Pharmaceutical POOL

Kristin PECK
Pfizer Names Head of Business ­Development Global healthcare company Pfizer has named Kristin Peck to succeed the retiring William Ringo as senior VP of worldwide business development, strategy, and innovation. Ms. Peck joined Pfizer’s strategic planning organization in 2004 and most recently served as senior VP of worldwide strategy and innovation. She received an MBA from Columbia Business School. Biopharmaceutical POOL Adrian ADAMS Inspire Pharmaceuticals Names CEO Inspire Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on researching, developing, and commercializing products for ophthalmic and pulmonary diseases, has named Adrian Adams president and CEO. He succeeds Christy Shaffer, Ph.D., who has resigned from Inspire. Mr. Adams most recently served as president and CEO of Sepracor. Lamberto ANDREOTTI New CEO at Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical firm committed to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines for serious diseases, has appointed Lamberto Andreotti to succeed retiring CEO James Cornelius. Mr. Cornelius remains chairman of the company board. Mr. Andreotti has been with Bristol-Myers Squibb for 12 years and served as president and chief operating officer since March 2009. He received a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Specialty POOL Dr. Wayne MULCAHY Aton Pharma Appoints Clinical ­Operations VP Wayne Mulcahy, Ph.D., has joined Aton Pharma as VP, clinical operations. Aton is a subsidiary of Princeton Pharma Holdings specializing in the development and commercialization of products in ophthalmology and orphan diseases. Dr. Mulcahy most recently was VP of research and development at Alita Pharmaceuticals. He received an M.S. from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Temple University School of Medicine. Genomics POOL Dr. Mitchell FINER Genetix Appoints ­Scientific Chief Genetix Pharmaceuticals, a gene therapy company developing breakthrough treatments for severe genetic disorders, has named Mitchell Finer, Ph.D., chief scientific officer. Dr. Finer provides scientific leadership for the development platform capabilities and therapeutic approaches with Genetix’s current technology platform. Dr. Finer has more than two decades of biotech experience and is a pioneer in gene therapy and regenerative medicine. He most recently served as senior VP of product development for Novocell. Emerging POOL Dr. Robert SHEPARD Cornerstone Appoints Medical Chief Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals has named Robert Shepard, M.D., chief medical officer. Dr. Shepard has served Cornerstone as acting CMO since November 2009. He received an M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine and conducted a postdoctorate fellowship in pharmacology and molecular genetics at Harvard Medical School. Cornerstone is a privately held pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative cancer therapies that exploit the metabolic pathways that are common to different cancer types, but different from normal cells and tissues. Association POOL Kay BROSS Safe-BioPharma Association Selects ­Program Director Kay Bross has been named program director, member and vendor relations, for Safe-BioPharma Association, a nonprofit association that created and manages the Safe-BioPharma digital identity and digital signature standard for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Ms. Bross, who served as a member of the association’s board of directors, is responsible for building and managing relationships with the association’s growing member and vendor-partner communities, as well as business development and alliance management. An authority in the area of electronic document management (EDM), Ms. Bross recently retired from Procter & Gamble, where she managed operations associated with regulatory submissions data and developed the company’s corporate intranet virtual library. She holds an M.Ed. from Xavier University. Jeffrey KINDLER Christopher VIEHBACHER Pfizer CEO Assumes Role as PhRMA Board ­Chairman Pfizer Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Kindler has been elected board chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Mr. Kindler succeeds David Brennan, CEO and executive director of AstraZeneca. In addition, PhRMA has tapped Sanofi-Aventis CEO Christopher Viehbacher as chairman-elect of the PhRMA board. PhRMA represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Agency POOL Jules ABRAHAM Feintuch Communications Creates ­­Life-Sciences Practice Strategic relations firm Feintuch Communications has named Jules Abraham VP and managing director of its newly established integrated public and investor relations healthcare and life-sciences practice. Mr. Abraham brings almost 15 years of healthcare and life-sciences experience to Feintuch, including helping to launch and manage the healthcare public relations division at Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates. He also has served as an independent communications consultant to several healthcare companies. Mr. Abraham received a master’s degree in public communications/journalism from Fordham University. Matt BROWN Ross FETTEROLF Sean VASSILAROS Ignite Health Makes Appointments Ignite Health, an inVentiv Health company and marketing agency that specializes in patient-centered medical advertising, has promoted Chief Operating Officer Matt Brown to president. Mr. Brown succeeds Ignite co-founder Jackie Herr, who has retired. Mr. Brown is responsible for the continued growth of the agency’s Irvine, Calif., headquarters and a new office in New York, as well as overseeing client relationships. Ignite also has announced two key promotions to the executive leadership team in its Irvine headquarters. Ross Fetterolf has been promoted to senior VP, brand strategy and channel innovation, and Sean Vassilaros has been promoted to senior VP, agency operations and emerging technology. Jennifer DICKMAN Alison GUSTAFSON AbelsonTaylor Promotes Account Supervisors Independent healthcare advertising agency AbelsonTaylor has promoted Jennifer Dickman and Alison Gustafson to account supervisor. Both were previously senior account executives. Ms. Dickman is working on a product for osteoporosis, and Ms. Gustafson is responsible for a neonatal respiratory product. Ms. Dickman joined AbelsonTaylor in 2005. Ms. Gustafson joined AbelsonTaylor in 2001. Consulting POOL Brian DUFFANT Zitter Group Adds West Coast VP The Zitter Group, a managed care consultancy and insights provider for the biopharmaceutical industry, has named Brian Duffant VP, business development, based in the company’s San Francisco office. Mr. Duffant is the strategic client lead for all West Coast biopharmaceutical clients, providing expert insights on managed care issues, and is also responsible for organic growth and new business development. Mr. Duffant joins Zitter Group from Savient Pharmaceuticals, where he was director, corporate accounts. Dr. Peter HONIG Former Merck VP Joins B&D Consulting Advisory and advocacy firm B&D Consulting has appointed Peter Honig, M.D., MPH, as a senior advisor in the company’s health and life-sciences practice, strengthening the group’s regulatory services offerings. Dr. Honig was most recently a senior VP at Merck, where he was head of worldwide regulatory affairs and product safety. Before that, he served as a director in the Office of Drug Safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Dr. Honig received an M.D. and an MPH from Columbia University. CRO POOL Michael BARRON Eurofins AvTech Hires Business Development Director Eurofins AvTech Laboratories, an analytical CRO, has appointed Michael Barron director of business development. Mr. Barron’s previous experience includes roles at Catalent Pharma Solutions and Cardinal Health. He received an MBA from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Tim DIETLIN INC Research Creates Alliance ­Partnerships Program INC Research has named Tim Dietlin VP, alliance development, to lead its newly created alliance partnerships program dedicated to the creation and management of strategic clinical delivery alliances with pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. The alliance partnerships effort focuses on structuring alliance relationships based on joint strategic objectives rather than service-level agreements. Dr. Robin FOLDESY PRA Names Project Management VP for Americas PRA International has appointed Robin Foldesy, Ph.D., VP of project management for the Americas. Dr. Foldesy is responsible for functional management support of the project directors and project managers, as well as process enhancements within project management in the Americas and the strategy of project management at an organizational level. Before joining PRA, Dr. Foldesy served as VP of project management at Wyeth Research. He earned a Ph.D. in physiology from Rutgers University and completed postdoctoral research fellowships at Vanderbilt University and Cornell University. Dr. Eric ROWINSKY RRD International Names Cancer Expert to Oversee Oncology Development RRD International, a strategy-driven biotech and pharmaceutical product development company, has appointed Eric Rowinsky, M.D., to its product advisory board, with responsibility for overseeing oncology product development. Dr. Rowinsky is a cancer therapeutics expert with research and product development experience in both classical and targeted anticancer treatments. Most recently, he was executive VP and chief medical officer for ImClone Systems, and he continues to serve as a scientific advisor to the company. Dr. Steve UNGER Former Wyeth Manager Joins Cedra as Laboratory Director Cedra, a provider of Phase I-IIb clinical research and bioanalytical services, has named Steve Unger, Ph.D., VP and laboratory director. Dr. Unger was previously with Wyeth, where he served as senior director in the areas of bioanalytical chemistry and drug metabolism. Service POOL Dr. Noel CUSACK Susan FLINT Dr. Mark HURTT Dr. Richard THORN James WESTON Talaris Advisors Expands Leadership Several former Alseres Pharmaceuticals executives have joined Talaris Advisors, strengthening the company’s capacity to provide expertise for all phases of drug development. Talaris works with biotech managers, companies, and investors to optimize their use of capital and maximize exit outcomes for drug development programs. Noel Cusack, Ph.D., has been named senior VP, nonclinical development. Dr. Cusack was previously senior VP of preclinical development at Alseres, a company he also co-founded. He received an M.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. Susan Flint has been appointed senior VP, drug development. Ms. Flint previously held the same title at Alseres. She received an M.S. in pharmacology from Northeastern University. Former Alseres Chief Medical Officer Mark Hurtt, M.D., has assumed the same role at Talaris. Dr. Hurtt received a medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson Medical College and served as a medical officer in the United States Navy. Talaris has named Richard Thorn, Ph.D., senior VP, CMC. Dr. Thorn was most recently senior VP of program operations at Alseres. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. James Weston has joined Talaris as senior VP, regulatory affairs and quality, from the same position at Alseres. Mr. Weston holds an MBA from Northeastern University. Ann KOTTCAMP Experienced Patient Recruiter Joins MMG MMG, a Ketchum company and full-service patient recruitment and retention group, has appointed Ann Kottcamp VP/senior strategist of its central nervous system and mental health therapeutic areas. Ms. Kottcamp most recently served as president of Argonauta Communications. Renee SELMAN Former J&J Executive Joins Catalina Catalina Marketing Corp., a global provider of precision marketing and shopper-driven media, today announced the appointment of Renee Selman as president of its healthcare division, Catalina Health Resource. Ms. Selman joins Catalina from Johnson & Johnson, where she most recently served as the worldwide president of J&J’s Ethicon Women’s Health and Urology business. Eric SIROTA Former Pfizer Executive Joins inVentiv Commercial Services inVentiv Health, a provider of commercialization solutions, has appointed Eric Sirota president of inVentiv Commercial Services. Mr. Sirota’s responsibilities include overseeing the Selling Solutions and Advanced Insights divisions. Mr. Sirota joins inVentiv from Pfizer, most recently as VP of U.S. marketing, commercial strategy and innovation, and regional sales within the Powers business unit. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Pharmaceutical POOL Saburo HAMANAKA Mark IWICKI Sepracor Merges with Dainippon ­Sumitomo Pharma America Sepracor has announced a number of executive shifts as a result of its merger with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America (DSPA), the North American business of Japan’s Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. (DSP). The resulting company retains the Sepracor name and remains a research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to treating and preventing human disease by discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products. Saburo Hamanaka has been appointed chairman of Sepracor and executive officer of DSP, and Mark Iwicki has been promoted to president and chief operating officer. Mr. Iwicki, formerly Sepracor’s executive VP and chief commercial officer, succeeds Adrian Adams, who has resigned as Sepracor’s president and CEO and as executive officer of DSP. Bridgette HELLER Merck Names Head of Consumer Care Global healthcare company Merck has appointed Bridgette Heller executive VP and president, consumer healthcare. Ms. Heller succeeds Stanley Barshay, who has retired. As leader of Merck’s global consumer healthcare business, Ms. Heller is leveraging the company’s consumer product brands to capitalize on new growth opportunities. Ms. Heller has more than two decades of experience in the consumer products sector, and most recently served as president of Johnson & Johnson’s baby global business unit. She received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Biotechnology POOL Dr. Ashoke AGARWAL Proteonomix Taps Scientific Chief Proteonomix, a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based on human cells and their derivatives, has named Ashoke Agarwal, M.D., chief scientific officer of its newly created StromaCel subsidiary. This appointment is in addition to Dr. Agarwal’s current role as CSO for National Stem Cell, a Proteonomix subsidiary that specializes in stem cell therapies for cardiac disease. Dr. Agarwal is a member and fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and he holds a medical degree from the Medical College of Calcutta, India. Dr. David CAMPBELL Carmine STENGONE Afraxis Expands Leadership Afraxis, a biotechnology company developing drugs to treat central nervous system disorders, has added two former Phenomix executives to its leadership team. David Campbell, Ph.D., has been named chief scientific officer, responsible for heading the company’s efforts to discover and develop therapeutics for CNS diseases such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and Fragile X syndrome. Dr. Campbell was previously senior VP, discovery and development, for Phenomix. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Cornell University and conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Carmine Stengone has been appointed VP, corporate development. At Phenomix, Mr. Stengone was responsible for strategic collaborations and licensing agreements as senior director of business development. He received an M.S. in organic chemistry from Duke University and an MBA from Johnson Graduate School of Management at Corn ll University. Clark JOHNSON Neurologix Names CEO Neurologix, a biotechnology company engaged in the development of innovative therapies for the brain and central nervous system, has appointed Vice Chairman Clark Johnson president and CEO to replace John Mordock, who resigned. Mr. Johnson is a Neurologix founder and has served as a board member since the company’s inception. Dr. Adrian RABINOWICZ Acorda Names Medical Affairs Head Adrian Rabinowicz, M.D., has joined Acorda Therapeutics as senior VP and head, medical affairs. Acorda is a biotechnology company developing therapies for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and related nervous system disorders. Dr. Rabinowicz is responsible for Acorda’s medical communications and scientific affairs departments, medical education programs, and field-based team of regional scientific managers. He was most recently VP and head, U.S. medical affairs, specialty medicine, for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Rabinowicz received a medical degree from the Universidad Del Salvador in Buenos Aires. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Biopharmaceutical POOL Tom AMICK Edward FIELD Dr. James HINSON Aldagen Announces Management Shifts Aldagen, a biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary regenerative cell therapies that target significant unmet medical needs, has made a number of changes to its management designed to better position the company as it advances clinical development of its product pipeline. Aldagen CEO Tom Amick has assumed the additional role of president. Edward Field, formerly president and chief operating officer, has become executive VP and chief business officer. James Hinson Jr., M.D., has been named chief medical officer. Dr. Hinson is the owner and principal of Unicorn Pharma Consulting. He received an M.D. from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Rudolf KWAN Former Schering-Plough VP Joins Kinex Kinex Pharmaceuticals has appointed Rudolf Kwan, M.D., as chief medical officer. Kinex is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics based on its target-based, small-molecule technologies Mimetica and Opal. Dr. Kwan most recently held dual roles at Schering-Plough, serving as VP and regional head of Asia Pacific global clinical operations and VP of global clinical development, CNS. Dr. Kwan obtained an M.D. in Hong Kong and did training in the United Kingdom. Dr. Frank MALINOSKI Liquidia Appoints Chief Medical Officer Liquidia Technologies, a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing particle-based vaccines and therapeutics, has named Frank Malinoski, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer. Dr. Malinoski is responsible for clinical strategy and regulatory affairs across Liquidia’s product platform. Dr. Malinoski comes to Liquidia with more than 20 years of executive experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, including senior positions in clinical research, business development, and medical affairs at Wyeth, MedImmune, and Nabi, among other companies. He received an M.D. from Albany Medical College and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers University. Thomas ROWLAND Alnara Adds VP Alnara Pharmaceuticals, a developer of nonsystemic, orally delivered protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases, has added a VP to its staff. This appointment signifies further progress in advancing the commercial planning and launch preparation efforts in support of liprotamase for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Thomas Rowland has been appointed VP of commercial development, with responsibility for leading commercialization efforts for liprotamase. Mr. Rowland was most recently president and CEO of Ventrus Biosciences. Dr. John RYAN Cerulean Creates Medical Chief Post Cerulean Pharma, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on novel, intelligently designed, nanoparticle-based drugs, has named John Ryan, Ph.D., M.D., senior VP, chief medical officer. Dr. Ryan most recently was chief medical officer for Aveo Pharmaceuticals. He holds a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from Yale University and an M.D. from the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Michael VENUTI iPierian Names New President iPierian, a biopharmaceutical company focused on changing the paradigm of drug discovery and development through the application of cellular reprogramming, has appointed Michael Venuti, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer. Dr. Venuti was most recently CEO of BioSeek. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Specialty POOL Julie MCHUGH Endo Pharmaceuticals Appoints ­Operating Chief Julie McHugh has been named chief operating officer of Endo Pharmaceuticals, a specialty company engaged in the research, development, sale, and marketing of branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals used to treat and manage pain, prostate cancer, and the early onset of puberty in children. Most recently, Ms. McHugh was president and CEO of Nora Therapeutics. She holds an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. Drug-Delivery POOL Dr. John MIDDLETON Charlie OLSON Brian ROBEY Eugene RUSCH John SAHAREK Joseph STICH Dr. Art TIPTON SurModics Makes Leadership Changes SurModics, a provider of drug-delivery and surface modification technologies to the healthcare industry, has unveiled organizational and leadership changes designed to support future growth by better meeting customer needs, leveraging its multiple competencies across the organization, and building on its pharmaceutical industry experience. SurModics is now organized by functional expertise rather than its previous business unit structure and has a single research organization and a single sales and marketing organization. While the company remains committed to its key markets — cardiovascular, ophthalmology, and diagnostics — this new structure provides a more effective platform to support SurModics’ growing business in other therapeutic markets. John Middleton, Ph.D., former VP, SurModics Pharmaceuticals, has been promoted to VP, drug delivery product development, with responsibility for all drug-delivery product development activities, including early-phase clinical-trial projects. Charlie Olson, former VP and general manager of cardiovascular, has been promoted to senior VP, business development and marketing, with responsibility for licensing, sales, and marketing all of the company’s products and technologies to its customer base. Brian Robey has been promoted to senior VP, product development, from VP, product development and operations. Mr. Robey is responsible for all product development activities, including most customer-supported programs, at all sites and for all technologies. In other moves, Eugene Rusch has joined SurModics as VP, manufacturing, with responsibility for all product manufacturing, supply chain, facilities, and late-stage clinical and commercial drug-delivery product manufacturing. Mr. Rusch was previously VP, manufacturing, for Alkermes. John Saharek has assumed responsibility for SurModics’ global ophthalmology sales activities in the wake of the departure of Ophthalmology Division President Paul Lopez. Mr. Saharek was previously director, commercial development in the ophthalmology business. In addition to ophthalmology sales, Mr. Saharek is responsible for sales to pharmaceutical companies in the western United States. SurModics also has hired Joseph Stich as VP, corporate development and strategy. Mr. Stich was most recently VP of corporate development for Abraxis BioScience. Art Tipton, Ph.D., has been promoted to senior VP and chief scientific officer, from his previous roles as VP, SurModics, and president, SurModics Pharmaceuticals. Dr Tipton is responsible for all of SurModics’ research activities and continues to support sales efforts to pharmaceutical companies. Device/Diagnostic POOL Jack DARBY Don O’HEARN AGA Medical Promotes Marketing VPs AGA Medical Holdings, innovator and manufacturer of medical devices for the treatment of structural heart defects and vascular abnormalities, has promoted Jack Darby to senior VP, global marketing and distributor sales, from VP, worldwide marketing and distributor sales. Mr. Darby continues to have responsibility for AGA Medical’s worldwide marketing effort, and to manage Asia Pacific distributors with a particular focus on accelerating growth in key markets such as China, India, and Japan. Don O’Hearn has been promoted to senior VP, Americas, from VP, sales North America. Mr. O’Hearn retains responsibility for AGA Medical’s direct sales in the United States and Canada and adds responsibility for sales and distribution across Latin America. Discovery POOL Dr. Stephen HITCHCOCK Envoy Therapeutics Expands ­Management Team Envoy Therapeutics has named Stephen Hitchcock, Ph.D., senior VP, drug discovery. Envoy’s mission is to employ its bacTRAP protein-identification technology to discover new drugs with superior efficacy and fewer side effects than existing treatments. Dr. Hitchcock joins Envoy after six years at Amgen, where he was executive director of medicinal chemistry. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, followed by a NATO postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. Consulting POOL Dr. Claudio CARINI Simona CIPRA Halloran Expands Groups Halloran Consulting Group, a firm that specializes in clinical development strategy and services for established and emerging life-sciences companies, has appointed Claudio Carini, M.D., Ph.D., as a senior consultant leading the company’s biomarker and translational medicine efforts. Dr. Carini’s previous experience includes roles as U.S. head of clinical development at FMC, global head of translational medicine and head of The Biomarker Alliance at MDS, global head of biomarkers at Roche, and therapeutic area head of translational medicine at Novartis. He earned an M.D. from the University of Palermo in Italy and a Ph.D. in immunology and an FRCPath from the University of London. Simona Cipra has also joined HCG as senior consultant. Ms. Cipra was clinical operations and program management at Eisai Medical Research, Boston Scientific, and The Medicines Company. Stephen RHODES Biologics Consulting Strengthens Devices Biologics Consulting Group, a regulatory affairs consulting firm, has hired Stephen Rhodes as a senior consultant. Mr. Rhodes brings more than 20 years of experience with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), most recently as director of the investigational device exemptions and humanitarian device exemptions programs in the CDRH’s Office of Device Evaluation. He received an M.S. in biomedical engineering from Catholic University of America and a joint M.S. in device biomedical science and technology management from Georgetown University/Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. CRO POOL Dr. Lisa Beth ­ FERSTENBERG Accelovance Appoints Medical Chief Accelovance, a privately held CRO focused on reducing timelines and optimizing productivity, has appointed Lisa Beth Ferstenberg, M.D., chief medical officer. Before joining Accelovance, Dr. Ferstenberg founded and served as CEO for Cellective Therapeutics. Jerri HATCH PBI Expands Business Development Team Pacific Biomarkers (PBI), a provider of specialized central laboratory and contract research services, has appointed Jerri Hatch associate director, business development. Ms. Hatch held biomarker service-related business development positions with Specialty Labs and Pathway Diagnostics. Dr. Chuan (Joe) SHIH Lilly Scholar Joins Crown ­Bioscience Crown Bioscience, a preclinical oncology CRO, has named Chuan (Joe) Shih, Ph.D., executive VP, integrated drug discovery services business unit. Dr. Shih was previously a distinguished Lilly scholar of discovery chemistry research and technology at Lilly Research Laboratories, a division of Eli Lilly. He received an M.S. and a Ph.D., both in organic chemistry, from The Ohio State University, and he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. F

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