2010 Moderators
Gil Bashe, Executive Vice President, Makovsky + Company
Mel Billingsley, Ph.D., President & CEO, Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania
Fritz Bittenbender, Vice President, Government & Corporate Affairs, Cephalon, Inc.
Leyland Brenner, Market Research Manager, Strategic Business Division, KOTRA New York
Christopher Cashman, Chairman, MBF Therapeutics Inc. and JDP Therapeutics, Inc.
Manya Deehr, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Eurand Pharmaceuticals
Alon Gev, Partner, New York Metro Area Technology Industry Practice Leader, Grant Thornton, LLP
Kerry Grens, Senior Health and Science Reporter, WHYY
Jonathon Kellerman, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Thomas Koncsics, Partner, KPMG LLP
Brian Lenz, CPA, MBA, CFO, CorMedix
Terence Porter, Ph.D., Managing Director, Aqua Partners
Bruce Shook, President & CEO, Neuronetics, Inc.
Randall Sunberg, Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Samir Tari, M.D., President & CEO, PCAsso Diagnostics, LLC
Donna Tempel, Ph.D., President & CEO, Drais Pharmaceuticals
Tony Torrington, Partner, New Jersey Life Sciences Market Leader, Ernst & Young
Lizanne Wentz, Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Incyte Corporation
Timothy Whitten, President & CEO, Transave, Inc.
Elizabeth S. Woo, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Accounts, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Pascal Yvon, PharmD, MBA, President, BioSciences Expansion
Gil Bashe
Executive Vice President
Makovsky + Company
As executive vice president at Makovsky + Company, Gil Bashe is senior counselor to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device manufacturers around critical issues impacting patient care. Prior to Makovsky, he launched Health!Quest Communications, obtaining $60 million from GTCR Golder Rauner, a leading private-equity firm, and continues as a limited partner. Mr. Bashe served as CEO of CommonHealth, the world’s largest health-marketing consortium, and at WPP Group sister-company Hill and Knowlton, Worldwide Health and Pharmaceutical practice director. He is the immediate past-chairman of the American Heart Association NY and an advisor to the Secretary General of Prix Galien, the Nobel Prize of medical innovation.
Mel Billingsley, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania
Mel Billingsley, Ph.D. is president and CEO of the Life Sciences Greenhouse, professor of Pharmacology at Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey College of Medicine (MSHCM), and professor of Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship, Penn State University - Harrisburg, PA campus. His background includes rich and varied experience as a researcher, educator, and investor, as well as a long history of actively fostering the advancement of technology within the larger community. Dr. Billingsley leads the LSGPA participation in Gap and Tech Fund investments. He has an undergraduate degree in Biophysics and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh, a doctoral degree in Pharmacology from George Washington University, and a postdoctoral degree in neuropharmacology from Yale School of Medicine
Fritz Bittenbender
Vice President of Government and Corporate Affairs
Cephalon, Inc.
Mr. Bittenbender is vice president of government and corporate affairs at Cephalon. In this capacity, he directs federal, state and local government affairs; state and federal policy and reimbursement; community relations; and corporate charitable giving. In addition, he is president of the CephalonCares Foundation.
Mr. Bittenbender joined Cephalon in 2005 from Pennsylvania Bio where he served as president. Prior to his tenure at Pennsylvania Bio, he was secretary of administration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and deputy chief of staff to former Governor Tom Ridge. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania as well as the Fels School of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
Leyland Brenner
Market Research Manager, Strategic Business Division
KOTRA New York
Leyland Brenner has been with KOTRA’s New York office since 1999, and he has worked in a number of divisions within the office over the years helping to promote and introduce Korean companies and products in a variety of industries (including the medical, biotech, and pharmaceutical fields) to U.S. companies. He graduated from Drew University in 1994 with a B.A. in political science, and obtained his Masters in public policy from Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in 1997, where he was a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics.
Christopher Cashman
Chairman
MBF Therapeutics Inc. and JDP Therapeutics, Inc.
Mr. Cashman is a co-founder of Protez Pharmaceuticals Inc. and served as director, president and CEO. Protez was acquired by Novartis in 2008. He was the recipient of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award at the 2008 MAC Alliance Conference and the “Life Sciences CEO of the Year” by the Eastern Technology Council. Mr. Cashman has enjoyed a career in the pharmaceutical industry including prior roles as president and CEO, Message Pharmaceuticals, and as vice president, sales and marketing, for both Pfizer and SmithKline Beecham. He currently also serves on the board of directors of Noble Biomaterials, MBF Therapeutics, JDP Therapeutics, Ansaris, Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress, and the Science Center.
Manya Deehr
Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel
Eurand
Manya Deehr is currently the chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary of Eurand. Formerly a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, she has also clerked for the Honorable Giles S. Rich and is admitted to practice in front of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Ms. Deehr has a degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University. She serves on the board of Pennsylvania Bio and formerly on the board of Velcera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alon Gev
Partner, New York Metro Area Technology Industry Practice Leader
Grant Thornton, LLP
Alon Gev is an audit partner in Grant Thornton’s New York Cluster which includes four offices. He has more than 18 years of experience in public accounting and currently provides professional services to both public and private companies including many accelerated filers. He focuses on the technology industry and is leading the New York Metro Technology Industry Practice serving many public and private technology clients including many life science, software, internet, cleantech, media and communication companies. Mr. Gev has significant experience with IPO’s, mergers and acquisitions as well as debt offerings and other complex business transactions. Mr. Gev has a B.A. from the Tel Aviv School of Business Administration.
Kerry Grens
Senior Health and Science Reporter
WHYY
Kerry Grens has been reporting for WHYY since February 2008. Prior to WHYY, Ms. Grens was a staff writer for The Scientist. She began her career in journalism through an AAAS science writing fellowship at KUNC, an NPR affiliate in Greeley, Colorado. Following that, she spent two years as New Hampshire Public Radio's health and science reporter. She has a masters degree in biological sciences from Stanford University, where she did research in neuroscience, and a bachelors degree in biology from Loyola University Chicago. Ms. Grens’ stories appear on WHYY-FM during Morning Edition and All Things Considered and on WHYY-TV during First.
Jonathon Kellerman
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Jonathon Kellerman is a partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Advisory practice and specializes in process and operations improvement and risk management in pharmaceutical sales and marketing businesses. He is responsible for leading the practice's Sales & Marketing initiative across Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, including a team of over 40 diverse professionals. Mr. Kellerman has over 14 years of consulting, advisory and project management experience working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the pharmaceutical and health care industries and has dedicated the past nine years to providing strategic and operations improvement advisory services to his pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech industry clients.
Thomas Koncsics
Partner
KPMG LLP
Tom Koncsics is an audit partner in KPMG’s Philadelphia office with more than twenty years of public accounting experience. He works primarily with venture-backed and public life sciences companies. Mr. Koncsics has significant experience with SEC filings, initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions. He also has specific expertise with research and development collaborations, licensing arrangements and joint ventures and is a Firm-designated specialist in accounting for stock-based compensation arrangements. Mr. Koncsics previously completed a two-year rotation in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice where he provided guidance to KPMG engagement teams and clients on technical accounting issues related to a variety of topics, including stock-based compensation, debt and equity matters, and revenue recognition.
Brian Lenz, CPA, MBA
CFO
CorMedix
Brian Lenz has more than 15 years of financial and operational experience, which include significant capital raising, merger and acquisition and other strategic activities. Prior to CorMedix, Mr. Lenz was CFO of Arno Therapeutics and previously served the same role at VioQuest Pharmaceuticals. Prior to VioQuest, he was the controller of Smiths Detection Group where he was responsible for corporate and operational financial reporting and consolidation of its international operations. Prior to Smiths, Mr. Lenz was senior auditor with KPMG, LLP. Mr. Lenz is a CPA licensed in NJ, and a member of the CFO advisory committee of BioNJ.
Bruce Shook
President & CEO
Neuronetics, Inc.
Mr. Shook is the president, CEO, and co-founder of Neuronetics, Inc., a medical device company that develops and markets therapeutic neuromodulation products for psychiatric and neurologic diseases. Prior to Neuronetics, Mr. Shook was president, CEO and co-founder of Neuron Therapeutics, a venture-backed company that developed drug/device combination products for the treatment of traumatic CNS disorders. Previously, Mr. Shook was president of Abiomed, a publicly-traded medical device company, where he brought the first external ventricular assist device to the U.S. market. Mr. Shook also held positions in engineering, sales support and regulatory affairs with Cordis Corporation. Mr. Shook holds advanced degrees in biomedical engineering and business administration from Columbia University and the MIT Sloan School of Management respectively, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University. He is a director for medical device companies Neuronetics, Surgiquest, and Cardiac Concepts, and serves on the board of the Penn State Research Foundation.
Randall Sunberg
Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Randall Sunberg is co-chair of Morgan Lewis’ Life Sciences Transactions Practice, and vice chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Interdisciplinary Group. He works with life sciences clients ranging from biotech start-ups to global pharma companies, including specialty pharma, medical device, diagnostics and other technology companies, on a variety of transactions, including complex collaborations, M&A, joint ventures, spin-outs, partnering and licensing. He also counsels companies on royalty monetizations and other alternative financing arrangements, manufacturing and supply arrangements and co-promotion deals. Mr. Sunberg received his J.D. from New York University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree from Yale University.
Samir Tari, M.D.
President & CEO
PCAsso Diagnostics, LLC
PCAsso is founded and managed by Samir Tari, M.D. Dr. Tari is the main inventor of the PolyChromatic Angiography and has substantial experience in R&D in both academia and industry. After his medical training at Cairo University, Dr. Tari joined Columbia University as a post doctoral fellow. After his success in basic science research, Dr. Tari was awarded the Daniel Kirby fellowship in translational research at the Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Clinical Research Center in Vision. After Columbia University, Dr. Tari joined the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary to train in uveitis (inflammation of the eye). During his training, Dr. Tari was an investigator in 8 industry clinical trials and numerous other academic clinical research projects. After this training, Dr. Tari joined Lux Biosciences.
Donna Tempel, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Drais Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Donna Tempel is president, CEO, and co-founder of Drais Pharmaceuticals Inc. Drais is a venture-capital supported clinical-stage drug development company, based in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Prior to founding Drais, Dr. Tempel was co-founder and COO of AkaRx Inc., which was acquired by Eisai Inc. in January, 2010. Dr. Tempel holds a MBA in finance from Farleigh Dickenson University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from CUNY/Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Tony Torrington
Partner and New Jersey Life Sciences Market Leader
Ernst & Young
Tony Torrington is a partner in Ernst & Young's Assurance practice, with more than 18 years of experience serving principally high-growth life science clients at various stages of development. Mr. Torrington is focused on SEC accounting and reporting matters, including filings of registration statements, quarterly and annual reporting on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, private offering memorandums, acquisition and disposition accounting, contract and software revenue recognition, and equity related accounting issues. Mr. Torrington’s clients include companies that have successfully navigated through initial public offerings, mergers, acquisitions and both private and public equity and debt offerings.
Lizanne Wentz
Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Incyte Corporation
Lizanne Wentz has more than 20 years of experience in communications and strategic planning in the health care industry. Her expertise covers public relations, investor communications, and graphic arts. Ms. Wentz established the corporate communications function at Adolor Corporation and served as senior manager of the department. She led the PR and IR efforts from pre-IPO status through the commercial launch and approval of a flagship product. She serves as the communications committee chair at Pennsylvania Bio, and she is co-chair of the communications committee for Biotech 2010 Conference.
Timothy Whitten
President & CEO
Transave, Inc.
Timothy Whitten has been president and CEO of Transave since June 2006. The New Jersey based company is focused on developing inhaled treatments for treating serious lung infections. Mr. Whitten joined Transave from Pharmacyclics where he served as senior vice president of commercial operations and development. Prior to Pharmacyclics, he spent 16 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb in a variety of roles. His last role at BMS was that of vice president, global marketing, oncology and immunology. He earned his MBA from the University of Virginia and his pharmacy degree from West Virginia University.
Elizabeth S. Woo, Ph.D.
Vice President, Global Accounts
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dr. Woo is a vice president at Thermo Fisher Scientific, serving in senior commercial management roles since she joined the company in 2003. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Dr. Woo held operational and commercial leadership roles at biotech start-up, Cellomics, from 1998-2003. Dr. Woo led a research program and served on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh from 1991-1998, where she also completed her postdoctoral studies. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from George Washington University. Dr. Woo currently serves on the board of directors for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, and Science and Technology Academy.
Pascal Yvon, PharmD, MBA
President
BioSciences Expansion
Dr. Pascal Yvon is the founder and president of BioSciences Expansion, which provides life science comprehensive services and solutions from strategic planning to operational development and execution. Dr. Yvon has over 20 years experience working worldwide with biotech, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics companies. An expert in implementing new technologies, he speaks at industry events, conferences and webinars. He authored several trade journals and chapters in industry reference books. Dr. Yvon is also the founder of BioSciences Quality Testing Forum,an interactive communication platform on analytical tools and methods (www.BioQTForum.com). He holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Paris University, and an Executive MBA from Rutgers University, NJ.