MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Wellesley College.
Dr. Ronald NARDI
PDI Appoints Chief Scientific Officer
PDI Inc. has named Ronald Nardi, Ph.D., to the newly created position of chief scientific officer. PDI, Upper Saddle River, N.J., is a commercial sales and marketing company pro viding solutions to the biopharmaceutical and medical-devices and diagnostics industries. Dr. Nardi most recently served as chief scientific officer and executive VP of Ferring Group Research and Development.
Dr. Nardi’s 26 years of drug discovery and development include positions with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical Research, Glaxo Inc., and Wyeth Lab oratories Inc.
Dr. Nardi received his B.A. in biology from Temple University and his Ph.D. in pharmacology/toxicology from Rutgers University.
Keith YAGNIK
Harte-Hanks NamesVertical Practice Leader for Retail and Pharmaceutical/Lifescience Markets
To help guide the company’s focused development of integrated online and offline mar keting solutions for the retail and pharmaceutical/lifescience market place, San Antonio-based HarteHanks Inc. has named Keith Yagnik as a vertical practice leader for these markets, a new position inside the company. Mr. Yagnik is based at the company’s New York office.
“Harte-Hanks has a reputation of rolling up its sleeves and getting things done — as a problem-solver, as a solution provider, and on all matters of building, accessing, analyzing, and applying data to extract customer knowledge and execute on that knowledge,” Mr. Yagnik says. “As a vertical practice leader, I will be ensuring that our clients in the retail and pharmaceutical space have tailored offerings that address their most current concerns and needs.”
Mr. Yagnik has served numerous companies in the United States and overseas, including Columbia House, Franklin Mint, IMPUSA, as well as agency assignments at J. Walter Thompson Direct, Ogilvy & Mather Direct, McCann Relationship Marketing, and Lowe Direct, where he had experience on more than a dozen pharmaceutical and retail accounts.
Mr. Yagnik holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Bombay (now called University of Mumbai) and has served as a guest lecturer on database marketing at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Association POOL
Dr. Donald F. SMITH Jr.
Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse Names Interim CEO, Commences Search for Permanent Executive
The board of directors of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), a partner ship to put the region’s lifescience industry on a fast track for growth, has named secretary/treasurer Donald F. Smith Jr., Ph.D., interim CEO as the group commences a national search to fill the position permanently. The position became open when Dennis Yablonsky, the organization’s initial CEO, was selected by Governor Edward Rendell to serve Pennsylvania as Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Dr. Smith has extensive experience in the field of regional economics, beginning his career in economic development with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard and his Ph.D. in public policy at Carnegie Mellon.
Since 2000, Dr. Smith has played a lead role in the team that formed the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and is secretary/treasurer of the organization’s board. He is the University Director of Economic Development for both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and VP for Economic Development of MPC Corp.
Dr. Smith is vice chairman of the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, and he serves on the boards of directors of Innovation Works, the Regional Industrial Development Corp., Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, the Idea Foundry, the First Tee of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project.
Dr. Gillian R. WOOLLETT
BIO Science and Regulatory Department Names Head
A new Science and Regulatory Affairs Department has been established at BIO with Gillian R. Woollett, M.A., D.Phil., as its first VP. BIO, Washington, D.C., represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and related organizations in the United States and 33 other nations.
“Rapid advances in biotechnology and related sciences require a similarly current and responsive regulatory system if scientific breakthroughs are to be transformed into new medicines,” says Carl B. Feldbaum, president of BIO. “This new department will play a critical role in enabling the best and brightest from both industry and government to work together effectively.”
Dr. Woollett most recently was associate VP for biologics and biotechnology at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). At PhRMA, she was responsible for managing policy on research, development, manufacturing, regulatory, and all related issues for biologic medicines. This included therapeutic equivalence, cell and gene therapy, vaccines, and the recent challenges associated with emergency bio-preparedness. She was PhRMA’s liaison to both CBER and CDER at the FDA on biologics issues.
Before joining PhRMA in 1996, Dr. Woollett was the deputy director of special science programs at the American Institute of Biological Sciences in Washington. Dr. Woollett also was a research investigator at the Biomedical Research Institute in Rockville, Md.
She holds a doctorate of philosophy in immunology from the University of Oxford, and a master of arts from the University of Cambridge.
Media POOL
Jody A. CHARNOW
Haymarket Medical Names Editor for Renal Medicine News
Jody A. Charnow has joined New York based Haymarket Medical as editor of Renal Medicine News. Mr. Charnow has more than a decade of experience in medical news gather ing and has served as editor of Internal Medicine World Report and as a managing editor at Medical Tribune.
Renal Medicine News was launched in 2002 to keep nephrologists and urologists abreast of the latest clinical information in their combined fields.
The publication, with a circulation of 17,000, provides reports from major medical meetings in the United States and abroad, as well as government news, articles on legal issues and practice management, and new product information. Renal Medicine News is publishing eight issues in 2003.
Agency POOL
Sara BATZOLD
Topin & Associates Adds to Staff
Topin & Associates, a full-service, Chicago based medical and health care advertising agency, has announced the hiring of Sara Batzold as senior account executive.
At Topin, Ms. Batzold is charged with the management of the Baxter Intercept and Sirius Laboratories accounts. Previously, Ms. Batzold was an account executive at Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer, working on Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa account. Before GSW, she worked at Oden Marketing and Design in Memphis as an account manager on the FedEx and Progressive Insurance accounts. Ms. Batzold graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of arts degree in advertising.
Keith FINCH
Sean HANLON
Stephanie MARSHALL
Ben MEROWITZ
William PICKERING Jr.
Lowe Grob Health & Science Strengthens Agency Resources
Lowe Grob Health & Science, an integrated communications agency specializing in biomedical technologies, has appointed Keith Finch as creative director and Stephanie Marshall as senior account executive. In addition, Boston based Lowe Grob has added several new members to its staff: Sean Hanlon, senior account executive; Ben Merowitz, senior copywriter; and William Pickering Jr., senior art director.
Ms. Marshall has been a key contributor to Lowe Grob since 1999, managing the day-to-day implementation of client marketing communications programs and projects for such clients as Boston Scientific, Zoll Medical, Candela Laser, and Stryker Biotech. Ms. Marshall is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a degree in communications.
Mr. Hanlon, as senior account executive, assumes full program and project management responsibilities for such Lowe Grob clients as Steris Corp. and PDI Medical Devices and Diagnostics, with particular emphasis on product launch and brand-management efforts. Mr. Hanlon is a graduate of Connecticut College.
Mr. Merowitz, as senior copywriter, collaborates with Lowe Grob’s creative, account services, and executive teams in building brands, launching products, and developing client marketing and advertising materials. Mr. Merowitz is a graduate of Colby College.
Mr. Pickering, as senior art director, shares responsibility with the creative director in all aspects of creative strategy, design, and execution. Mr. Pickering is a three-time national award winning associate creative director at ASRI.com.
Michael GENTRY
Roska Direct Hires National Account Director
Michael Gentry has joined Roska Direct as national account director. Roska Direct, Montgomeryville, Pa., is a full service direct-response advertising agency, specializing in both interactive and traditional media. He is responsible for new business development in the healthcare and consumer industries for the $50 million direct-marketing agency.
For more than a decade, Mr. Gentry has worked selling and marketing over-the-counter consumer products and prescription drugs in multiple therapeutic areas, including pain management, women’s health, cardiology, anti-infectives, and gastrointestinal dis eases. As senior account manager at IMS Health Inc., Mr. Gentry was responsible for the successful revenue growth of IMS Health’s data services, helping to drive sales for pharmaceutical brands such as Premarin, Suprax, Percocet, and Lidoder, among others.
Mr. Gentry has a MBA from the Executive Program at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Governor State University in Illinois.
Brian HEFFERNAN
Mark L. RICKARDS
Chris SNELL
Executive Appointments and Promotions at inChord Agencies
Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer, a Columbus, Ohio-based independent healthcare advertising agency and subsidiary of inChord Communications Inc., has tapped Brian Heffernan to lead the company’s consumer marketing business expansion.
Mr. Heffernan, who holds the position of executive VP, is responsible for generating new-business for the group as well as leading the agency’s existing relation ships with consumer clients. As executive VP of GSW’s consumer group, part of Mr. Heffernan’s role is to oversee GSW’s cur rent consumer accounts.
Before joining GSW, Mr. Heffernan spent more than 15 years at J. Walter Thompson in senior business development roles and, most recently, as president of the Chicago office. During his tenure, he was responsible for help ing the agency win many high-profile global marketing assignments. He also had responsibility for managing more than 40 brands ranging from packaged goods to retail to financial services to image-intensive brands.
In addition, Chris Snell has taken on a new role as chief innovation officer at inChord. Mr. Snell, cofounder and for mer president of creative services for GSW, is lead ing inChord’s business development and across companies integration efforts.
As part of Mr. Snell’s new role, he works across the organization to promote integrated working practices and to effectively manage inChord’s growth. Mr. Snell was responsible for creative leadership of GSW until 2002, when he began transferring his responsibilities to Bruce Rooke, who joined the agency from J. Walter Thompson as chief creative officer.
In addition, S.G. Madison, a full-service medical education and marketing company based in Irving, Texas, has named Mark L. Rickards as its chief operating officer.
In his new role, Mr. Rickards is responsible for all aspects of S.G. Madison’s business, including developing and maintaining relationships with clients and leading all internal operations. He directly oversees all of S.G. Madison’s department leaders.
Mr. Rickards has more than 15 years of marketing and sales experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He joins S.G. Madison from AstraZeneca, where, in addition to his work on Iressa, he served as group director with responsibility for product strategy, development, and commercialization of the products in its prostate cancer portfolio, including Zoladex and Casodex. He also held a variety of other roles at AstraZeneca in marketing, product management, sales, and sales training.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and entrepreneurship from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Jules KORZENIOWSKI
CommonHealth’s Conectics Group Names President
The Conectics Group, CommonHealth’s health care research, planning, development, and media services unit, has appoint ed Jules Korzeniowski to president. Common Health is a leading health-care communications resource and a WPP Group company.
Mr. Korzeniowski began his career at The Conectics Group in August 2000 as executive VP and managing director. Before his promotion to president, he supervised the day-to-day business of the unit as executive VP and general manager.
Before joining The Conectics Group, Mr. Korzeniowski was employed with Torre Lazur McCann Healthcare WorldWide, as executive VP and associate creative director of copy. He also served as president of Thunder House Healthcare, an in-house, digital development company he cofounded at Torre Lazur.
Joseph POGGI
Julia RALSTON
DVCWorldwide Announces Appointments
DVC Worldwide, a marketing, communications, and technology-solutions agency based in Morristown, N.J., has named Julia Ralston to the position of president of DVC Worldwide Healthcare, and Joseph Poggi to the position of managing director of DVC ActiveCare.
Ms. Ralston has assumed responsibility for the growth of DVC Worldwide’s overall health care business in North America and the United Kingdom, while continuing in the role of president of DVC HealthCare Communications.
Mr. Poggi is responsible for managing all of DVC ActiveCare’s North America business and will report to Ms. Ralston. He has been a senior member of this practice area since 1998.
Please send your personnel announcements to [email protected].
