Pharma POOL
William GARBARINI Jr.
Ferring Promotes Head of Orthopedics and Urology Business Ferring Pharmaceuticals has promoted William Garbarini Jr. to VP of its orthopedics and urology business unit, recently formed by the merging of these clinical product areas. Mr. Garbarini was formerly executive director of Ferring’s orthopedics business unit. Mr. Garbarini is responsible for Ferring’s two marketed products: Euflexxa, for the pain caused by knee osteoarthritis; and Prosed DS, for the relief of discomfort of the lower urinary tract. He also has responsibility for overseeing U.S. sales and marketing of Ferring’s pipeline of urology products. Dr. Michael KAMARCK Charles PORTWOOD Wyeth Makes Executive Changes in Technical Operations, Product Supply Wyeth has promoted Michael Kamarck, Ph.D., to president, technical operations and product supply, from his previous position of executive VP, TO&PS. Dr. Kamarck is responsible for all aspects of technical operations and product supply for Wyeth. He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Kamarck succeeds Charles Portwood, who has been appointed executive VP, TO&PS operational excellence, with responsibility for support improvement and standardization efforts across the Wyeth manufacturing network. Dr. Elizabeth MUTISYA Solvay Appoints Medical Affairs Chief Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Brussels-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals, has named Elizabeth Mutisya, M.D., VP of U.S. medical affairs and chief medical officer. Dr. Mutisya leads the company’s medical affairs functions and provides strategic counsel for all medical and scientific issues affecting Solvay in the United States. Dr. Mutisya was previously VP of medical affairs for Cephalon. She holds an M.D. cum laude from Harvard Medical School and an MBA in finance and management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Mutisya recently was president of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association. Dr. Mervyn TURNER Merck Taps VP for Chief Strategy Officer Post Merck has named Mervyn Turner, Ph.D., Merck Research Laboratories’ senior VP, worldwide licensing & external research, to the additional post of chief strategy officer. In this newly created role, Dr. Turner coordinates with Merck’s executive committee to formulate the company’s long-term strategic plans, focusing on ensuring the enterprise strategy aligns with the business plans of franchises, divisions, and functions. Dr. Turner has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Sheffield. Biotechnology POOL Dr. Carlos PAYA Mary STUTTS Executive Changes at Elan Carlos Paya, M.D., Ph.D., has joined neuroscience-based biotechnology company Elan as president. In this role, Dr. Paya is leading the continued integration of its research and development teams. He also is responsible for Elan’s commercial and marketing functions, with a primary focus on strategic planning, marketing positioning, and product life-cycle management. Dr. Paya joins Elan after seven years at Eli Lilly, where he was most recently VP, Lilly Research Laboratories and global leader of the diabetes and endocrine platform. In other moves, Elan has appointed Mary Stutts to the newly created position of senior VP and head of corporate relations, with direct responsibility for public policy positioning and communications; patient advocacy strategy and relations; internal and employee communications, including Elan’s Web communications efforts; and external communications, including all media, brand, and positioning activities. Dr. Thomas WESSEL Acorda Selects Medical Chief Acorda Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing therapies for spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and related nervous system disorders, has appointed Thomas Wessel, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer. Dr. Wessel is responsible for the company’s clinical development and operations, regulatory affairs, biostatistics, data management, and drug-safety functions. Dr. Wessel was previously senior VP of clinical research of Sepracor. He received an M.D. from the University of Munich School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in experimental neurobiology from the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. Norrie RUSSELL New President at NovaRx NovaRx, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel cell-based therapeutic vaccines for cancer, has appointed Norrie Russell, Ph.D., president and chief operating officer. Dr. Russell was previously president and CEO of Kalos Therapeutics. He received a Ph.D. in physiology from Glasgow University. Dr. Santosh VETTICADEN Cubist Appoints Chief Medical Officer Santosh Vetticaden, M.D., Ph.D., has joined Cubist Pharmaceuticals as senior VP, clinical development, and chief medical officer. Dr. Vetticaden had been consulting since leaving his position as senior VP and chief medical officer at Maxygen in August 2008. Cubist is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs in the acute-care environment. Specialty POOL Dr. Roger Garceau New R&D Chief at NPS NPS Pharmaceuticals, a developer of specialty therapeutics for gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders with high-unmet medical needs, has named Roger Garceau M.D., FAAP, senior VP, research and development, and chief medical officer. Dr. Garceau replaces Alan Harris, M.D., Ph.D., who remains a scientific advisor to NPS. Dr. Garceau spent six years with Sanofi-Aventis, most recently serving as VP of its new products group. A board-certified pediatrician, he holds a doctorate of medicine from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Emerging POOL Dr. David BEARSS SuperGen Promotes Science Chief SuperGen, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel cancer therapies, has promoted David Bearss, Ph.D., to chief scientific officer. Dr. Bearss continues to lead SuperGen’s discovery and preclinical development strategies and execution, as well as overseeing target selection, product creation, and early-stage development efforts. Dr. Bearss has been with SuperGen since its 2006 acquisition of Montigen Pharmaceuticals, of which he was scientific leader and cofounder. He received a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Todd WALKER Interleukin Genetics Appoints Marketing VP Interleukin Genetics, a healthcare company specializing in the development of genetic biomarker tests for sale to the emerging personalized health market, has named Todd Walker VP, marketing. Mr. Walker was previously the worldwide marketing director for Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon business. He earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Association POOL John HENDRIX Safe-BioPharma Names Program Director John Hendrix has been named program director, member and vendor relations, for Safe-BioPharma Association, the nonprofit association that created and manages the digital identity and digital signature standard for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Mr. Hendrix has responsibility for attracting members and vendor-partners and participates in marketing digital identity assurance and digital signature services among member companies. Mr. Hendrix most recently served as a contract marketing executive with Schering-Plough and Merck. He received an M.S. in international business and an MBA in management, both from Seton Hall University, and an M.S. in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Agency POOL Adam CALLOW Scott GANDY Lynne MORRIS Wendy SILVERMAN Christopher STEELE AbelsonTaylor Expands Account Services Area Independent healthcare advertising agency AbelsonTaylor has made several new hires to service its growing number of accounts. As an account supervisor, Adam Callow is working on a consumer nutritional supplement for AbelsonTaylor. Mr. Callow was most recently account director at J. Walter Thompson. Scott Gandy has rejoined AbelsonTaylor as a West Coast-based account supervisor managing products in the ophthalmic area. He returns after a four-year stint at Regan Campbell Ward. Lynne Morris has been appointed senior account supervisor on a consumer nutritional supplement account. She was most recently account supervisor at Williams-Labadie. As an account supervisor for AbelsonTaylor, Wendy Silverman is working on a nutritional supplement to help diabetes patients manage their condition. Previously, Ms. Silverman was account director, marketing, for Digitas. Christopher Steele has been promoted to account executive from assistant account executive. In his new position, Mr. Steele is working on products in the fields of oncology and HIV/AIDS. Julie DONOVAN Beth GRICCO Leslie MCGUIRE Linda PENNEY Steve SCALLY New Hires at Cadient Group Interactive healthcare marketing agency Cadient Group has expanded its capabilities with several key new hires. Julie Donovan has been named group account director, with responsibility for managing multiple account teams as well as contributing to senior management, operations, and business development activities. Ms. Donovan was previously responsible for digital and multichannel programs at Harte-Hanks. As strategic engagement director, Beth Gricco is the strategic lead on one of Cadient’s client teams. Before joining Cadient, Ms. Gricco was a strategic account director at TMX Communications. Leslie McGuire has joined Cadient as director of consumer relationships. Ms. McGuire was most recently VP/management director at DraftFCB. Linda Penney has been appointed associate copy director, with responsibility for leading Cadient’s content development team and managing the content development process. Previously, Ms. Penney served as the creative copy director at Bergey Creative Group. As art director, Steve Scally provides creative direction for Cadient’s digital marketing programs. Previously, Mr. Scally was the art director of marketing/advertising at PointRoll. Jenny FUKS Paul LAWSON Diane MARTIN Carmen MCMONAGALE Hue NGUYEN Hope SACKIN Centron Expands Headquarters Staff Medical communications agency Centron, a HealthSTAR Communications company, has announced several additions to its recently expanded New York headquarters. Jenny Fuks has been appointed medical editor. Ms. Fuks was most recently an editorial assistant of The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Paul Lawson has been named creative supervisor. Mr. Lawson most recently served as a senior copywriter with AgencyRx. Diane Martin has been appointed associate creative director. Ms. Martin was previously a VP, group creative director, of Metaphor. Carmen McMonagale has joined Centron as VP, account group supervisor, from Pfizer Australia, where she worked in brand management. Hue Nguyen has joined Centron as senior account executive from Sudler & Hennessey, where she was an account executive. Hope Sackin has been named senior art director. Ms. Sackin was previously senior art director/studio manager of HealthSTAR agency Leverte Associates. Consulting POOL Dr. Susanne MICHEL Mark SALES TNS Healthcare Expands Global Portfolio Team Market research consultancy TNS Healthcare has announced two appointments to its global portfolio group. Susanne Michel, M.D., has been named global practice leader, market access, pricing, and reimbursement. In this role, Dr. Michel provides market research consulting solutions. Mark Sales has been appointed global practice leader, stakeholder management, with responsibility for working with clients to enhance corporate reputation and maximize sales efficiency, productivity, and performance of the practice. Mr. Sales was previously a senior territory business manager at Novartis. CRO POOL Dr. Andreas DREPS Dr. Ralf WOLTER AAIPharma Strengthens Global Clinical Development Services Team AAIPharma has appointed Andreas Dreps, Ph.D., senior VP, global clinical development services. Dr. Dreps has more than 15 years of drug development experience including leading the oncology therapeutic area for global CRO Icon. He obtained a Ph.D. following research at the Max Planck Institute and Stanford University. In addition, Ralf Wolter, Ph.D., has joined AAIPharma as VP, clinical operations —Europe. Dr. Wolter more recently served as VP of clinical development for German biotech firm Apogenix. He received an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in biology from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University. Dr. Howard GREENBERG Clinilabs Selects Bristol-Myers Squibb Executive as Medical Director Howard Greenberg, M.D., has joined specialty CRO Clinilabs as senior medical director of its clinical pharmacology unit. Dr. Greenberg was most recently a group medical director for Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has an MSE in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA in finance and planning from Drexel University, and an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. Foster JORDAN Charles River Promotes Executive VP Charles River Laboratories International has promoted Foster Jordan to corporate senior VP, endotoxin and microbial detection products, from his previous role of corporate VP. Dr. Andrew PENMAN New Drug Development VP at Southern Research Southern Research Institute has named Andrew Penman, Ph.D., VP of its drug development division. Dr. Penman leads the nonprofit’s preclinical contract research operations in toxicology, bioanalytical sciences, infectious diseases, cancer therapeutics, and immunology. Dr. Penman previously served as VP of preclinical development for Angiotech in Canada. He earned a doctorate degree from the University of Kent. Dr. Renee SIMAR INC Research Adds Pediatric Strategist INC Research has announced the addition of Renee Simar, Ph.D., as the CRO’s principle pediatric strategist. Dr. Simar leads the INC Research pediatric team. Dr. Simar rejoins INC Research after heading her own independent pediatric research consulting firm. Dr. John TOMERA WorldCare Clinical Bolsters Management Team Imaging CRO WorldCare Clinical (WCC) has named John Tomera, Ph.D., director of regulatory affairs and associate medical director. Dr. Tomera is responsible for managing all quality assurance and regulatory affairs operations. Dr. Tomera was previously director of regulatory affairs at Biopure. He received a doctorate in pharmacology from Temple University School of Medicine. Service POOL David Carlson PharmaMetrics Hires Operations VP to Support Growth PharmaMetrics, a provider of managed markets strategic and analytics advisory services, licensed software, and outsourced contract operations, has appointed David Carlson VP of strategy and operations. He was most recently an executive with Accenture’s managed-markets practice. Anisa KHAN Katherine ZAJAC Publicis Selling Solutions Hires, Promotes Directors Publicis Selling Solutions, a provider of sales, service, and clinical teams to biopharma companies, has announced one appointment and one promotion. Publicis Selling Solutions is a Publicis Healthcare Communications Group company. Anisa Khan has been promoted to director of client services from associate director of information systems. Katherine Zajac has joined Publicis Selling Solutions as director of training. Ms. Zajac previously worked for Shire Pharmaceuticals as director, continuing education. Nancy LURKER Novartis Executive Joins PDI as CEO PDI, a provider of contract sales and commercial services to the biopharmaceutical industry, has named veteran healthcare executive Nancy Lurker CEO. Jeffrey Smith, who served as interim CEO before Ms. Lurker’s appointment, has resumed his previous position of executive VP, finance, and chief financial officer. Ms. Lurker has more than 24 years of experience and was most recently senior VP and chief marketing officer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. She received an MBA from the University of Evansville. Technology POOL Clare GEIGER Statking Promotes Data Management Director Statking Consulting, a provider of data-related services for clinical trials, has promoted Clare Geiger t
director of data management from the position of project manager and section head of quality assurance. Kent HARRIS Qforma Selects New-Business VP Qforma, an advanced analytics and predictive modeling company, has named Kent Harris senior VP of sales, new business. Mr. Harris joins Qforma from Organon Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for leading a sales region. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Pharma POOL Rich FANTE AstraZeneca Chooses U.S. President AstraZeneca has promoted Rich Fante to president of its U.S. business. Mr. Fante is taking over for Tony Zook, whose role at AstraZeneca has been expanded after recently being named president of MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s wholly owned biologics business. Mr. Zook also serves as CEO of AstraZeneca North America and head of global marketing. Mr. Fante was previously VP, brand strategy and portfolio operations. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina. Biotechnology POOL Dr. Alexander GIAQUINTO Ellen MCDONALD Regado Biosciences Expands Management Team Regado Biosciences has named Alexander Giaquinto, Ph.D., to the newly created position of senior VP of regulatory affairs and quality assurance. Dr. Giaquinto joins Regado after 30 years with Schering-Plough, where he most recently served as senior VP, worldwide regulatory affairs. He received a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics from the University of Connecticut. In other moves, Ellen McDonald has joined Regado as senior VP of business operations and chief business officer. In this newly created role, Ms. McDonald is spearheading the further acceleration of Regado’s lead therapeutic programs. Ms. McDonald was previously senior VP and chief business officer of Æterna Zentaris. Regado is a spinout of the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center focused on the discovery and development of acute-care injectable antithrombotics. B.G. Susan ROBINSON Leadership Shift at Targeted Genetics Biotechnology firm Targeted Genetics has promoted B.G. Susan Robinson to succeed resigning President and CEO H. Stewart Parker. Ms. Robinson previously served as VP of business development. Targeted Genetics’ product development efforts target areas such as inflammatory arthritis, AIDS prophylaxis, congestive heart failure, Huntington’s disease, and Leber’s congenital amaurosis. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. James O’LEARY ImmunoGen Selects Medical Chief ImmunoGen has named James O’Leary, M.D., VP and chief medical officer, with responsibility for leading the clinical development of the biopharmaceutical company’s targeted anticancer product candidates. Dr. O’Leary was previously senior medical director, clinical oncology, at Bayer. He received a medical degree from the State University of New York — Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Specialty POOL Steve HAMM Dave SHOUP Merz Pharmaceuticals Adds Team Members Merz Pharmaceuticals has added to its management team. A subsidiary of German pharmaceutical company Merz GmbH & Co., Merz Pharmaceuticals is responsible for the North American introduction of neurologic and dermatologic products developed within the global Merz organization. Steve Hamm has been named senior director of marketing for medical dermatology. Mr. Hamm spent 10 years in sales and marketing positions with GlaxoSmithKline’s dermatology division. Dave Shoup has joined Merz Pharmaceuticals as VP of neurology, responsible for leading development and introduction of a new business unit to support Merz’s neurology product pipeline. Mr. Shoup was previously VP of marketing for the Research Triangle Park division of Talecris Biotherapeutics. Emerging POOL Dr. Stephen HUNT Dr. Frederick JONES Ascent Therapeutics Makes Its Debut Newly launched emerging biopharmaceutical firm Ascent Therapeutics has announced the completion of its senior management team. Ascent is focused on developing Pepducin lipopeptides, a novel class of GPCR (G protein coupled receptor) modulators, to treat a variety of serious illnesses. Ascent has named Stephen Hunt, Ph.D., senior VP, discovery research. Dr. Hunt joins Ascent after more than 15 years at Pfizer, where he most recently served as executive director and head of RNAi development at the company’s Research Technology Center. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Frederick Jones, M.D., has joined Ascent as president and CEO from Belgian firm Devgen, where he led the pharma business unit. Dr. Jones earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Tanya LEWIS Vion Expands Senior Management Vion Pharmaceuticals has appointed Tanya Lewis VP, regulatory and quality affairs, with responsibility for leading the emerging cancer therapeutic company’s interactions with the FDA. Ms. Lewis has been advising Vion on regulatory matters and working on an NDA filing for lead compound laromustine since August 2008 as a consultant. Laromustine is an alkylating agent being evaluated for use as a single agent in elderly patients with previously untreated de novo poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. Vion plans to file an NDA in early 2009. Agency POOL Nicole GRYCAN Richard MARTIN William VERBIST Appointments at Blue Diesel Interactive marketing agency Blue Diesel, an inVentiv Health company, has made several appointments to its offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Newtown, Pa. Nicole Grycan joins the Columbus office as account manager. Previously, Ms. Grycan served as senior account executive for AbelsonTaylor. Richard Martin has been named senior interactive designer for the Newtown office. Mr. Martin was previously Web design manager for CoVibe Tech. Also in Newtown, William Verbist has been appointed interactive art director. Mr. Verbist previously worked for Merrill Lynch as creative director. Julia JACKSON Prateek PATNAIK Amanda TAYLOR Cooney/Waters Group Continues Expansion Independent healthcare communications company Cooney/Waters Group has added two executives in response to continued growth at its Cooney/Waters agency and Alembic Health Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cooney/Waters Group that specializes in communications programs for clients in the area of health advocacy. Julia Jackson has joined Cooney/Waters as VP, with responsibility for managing the agency’s work with UCB in the United States. Ms. Jackson was previously with Burson-Marsteller’s health and wellness practice, where she led public relations and communications programming for top-tier global pharmaceutical clients. Also at Cooney/Waters, Prateek Patnaik has been promoted to VP. Mr. Patnaik is responsible for leading the agency’s work for the Abbott Fund’s global AIDS care programs and Coca-Cola’s Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness. At Alembic Health Communications, Amanda Taylor has been promoted to VP. In this role, Ms. Taylor is responsible for managing public relations and education programs designed to raise healthcare professional and consumer awareness of meningococcal disease and prevention for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Meningitis Association. Dr. Dianne REES Greg WHITTEN Staff Additions at Cadent Cadent Medical Communications, an inVentiv Health company, has named Dianne Rees, Ph.D., scientific content specialist. Before joining Cadent, Dr. Rees was the owner of Callooh Communications. She holds a doctorate from Indiana University. Greg Whitten has joined Cadent as biomedical editor. Mr. Whitten previously served as lead editor for TWL Knowledge Group. CRO POOL Dr. Alison MESSOM Averion Hires Project Management Head Averion International, a CRO specializing in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and medical devices, has named Alison Messom, Ph.D., global head, project management. In this role, Dr. Messom oversees all aspects of project management, concentrating on strategy, training, and enhanced quality procedures within Averion’s clinical operations management team. Dr. Messom was most recently executive director, clinical monitoring international, of i3 Research. A molecular geneticist, she is a founding member of the Institute of Clinical Research’s Genetics Special Interest Group. Dr. Eric NELSON Advinus Names Head of U.S. Operations India-based CRO Advinus Therapeutics, a Tata Group enterprise, has established operations in the United States through a wholly owned subsidiary, Advinus Therapeutics Inc., based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Advinus has named Dr. Eric Nelson global head of business development, marketing, and strategy, with responsibility for managing the U.S. operations. Dr. Nelson joins Advinus from Tranzyme Pharma, where he was VP of business development & licensing. Media POOL Dr. Steven MERAHN New VP at ModernMedicine.com Advanstar Communications has appointed Steven Merahn, M.D., VP of ModernMedicine.com, Advanstar’s portal of information and tools for healthcare professionals. Dr. Merahn is responsible for growing the ModernMedicine.com community and brand revenue. Dr. Merahn most recently was a VP and member of the operations leadership team at the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. He received an M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Technology POOL M. Denis CONNAGHAN Etrials Taps Veteran Software Executive as CEO Etrials Worldwide, a provider of adaptive e-clinical software and services that optimize clinical trial management, has announced the appointment of M. Denis Connaghan to succeed Chuck Piccirillo as president and CEO. Mr. Piccirillo returns to his previous role as VP of technology. Mr. Connaghan most recently served as managing director responsible for Marsh USA’s global operations and global IT program management offices. F