Pharmaceutical POOL
Dr. Jay FEINGOLD
DSI Strengthens Expertise in Oncology Daiichi Sankyo Inc. (DSI) has appointed Jay Feingold, M.D., Ph.D., to manage the strategic direction of its medical affairs department as VP of medical affairs. DSI is the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Daiichi Sankyo Co., a global pharmaceutical company. Dr. Feingold worked with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he most recently led oncology global clinical development. A molecular biologist, Dr. Feingold received an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. Biotechnology POOL Dr. Francesco GRANATA Tony KINGSLEY Dr. Frederick ­ MUNSCHAUER Dr. John RICHERT Dr. Nancy RICHERT Biogen Idec Bolsters ­Commercial ­Leadership Global biotechnology company Biogen Idec has announced the addition of several executives to its commercial and medical groups. Francesco Granata, M.D., has been named executive VP of global commercial operations. In addition to commercial operations, Dr. Granata is responsible for commercial strategy and medical affairs worldwide. Dr. Granata has more than 30 years of experience leading biotech and pharmaceutical organizations, most recently as a group VP at Schering-Plough. Tony Kingsley has been appointed senior VP of U.S. commercial operations, with responsibilities including marketing and sales for neurology, oncology, and rheumatology; market access; patient services; training; and sales operations. Mr. Kingsley previously served as senior VP and general manager, gyn surgical products, at Hologic. Frederick Munschauer, M.D., a neurologist instrumental in the development of Biogen Idec’s multiple sclerosis drug Avonex, has been named VP of U.S. medical affairs. Dr. Munschauer was most recently a professor and chair of the department of neurology at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. In other moves, two multiple sclerosis experts have joined Biogen Idec’s neurology research and development team. As senior fellow, John Richert, M.D., has a lead role in shaping Biogen Idec’s MS strategy, including developing drugs for progressive forms of MS, for which there are currently limited treatment options; enhancing interactions with scientific leaders in MS; and advancing efforts in personalized medicine approaches to treating MS patients. He was previously executive VP for research and clinical programs for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Nancy Richert, M.D., Ph.D., has been named fellow at Biogen Idec, with responsibility for advising on the use of MRI and other imaging technologies in Biogen Idec’s clinical trials; developing imaging strategies to advance the company’s efforts in personalized medicine; and building relationships with key scientific leaders in neuroimaging for MS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurologic disorders. She most recently served as a staff clinician in the neuroimmunology branch at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and as a consulting staff member in the diagnostic imaging and radiology department at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Biopharmaceutical POOL Ronald MARTELL Dr. Michael PERRY Poniard Announces Leadership Changes Poniard Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology therapies, has named President and Chief Operating Officer Ronald Martell to succeed Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., as CEO. Dr. McMahon remains as nonexecutive chairman of Poniard’s board. These moves come as Poniard announces plans to reduce its work force by half and cut operating costs in an effort to support ongoing development of picoplatin in solid tumors. As CEO, Mr. Martell’s near-term priority is to obtain FDA guidance regarding picoplatin’s potential regulatory and clinical pathways for continued development. Michael Perry, DVM, Ph.D., succeeds Mr. Martell as president of Poniard and has also assumed the role of chief medical officer. Dr. Perry recently served as a consultant to the company. Dr. Zachary ZIMMERMAN Regulus Therapeutics Hires Business Development Director Regulus Therapeutics, a company developing microRNA therapeutics, has appointed Zachary Zimmerman, Ph.D., director of business development. In addition to business development and licensing, Dr. Zimmerman is responsible for managing external collaborations and communications. Before joining Regulus, Dr. Zimmerman spent five years in the business development group at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. He earned a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Specialty POOL Donald FISHBEIN Michael RICHARDSON Aton Pharma Adds VPs Aton Pharma, a subsidiary of Princeton Pharma Holdings focused on development and commercialization of products in ophthalmology and orphan disease categories, has appointed executives to head commercial operations at its two business units. Aton has named Donald Fishbein VP, commercial operations, for its ophthalmic business unit, and Michael Richardson VP, commercial operations, for its newly formed orphan drug business unit. Mr. Richardson was previously a group director of marketing and senior director of worldwide product planning for Cephalon. Mr. Richardson holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Patrick GALLAGHER Noven Names Business Development VP Noven Pharmaceuticals has appointed Patrick Gallagher VP of business development. Noven is a specialty company focused in three principal areas: transdermal drug delivery, the Novogyne joint venture, and Noven Therapeutics, the company’s specialty pharmaceutical unit. Mr. Gallagher is responsible for all business development activities at Noven, including the in-licensing and out-licensing of new products and technologies, as well as the management of the company’s relationships with product development and commercialization partners. Mr. Gallagher most recently served as senior VP, business development, marketing and sales, for Acusphere. Dr. Jeffrey WINKELMAN BioSante Appoints Oncology Head BioSante Pharmaceuticals, a specialty company focused on developing products for female sexual health, menopause, contraception, and male hypogonadism, has named Jeffrey Winkelman, Ph.D., VP, oncology programs. Dr. Winkelman’s responsibilities include managing collaborations with the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, as well as all BioSante’s oncology product contracts, licensing, and intellectual property. Most recently, Dr. Winkelman was an independent consultant providing counseling and advice for a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including BioSante. He received a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the University of California, Irvine, and a law degree from the University of San Diego. Diagnostic POOL David MANN Robert SPURR Lantheus Medical Imaging Appoints VPs Lantheus Medical Imaging, a provider of diagnostic imaging solutions, has appointed David Mann to the newly created position of VP, operations and professional relations, and has named Robert Spurr to succeed Mr. Mann as VP, sales and marketing. Mr. Spurr was most recently VP sales and marketing, institutional franchise, at Ortho-McNeil, a pharmaceuticals division of Johnson & Johnson. He received an MBA from Rutgers University. Emerging POOL Dr. Jim BALLANCE Makefield Therapeutics Selects Scientific Chief Makefield Therapeutics has named Jim Ballance, Ph.D., chief scientific officer. Dr. Ballance’s appointment comes as the emerging pharmaceuticals company works to advance its own anti-infective and erectile dysfunction product candidates based on its novel nanoparticle drug delivery platform and to seek partners to employ the technology in areas outside the company’s interest. Dr. Ballance has more than two decades of experience as a technology and corporate development professional, including senior management positions at both large and small companies in the United States and United Kingdom. He most recently was a corporate strategic consultant to the biotechnology industry. Dr. Ballance received a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Agency POOL Ann BRADSTREET Stonefly Expands Account Team Stonefly Communications Group, an inVentiv Health company, has named Ann Bradstreet account director. Ms. Bradstreet was previously account supervisor at sister inVentiv agency GSW Worldwide. Shoshana CARTER Kristin FURMAN Dylan MAIDEN Amanda SANTISE LyonHeart Grows Staff LyonHeart Communications has announced a number of new additions to its staff. Shoshana Carter has joined LyonHeart as senior account executive. Kristin Furman has rejoined the agency as VP, account supervisor/business development, after spending a year at Regan Campbell Ward – McCann. Dylan Maiden has been named copy supervisor. Amanda Santise has been appointed senior account executive. Timothy KANE Michael MIKESON Frank OVAITT Makovsky Adds Executives for Digital Offering Makovsky + Company, an independent global public relations and investor relations agency, has tapped Timothy Kane, executive VP, branding and interactive, to run its newly established digital arm, and Michael Mikeson, VP, interactive creative director, to serve as the group’s digital strategist. The digital offering aligns Makovsky’s health-sector knowledge, outcomes-based solutions, and social media expertise. In other moves, Frank Ovaitt has joined Makovsky + Company as executive VP, responsible for leading the firm’s efforts to integrate research into public relations practice. Mr. Ovaitt is CEO emeritus of the Institute for Public Relations and professor of applied public relations research at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. CRO POOL Dr. Steven LEVENTER PharmaNet Adds to Leadership Team PharmaNet Development Group, a provider of clinical development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, generic drug, and medical device companies, has named Steven Leventer, Ph.D., VP, clinical research neuroscience. Dr. Leventer trained as a neurochemist and has had postdoctoral fellowships and faculty appointments at the University of Texas, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Troy MCCALL Dr. Jerry MERRITT Cetero Research Makes Leadership Change Cetero Research, an early-phase contract research organization, has appointed Troy McCall, Ph.D., to succeed Jerry Merritt, Pharm.D., as CEO. Dr. Merritt has been promoted to executive chairman and is working closely with Dr. McCall to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. McCall was most recently CEO of Premier Research Group. He received a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics with a specialization in pharmacokinetics from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Media POOL Dr. Christine CÔTÉ John LOUCKS PDR Network Appoints REMS Leaders The PDR Network, the largest distributor of FDA-approved drug information, alerts, and risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) programs to physicians, has added two executives to its management team as it expands its REMS and pharmaceutical risk offerings. Christine Côté, M.D., has joined PDR Network as chief medical officer. Dr. Côté has more than 24 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in senior regulatory and clinical roles, including chief scientific officer for J&J’s Janssen Pharmaceutica division. During her time at J&J, Dr. Côté was directly involved with the creation of the Health Care Notification Network, now operated by PDR Network, which sends drug alerts and REMS programs to U.S. physicians electronically. In other moves, John Loucks has been appointed VP of sales. Mr. Loucks was previously chief customer officer for Relsys. Medical-Education POOL Donna CALVANI David DUNN ApotheCom Announces Executive Moves Donna Calvani has joined ApotheCom as president, ApotheCom Yardley, responsible for leading daily operations at the largest of the agency’s five global offices. ApotheCom, a member of the Huntsworth Health family of agencies, specializes in publication planning, medical education, and medical communications in global, pan-European, and U.S./domestic markets. Ms. Calvani was previously president of Curatio CME Institute, a member of the Huntsworth Health group. In other moves, ApotheCom has promoted David Dunn to global CEO, heading worldwide operations that include five offices throughout North America, Europe, and New Zealand. Mr. Dunn was previously president of ApotheCom, leading the company’s North American operations. Service POOL Mark BARD Dr. Matthew BONNER Joe FARRIS Dr. Jason LABONTE Elizabeth MARSHALL Decision Resources Makes Key ­Promotions Decision Resources, a research and advisory firm focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, has announced several promotions as part of a strategic reorganization of its various portfolio businesses into two segments: biopharma and medical technology. Mark Bard, formerly the president of Decision Resources company Manhattan Research, has joined Decision Resources’ senior team as chief commercialization officer. Mr. Bard works in tandem with the leadership teams at Decision Resources’ various business units to drive overall revenue for the organization. Matthew Bonner, M.D., has been appointed VP of research for Decision Resources, with accountability for the integrity and quality of all intellectual property for the organization. Joe Farris has been promoted to president of Manhattan Research, which leads the brand segment of Decision Resources’ biopharma business unit. Mr. Farris spearheads the company’s drive to create solutions for pharmaceutical brand teams. Jason LaBonte, Ph.D., has been named chief operating officer of the biopharma unit’s portfolio planning segment, which includes the Decision Resources and Arlington Medical Resources businesses. Elizabeth Marshall has been promoted to VP of marketing, with responsibility for strategic marketing for all the companies within the Decision Resources portfolio, as well as the parent firm. David BURGOON Anita GURAK Robin KNEESHAW Dave SCHIESSLER Publicis Strategic Solutions Makes Staff Changes Publicis Strategic Solutions Group (PSSG), a provider of multichannel message delivery solutions for the life-sciences industry, has made a number of additions and promotions within PSSG and its Publicis Selling Solutions affiliate, which provides sales teams and support services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. PSSG is a division of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group. At Publicis Selling Solutions, David Burgoon has been hired as national business director for a new dermatology-focused field force that launched in late 2009. Mr. Burgoon was previously a regional sales manager at DUSA Pharmaceuticals. Publicis Selling Solutions has promoted Anita Gurak to senior manager, business development, from manager, business development. Robin Kneeshaw has joined Publicis Selling Solutions as client services director. Ms. Kneeshaw was most recently a professional medical representative at Daiichi Sankyo. At PSSG, Dave Schiessler has been appointed senior director of business development. Mr. Schiessler joins PSSG from CV Therapeutics, where he was associate director of sales & marketing operations. Dr. Gretchen DIECK UBC Hires Biopharma Safety Expert United BioSource Corporation (UBC), a global pharmaceutical services organization that helps emerging and established life-sciences companies develop and commercialize medical products, has appointed Gretchen Dieck, Ph.D., VP, safety, epidemiology and risk management. Dr. Dieck joins UBC after 23 years at Pfizer, where she most recently served as senior VP, safety and risk management. Dr. Dieck received an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. from Yale University, where she also held a postdoctoral fellowship in epidemiology. Rob NATICCHIA Connexion Healthcare Appoints Client Services VP Connexion Healthcare (CXHC) has appointed Rob Naticchia executive VP, client services, with respo sibility for the continued growth and development of CXHC, including its Clinical Connexion and Publication Connexion business units. Mr. Naticchia was most recently general manager for the Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education (ICHE). CXHC is a group of independent, complementary healthcare communications companies dedicated to developing high-quality scientific programs. Guido ROUMANS TechTeam Global Appoints Life-Sciences Director TechTeam Global, a provider of information technology outsourcing and business process outsourcing services, has named Guido Roumans director of global life sciences services. Mr. Roumans is responsible for service delivery, relationship management, and ongoing capability enhancement in support of TechTeam’s life-sciences customers. Mr. Roumans has nearly two decades of experience in the life-sciences industry, most recently as IBM Global Business Services’ life sciences and pharma research and development leader. Rishi VARMA AlphaDetail Co-Founder Becomes CEO Rishi Varma has been named president and CEO of AlphaDetail, the pharmaceutical marketing research company he co-founded almost nine year ago. Mr. Varma has held a number of senior-level positions at AlphaDetail, overseeing each major functional area of the business and working closely with pharmaceutical and biotech clients on designing and implementing marketing research studies. He received an M.S. in decision analysis from Stanford University. Technology POOL Nick RANDAZZO PHT Promotes Sales VP PHT, a provider of electronic patient reported outcome (ePRO) solutions, has promoted Nick Randazzo to VP of sales. Mr. Randazzo joined PHT in 2000 and has served as director of sales since 2005. F Send your personnel announcements to [email protected]. Pharmaceutical POOL Steve CARTT Dr. Jason ZIELONKA Questcor Makes Leadership Changes Questcor Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on providing prescription drugs for the treatment of rare central nervous system and inflammatory disorders, has announced the appointment of Executive VP Steve Cartt to the additional role of chief business officer. Mr. Cartt retains overall commercial responsibility at Questcor and has the lead role in the company’s exploration of new opportunities to build its product portfolio and ongoing revenue stream. Mr. Cartt’s previous duties as head of medical affairs have been assumed by Jason Zielonka, M.D., who has joined Questcor as chief medical officer responsible for leading Questcor’s medical affairs organization and related initiatives. Dr. Zielonka’s primary duties include collaborating with researchers on ongoing clinical and preclinical studies involving additional uses for Acthar, an injectable drug approved to treat certain disorders with an inflammatory component, such as multiple sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome. Dr. Zielonka was most recently senior medical director for trial methodology at Ortho-McNeil Janssen, Johnson & Johnson’s primary U.S. pharmaceuticals business. He received an M.D. from Yale School of Medicine and nuclear medicine fellowship training at Harvard Medical School. Biotechnology POOL Dr. Gwendolyn Powell PAINTER Chimerix Appoints Medical Chief Chimerix, a biotechnology company developing orally available antiviral therapeutics, has named Gwendolyn Powell Painter, M.D., chief medical officer. Dr. Painter has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including work in clinical development, clinical safety and pharmacovigilance, and occupational and environmental medicine. She has been working with Chimerix as a medical oversight and clinical consultant since 2002. Dr. Painter earned an M.S. in organic chemistry from Emory University, an M.D. from the University of Miami School of Medicine, and a master of public health in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed a fellowship in occupational medicine at Duke University, where she maintains an academic appointment. Biopharmaceutical POOL Dr. Bengt BERGSTROM Array BioPharma Names Development VP Bengt Bergstrom, M.D., Ph.D., has joined Array BioPharma as VP of clinical development, leading clinical science and drug safety activities for the company’s growing pipeline of targeted small molecule drugs to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Bergstrom was previously clinical science leader in oncology drug development for Roche. He received an M.D. and a Ph.D. from the University of Lund in Sweden. Dr. Kirk JOHNSON MediciNova Appoints Scientific Chief MediciNova, a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring and developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with unmet need, has appointed Kirk Johnson, Ph.D., chief scientific officer. Dr. Johnson was VP, research and development, at Avigen through the close of its merger with MediciNova in December 2009. He earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from the Medical College of Virginia and did postdoctoral fellowships at Dartmouth Medical School and the University of California, Berkeley. Specialty POOL Steven RATOFF NovaDel Chairman Officially Named Chief Executive NovaDel Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing oral spray formulations for a broad range of marketed drugs, has announced that Steven Ratoff’s interim role as president and CEO has been made permanent. Mr. Ratoff has served as chairman of NovaDel since September 2006, interim president and CEO since July 2007, and interim chief financial officer since April 2009. He continues in his interim CFO role. Drug-Delivery POOL Dr. Richard KENNEY Vical Strengthens Clinical Development Team Richard Kenney, M.D., has joined Vical as VP, clinical development. Vical researches and develops biopharmaceutical products based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases. Before joining Vical, Dr. Kenney held key positions in influenza and biodefense vaccine development at GSK Biologicals, most recently as senior director of global clinical R&D, vaccines for viral diseases. Dr. Kenney received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and board certifications in internal medicine and infectious diseases. He also pursued postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), completing fellowships in infectious diseases and molecular parasitology and tropical medicine. Emerging POOL Dr. Nils BERGENHEM CPEX Pharmaceuticals Names Chief Scientific Officer CPEX Pharmaceuticals has appointed Nils Bergenhem, Ph.D., to succeed retiring Chief Scientific Officer Fred Feldman, Ph.D. CPEX is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, licensing, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products using its validated drug-delivery platform technology. Dr. Bergenhem has extensive experience in research and drug development for metabolic diseases, including diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Most recently, he was chief scientific officer at Escoublac, the first biotechnology company in the Biogen Idec Innovations Incubator. He received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Umeå University in Sweden. Agency POOL David PATTI JFK Communications Appoints VP David Patti has joined healthcare public relations firm JFK Communications as VP, responsible for overseeing client service operations, providing strategic counsel, and leading teams on major accounts. Mr. Patti has more than a decade of experience leading numerous patient and physician-focused public relations campaigns for global biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies across multiple therapeutic areas. He has also worked extensively with professional and patient advocacy organizations, including the Breast Cancer International Research Group, the American Heart Association, and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. CRO POOL Dr. Lee BABISS Former Roche Executive Joins PPD Global CRO PPD has appointed Lee Babiss, Ph.D., executive VP of global laboratory services. Dr. Babiss provides strategic direction and additional scientific leadership to the company’s bioanalytical, cGMP, and global central laboratories; PPD’s vaccines and biologics operations; and BioDuro, the China-based drug discovery services company PPD acquired last year. Dr. Babiss joins PPD from Roche in Basel, Switzerland, where he most recently served as president and director of pharmaceutical research. He earned a doctorate in microbiology from Columbia University and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at The Rockefeller University. Service POOL Dr. Kurt NIELSEN Catalent Adds Technology Chief Catalent Pharma Solutions has appointed Kurt Nielsen, Ph.D. chief technology officer and senior VP, innovation and growth. Dr. Nielsen is responsible for driving innovation activities and investments across Catalent’s range of advanced dose forms and packaging technologies. Dr. Nielsen most recently served as executive VP of pharmaceuticals for URLMutual Pharmaceutical. He received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Villanova University. F

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