2010 Panelists
Stephen Allan, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Unilife Corporation
Debarata Banerjee, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
Han Seong Bang, Vice President, Dasan Medichem Co., Ltd.
Roy J. Baranello, Jr., Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, ViroPharma Incorporated
Sanjay Batra, Ph.D., FACC, President and CEO, Aesthetic Factors, LLC.
Brendan Benner, Director of Public Affairs, MDMA
Diane Bieri, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, PhRMA
Leslie Browne, Ph.D., President and CEO, Senesco Technologies, Inc.
Matthew Cabrey, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Shire Pharmaceuticals
Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Medical Ethics, University of Pennsylvania
John Castellani, President and CEO, PhRMA
Geert Cauwenbergh, Ph.D., Managing Director, Phases 123, Chairman, BioNJ
Alex Chang, Ph.D., Director of Business Development, Samyang Research Corp.
Gregory Chodaczek, Senior Research Analyst, Boenning & Scattergood
Morgan Conn, Ph.D., CLP, Senior Director, Business Development, PTC Therapeutics, Inc
Blaine Davis, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Endo Pharmaceuticals
Debra Dunne Esq., Partner, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., Director, Insulin Initiative, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
John Fraher, Chief Commercial Officer, Eurand
Ray Frost, Executive Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Eisai Inc.
James Greenwood, President and CEO, Biotechnology Industry Organization
Annette Grimaldi, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M., D.Sc., Professor and Chair, The Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute
Michael Heggie, Director of Reimbursement, Synthes
Thomas Hess, CPA, Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO, Yaupon Therapeutics, Inc.
T. Patrick Hill, Ph.D., Senior Policy Fellow, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Hyunki (Christian) Hong, CBO, Eyegene
Soon Yong Hong, Regional Director General, KOTRA North America
Alex Howarth, Chief Business Officer, moksha8 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Stephen Hurly, Managing Director, Boenning & Scattergood
Dennis Jackman, Senior Vice President Public Affairs, CSL Behring
Jin-Wook Jang, Ph.D., Principal Researcher, Eyegene, Inc.
Da Hee Jeong, Ph.D., Executive Consultant, Invest KOREA, KOTRA
Jae Hwang Jeong, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedicine, ChungBuk Provincial University
Yong Kwan Jun, Senior Director, Boryung Pharmaceutical Ltd.
Dong Woo Kim, Deputy Director, Daegu High-tech Medical Cluster
Min Young Kim, Ph.D., CEO, Angiolab, Inc.
Nam Yong Kim, Ph.D., Team Leader, Center for R&D Performance Support (Frontier Center)
Paul Kim, Vice President, Business Development, Viromed Co., Ltd.
Tae Hun Kim, Assistant Manager, Boryung Pharmaceutical, Ltd.
David King, Partner, Quaker BioVentures
Joseph La Barge, Executive Director & Corporate Counsel, Tengion Inc.
Charles LaPree, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Shire Pharmaceuticals
Hee Kyung Lee, Life Science Associate, ProCell Therapeutics, Inc.
Woo-Sirl Lee, Ph.D., Post-Doc Researcher, Postech-Acornex
James Lewis, Vice President, Business Development, Esperance Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Peter Loftus, Reporter, Dow Jones Newswire
Doug Long, Vice President of Industry Relations, IMS HEALTH
Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., CEO, QR Pharma Inc.
John Maki, President & CEO, Vicus Therapeutics
Kathleen McGowan, Vice President of Finance, Tobira Therapeutics
Mark McKinlay, Ph.D., CSO & Senior Vice President Research & Development, TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals
Vincent Milano, President and CEO, ViroPharma Incorporated
Will Mongan, Executive Director, US Business Development, AstraZeneca
Ted Moon, Managing Director, Roberts Mitani Advisors, LLC
John Murphy, Director for State Government Relations, Biotechnology Industry Organization
John Murray, Owner, Grayscale Compliance
Francois Nader, M.D., President & CEO, NPS Pharmaceuticals
P. Sherrill Neff, Partner, Quaker BioVentures
Oye Olukotun, M.D., MPH, FACC, CEO, CardioVax
Ashleigh Palmer, President & CEO, Unigene Laboratories, Inc.
Michael Parks, Executive Vice President, Public Relations & Marketing Communications, Vox Medica
Debra Parrish, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Parrish Law Offices
Richard Pasternak, Former Head Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership, Merck & Co., Inc
Michael Pollard, Senior Advisor, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
Dennis Purcell, Senior Managing Director, Aisling Capital
Gloria Rabinowitz, Managing Director, Golden Seeds Philadelphia
Andrew Reaume, Ph.D., MBA, President & CEO, Melior Discovery, Inc.
H. Joseph Reiser, Ph.D., President & CEO, CureDM, Inc.
Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein, M.D., Associate Center Director, Post Market Operations, CDRH, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Salvatore Salamone, Ph.D., CEO, Saladax Biomedical, Inc.
Thomas Sanford, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Johnson & Johnson
James Sapirstein, RPh, MBA, President and CEO, Tobira Therapeutics
Evonne Sepsis, Managing Director, ESC Advisors
Sanjiv Sharma, Former Head of NicOx Inc. and Senior Vice President WW Commercial Affairs
Hunwoo (Harry) Shin, Ph.D., Associate Director, SK Life Science Inc.
Stephen Simpson, Partner, Strategic Growth Markets, Ernst & Young
Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., CEO, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
Joel Slackman, Managing Director, Policy, BlueCross BlueShield Association
Mark Stejbach, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Tengion, Inc.
Joel Sussman, CFO, Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc.
Duncan Taylor, Ph.D., FAIC, Senior Director, Business Development, SK Life Science
Stephen Tullman, Executive Chairman, Vicept Therapeutics, Inc.
Stephen Ubl, President and CEO, AdvaMed
Judy Ways, Ph.D., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, Neuronetics, Inc.
Darren Wolfe, Ph.D., President, Diamyd, Inc.
Sung-Eun Yoo, Ph.D., Director, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)
Won Il Yoo, CEO, Eyegene
Stephen Allan
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Unilife Corporation
Mr. Stephen Allan is the vice president of marketing and communications for Unilife Corporation, a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of innovative medical devices listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and Australian stock exchange. Mr. Allan was one of the first members of Unilife, joining the company prior to its initial Australian inception in 2002. In total, he has more than 15 years experience in media, government liaison and public affairs. Prior to joining Unilife, he owned and operated his own Australian public relations firm representing private industry groups and government agencies within the tourism, transport and economic development sectors.
Debabrata Banerjee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Medicine and Pharmacology
Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – UMDNJ
Research interests in this lab in which Dr. Debabrata Banerjee is involved at the Cancer Institute include studies on aspects of epithelial solid tumor biology such as neoplastic progression, tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Other interests in the lab include epigenetic therapy for colorectal cancer. The lab is also involved in spatial and temporal visualization of dynamics of marrow progenitor cell transplantation and engraftment in living animals using multimodality imaging to better understand hematopoietic reconstitution in vivo, particularly the early events, allowing prediction of successful engraftment. Dr. Banerjee also participates in teaching in the medical school and the graduate school at RWJMS/UMDNJ.
Han Seong Bang
Vice President
Dasan Medichem Co., Ltd.
Mr. Han Seong Bang has been the U.S. representative of Dasan Medichem, Co., Ltd. since the branch was established in 2009. Mr. Bang manages IP, RA, and business development. Mr. Bang has had more than 20 years business experience in the Korean pharmaceutical industry. He started his career as a product manager of YuHan Corporation and has worked for various companies, including LG Life Science. He has been with Dasan Medichem for more than six years, previously serving as the General Manager of its GMP plant and Scientific Division Director. Mr. Bang received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Sogang University in Korea.
Roy Baranello, Jr.
Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs
ViroPharma Incorporated
Roy Baranello is currently the senior director, regulatory affairs at ViroPharma Incorporated. He is responsible for leading the regulatory team at ViroPharma’s Exton, PA site and for overseeing the development of regulatory strategies supporting the full life-cycle of product development and commercialization. He has over 25 years of experience in the regulatory affairs field and held previous positions at both Pfizer and Wyeth. During his career at Wyeth he held various positions with responsibilities for regulatory strategy, policy, liaison with the FDA, and for advising on regulatory strategies pertaining to the development of new products and new indications. Mr. Baranello received a M.S. in pharmaceutics from the Temple University School of Pharmacy and a B.S. in microbiology from the Pennsylvania State University.
Sanjay Batra, Ph.D., FACC
President and CEO
Aesthetic Factors, LLC
Sanjay Batra, Ph.D., FACC, is president and CEO of Aesthetic Factors, LLC, a company focused on autologous therapies to enhance rejeuvention in dermatology and plastic surgery. Previously he was senior vice president at Garnet BioTherapeutics, Inc., a company focused on regenerative medicine. Dr. Batra previously held positions of increasing responsibility within the Johnson & Johnson family of companies for 9 years, most recently as vice president, R&D pharmaceuticals, Asia-Pacific and Japan. Prior to J&J, Dr. Batra was in clinical development at Bracco Diagnostics, and in preclinical and clinical development at Alliance Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Batra obtained his Ph.D. in Medical Physiology from the University of Ottawa and completed his post-doctoral training in Japan and Switzerland.
Brendan Benner
Director of Public Affairs
Medical Device Manufacturers Association
Brendan Benner is the director of public affairs for the MDMA where he is in charge of communications, strategic outreach and grassroots development. Mr. Benner spent several years working in Congress, serving both as a communications director and district director for former Congresswoman Melissa Hart (PA) and Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA) respectively. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Mr. Benner served as the Pennsylvania victory communications director for Senator John McCain. Mr. Benner is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and a graduate of Georgetown University and Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
Diane Bieri
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
PhRMA
Diane Bieri serves as executive vice president and general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), an association representing the leading research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the United States. Ms. Bieri joined PhRMA in June 2004 as assistant general counsel and compliance officer. Prior to joining PhRMA, Ms. Bieri worked as an associate and then partner with the law firm Howrey LLP for nearly 10 years, specializing in antitrust and complex commercial litigation. While in private practice, Ms. Bieri represented clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and contractor services industries, among others. Ms. Bieri received a J.D. (cum laude) from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1995 and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science (summa cum laude) from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992.
Leslie Browne, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Senesco Technologies, Inc.
Dr. Leslie Browne has more than 30 years of experience at Novartis, Berlex, Pharmacopeia and other companies in New Jersey and California. Currently he is president and CEO of Senesco in New Brunswick, NJ, a cancer therapeutics company focused on multiple myeloma. Dr. Browne began his industrial career at Ciba Geigy, now Novartis, where he invented fadrozole for the treatment of breast cancer and was closely involved in the discoveries of Femara and Diovan, which became major products for Novartis.
Matthew Cabrey
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Shire Pharmaceuticals
As senior director of corporate communications at Shire Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Cabrey is responsible for helping to create and reinforce the corporate image of this global specialty biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Shire, he served as a vice president of corporate communications for The PNC Financial Services Group. He joined PNC after working as manager of media relations for Keystone Mercy Health Plan. He began his post with Keystone Mercy in 1998 after a seven-year career with the Philadelphia chapter of the American Red Cross. Mr. Cabrey began his professional career in radio as a reporter, editor and producer at radio stations in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. A graduate of Penn State University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a minor in sociology.
Arthur Caplan, Ph.D.
Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor, Chair Department of Medical Ethics
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Caplan is currently, the Emmanuel and Robert Hart professor of Bioethics, chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He is also the author or editor of 29 books, including his most recent, Smart Mice Not So Smart People (Rowman Littlefield, 2006), and more than 500 papers in refereed journals. He writes a regular column on bioethics for MSNBC.com and is a frequent guest and commentator on various media outlets. Dr. Caplan did his undergraduate work at Brandeis University, and did his graduate work at Columbia University where he received a Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science.
John Castellani
President and CEO
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
John Castellani became president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in August 2010. In this role, he leads an organization that represents America’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies. In assuming his new responsibilities, Mr. Castellani has pledged that PhRMA will continue to lead efforts to find patient-centered solutions to health care challenges in America and around the globe. In particular, PhRMA will focus on helping to successfully implement – and improve – the recently enacted health care reform law and will work to build a dynamic environment in the U.S. that promotes and rewards medical innovation.
Before joining PhRMA, Mr. Castellani was president and CEO of Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations. Prior to becoming president of Business Roundtable, Mr. Castellani was executive vice president of Tenneco Inc. Mr. Castellani’s Washington experience includes serving as vice president for resources and technology with the National Association of Manufacturers, and as vice president of state, federal and international government relations for TRW Inc. He started his career at General Electric as an environmental scientist and strategic planner. A graduate of Union College in Schenectady, New York, Mr. Castellani now serves on its board of trustees.
Geert Cauwenbergh, Ph.D.
Founder, Phases 123 LLC
Chairman, BioNJ
Dr. Geert Cauwenbergh is the founder of Phases 123 LLC, a company focused on identifying and working with high potential health care technology platforms and emerging health care companies. In 2001, he founded Barrier Therapeutics, Inc., which developed skin disease treatments. Barrier went public and raised a total of $250 million in capital, evolving from an R&D organization into a commercial company with revenues of $43 million in 2008, prior to its acquisition by Stiefel Laboratories. He also served as chairman and CEO of RHEI Pharmaceuticals of Plainsboro, NJ, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on bringing core medicines from the U.S., Europe and Japan to China.
Alex Chang, Ph.D.
Director of Business Development
Samyang Research Corporation
Dr. Alex Chang is director of business development for Samyang Research Corporation, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Samyang Corporation, with businesses in chemicals, food ingredients and pharmaceuticals and annual revenues over $3 billion. He is responsible for commercializing and out-licensing pharmaceutical products, in-licensing discovery tools and platform technologies for product development, and managing Samyang’s U.S. life science investments. Dr. Chang earned a Ph.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a B.A. from Rutgers University. He held scientific and business positions at Hoffman-LaRoche, ImClone Systems Incorporated, BioNJ and Caliper Life Sciences, and conducted research in Cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, Liddle’s Syndrome, and Infectious Disease Diagnostics.
Gregory Chodaczek
Senior Research Analyst
Boenning & Scattergood
Mr. Chodaczek joined Boenning & Scattergood in November 2008 and is currently a senior research analyst covering the medical technology sector. He has more than 13 years experience researching companies in the healthcare industry and its sub-sectors. Prior to joining Boenning & Scattergood, Mr. Chodaczek worked for Redstone Investment Management as a healthcare analyst where he generated actionable long and short ideas and performed continual fundamental analysis of the investment portfolio. Previous to Redstone, Mr. Chodaczek spent more than 7 years at Pilgrim Baxter & Associates / Liberty Ridge Capital where he was a portfolio manager and lead healthcare analyst. He earned a BS in Finance from Villanova University and his MS in Finance from Georgia State University.
Morgan Conn, Ph.D., CLP
Senior Director, Business Development,
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
Morgan Conn has participated directly in the development and negotiation of all PTC Therapeutics corporate alliances over the last seven years including collaborations with Celgene, CV Therapeutics, Genzyme, Pfizer, Roche, and Schering Plough. Dr. Conn reports to the senior vice president of corporate development and contributes to the development of PTC’s overall business strategy. He joined PTC in 2001 as a senior scientist in chemistry, working on the lead optimization program for ataluren, PTC’s lead program currently in pivotal studies. He has scientific training in bio-organic chemistry from the University of Toronto, MIT, and the University of California, Berkeley.
Blaine Davis
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Blaine Davis is vice president, corporate affairs of Endo Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Davis joined Endo in May 2008 and in this role, he leads the company’s investor relations, communications, and alliance management functions. Prior to joining Endo, Mr. Davis was employed by Bristol-Myers Squibb from 2005 until 2008 and was director of alliance management and before that he was director of investor relations. Prior to 2005, Mr. Davis was a vice president/sector head of the financial services and real estate team within the Corporate Advisory Services group at Thomson Financial. Mr. Davis received his B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont.
Debra Dunne, Esq.
Partner
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
As chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Practice Group, Ms. Dunne counsels FDA regulated companies on regulatory, commercial, compliance and risk-management issues, and litigates pharmaceutical and medical device products liability cases. Her practice covers a broad range of FDA, HHS/OIG, DOJ and individual state issues. She counsels clients on unique and complex legal considerations involving the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA), the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA), the False Claims Act and related health care laws. Ms. Dunne’s experience includes strategic guidance and legal counsel on cross-functional product issues.
John Fraher
Chief Commercial Officer
Eurand
John Fraher has been the chief commercial officer of Eurand since August 2006, the president of Eurand, Incorporated, since April 1999 and was the vice president of Eurand, Incorporated, from 1995 to April 1999. Previously, Mr. Fraher was production manager at American Home Products Corporation's affiliate, Fort Dodge Laboratories, located in Ireland, and has worked at Sterling Drug in Ireland. Mr. Fraher holds a degree in biochemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland.
Ray Frost
Executive Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy
Eisai Inc.
Ray Frost has been involved in the legislative and public policy arena since 1992 when he graduated from Hofstra University. He has served as a legislative staffer in both the state of New Jersey and Minnesota. In 2000, he became a legislative consultant for the biotech and pharma industry in Minnesota. In 2005, Mr. Frost joined MGI Pharma as director, government affairs. In 2008, he joined Eisai as senior director, federal and state government affairs. In 2010, he was promoted to executive director, government affairs and public policy. In his current role, Mr. Frost is responsible for managing Eisai’s legislative strategy and public policy initiatives at the federal & state levels.
James Greenwood
President and CEO
Biotechnology Industry Organization
James Greenwood is president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), which represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in more than 30 nations. BIO members research and develop innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry. Before joining BIO in 2005, Mr. Greenwood represented Pennsylvania's Eighth District in the U.S. House of Representatives for twelve years. Prior to his election to Congress, he served twelve years in the Pennsylvania state legislature.
Annette Grimaldi
Managing Director
BMO Capital Markets
Annette Grimaldi joined BMO Capital Markets in December 2009 as a managing director in the Healthcare Group, responsible for its life sciences practice. Before BMO, Ms. Grimaldi spent four years at Jefferies & Company as managing director responsible for life sciences investment banking and ten years as a managing director and senior member of SG Cowen’s healthcare investment team. She began her career at Goldman, Sachs & co. She has an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania Lauder Institute and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M., D.Sc.
Professor and Chair
The Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program at The Wistar Institute
Dr. Meenhard Herlyn is professor and chair of the Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, PA. He is also the associate director for Translational Research in the Cancer Center and director of the Melanoma Research Center. He has been a cancer researcher since his arrival at Wistar in 1976 and has worked in melanoma research since 1977. His research focuses on the biological significance of growth factors and adhesion molecules in skin morphogenesis, transformation to melanoma, and melanoma growth, invasion and metastasis, using a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. Dr. Herlyn has over 400 publications, 90% of which are in melanoma, with the others on basic biological mechanisms in cancer.
Thomas Hess, CPA
Senior Vice President, Finance and CFO
Yaupon Therapeutics Inc.
Mr. Hess has 25 years of domestic and international financial experience. Prior to joining Yaupon Therapeutics, Mr. Hess was the vice president, finance and CFO of Adolor Corporation from 2005 to 2008 where his responsibilities included investor relations, SEC reporting and cash management. From 2003 until joining Adolor Corporation, Mr. Hess was corporate controller of Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company that was acquired by Pfizer in 2005 for $1.9 billion. Mr. Hess was also controller of Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc., a manufacturer of high tech avionics equipment. Prior to joining Innovative Solutions and Support he was with KPMG LLP for ten years in various positions, including as a senior manager. Mr. Hess has a B.S. in accounting from Pennsylvania State University and a MBA in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh.
T. Patrick Hill, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Fellow, Edward J Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers University
T. Patrick Hill, Ph.D. is senior policy fellow at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University. Dr. Hill is also the research ethics consultant to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and clinical ethics consultant to the Neonatology Division at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center. Dr. Hill is a graduate of Cambridge University, UCLA, and the University of Chicago, where he earned his doctorate. Among his more recent publications are: Phase 0 Trials: Are they ethically challenged? and Rare Tumors: An Appeal for Justice.
Soon Yong Hong
Regional Director General
KOTRA North America
Mr. Soon Yong-Hong has been with KOTRA since 1981, and became regional Director General forKOTRA's North American division in October 2008. He was previously Director General for Overseas Investment Support at KOTRA’s Seoul headquarters from 2006 to 2008, and has also served as the Executive Director at KOTRA’s overseas offices in Helsinki, Finland and Zurich, Switzerland. Mr. Hong received his bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University and earned his MBA in 2008 from the Helsinki School of Economics.
Alex Howarth
CBO
moksha8 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mr. Howarth is responsible for a number of core operational activities at moksha8, including business and corporate development, finance, legal, and IT. Prior to joining moksha8, Mr. Howarth was CBO at Vitae Pharmaceuticals, a small-molecule biotechnology firm headquartered in Philadelphia. Previously, Mr, Howarth spent ten years at GSK plc in a variety of corporate development and finance roles, most recently heading the Venture Partnerships group.
Prior to joining GSK, Mr. Howarth worked at KPMG, the international finance and consultancy firm. Previously, he conducted research at Celltech plc and Merck, Sharpe & Dohme in the UK, and The Garvan Medical Institute in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Howarth holds a BSc in Biochemistry and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Stephen Hurly
Managing Director
Boenning & Scattergood
Mr. Hurly joined Boenning & Scattergood Inc. in 2008 as a managing director and global head of the firm’s Health Care Investment Banking Practice. Prior, Mr. Hurly was the managing director and head of the Life Sciences Group at Janney Montgomery Scott. Mr. Hurly’s earlier investment banking experience was with Hambrecht & Quist and JP Morgan in San Francisco. With Hambrecht & Quist, Mr. Hurly closed over 30 public and private financings as well as M&A transactions, eventually becoming a member of the executive offices. Mr. Hurly is regarded as an expert in strategic transactions, product licensing, and associated capital raising. Previously, Mr. Hurly has also worked at UBS Securities in New York City. He has completed over 100 deals with an aggregate value over $10 billion and has raised over $400 million in capital. He has an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a BS in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Dennis Jackman
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
CSL Behring
Mr. Jackman is senior vice president of public affairs for CSL Behring and has global responsibility for public policy, stakeholder relations, and corporate communications. He has held senior public affairs positions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry since 1989. Before this, he was a senior aide to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter in appropriations, tax, trade, and other business-related areas. Mr. Jackman earned his MBA from Cornell University Johnson School of Management and his B.A. in Sociology, focused on public opinion research, from the Pennsylvania State University.
Da Hee Jeong, Ph.D.
Executive Consultant
Invest KOREA, KOTRA
Dr. Da Hee Jeong is in charge of promoting foreign direct investment into Korea for the biotech and healthcare industries. She does consulting work for specialized information on the biotech, pharmaceutical and the medical device business, and does support of cooperative activities with foreign investors and Korean company/governmental officers. She helps these firms network with opinion leaders in both the private and public sector within the bio-pharma and healthcare industries, such as promising bioventure companies, researchers, pharma companies and government officers. Dr. Jeong has accumulated research experience within Korean pharmaceutical companies, universities and research institutes over 8 years. In 2005, she received her Ph.D in Veterinary Pathology from Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea.
Jae Hwang Jeong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedicine
ChungBuk Provincial University
Dr. Jeong has almost 20 years of experience in the safety & efficacy of biomaterials, in roles as varied as research, project management, strategic planning, and general operations. Specifically, Dr. Jeong served in the KFDA (Korean FDA) as a specialist in toxicology R&D planning. Currently, Dr. Jeong participates as a technical expert at the Osong high-tech biomedical cluster & as design manager of Osong's laboratory animal center. Dr. Jeong began his career in 1997 with Dongshin Pharmaceutical Ltd. He has taught laboratory animal medicine and toxicology at CPU since 2008.
Dong Woo Kim
Deputy Director
Daegu High-tech Medical Cluster
Mr. Kim is a local government officer who is responsible for the marketing and management services of the High-tech Medical Cluster within Daegu Metropolitan City. The Daegu High-Tech Medical Cluster was established in 2009 and is supported through a Daegu City government policy initiative. At this facility, there are a number of major institutes and universities now conducting clinical trials for new drug development. Daegu also has a well-harmonized infrastructure for the healthcare industry. Mr. Kim obtained his bachelor’s degree in public administration in 1998 from Sungkunkwan University in Seoul and passed the public administration.
Min-Young Kim, Ph.D.
CEO
AngioLab, Inc.
Dr. Min-Young Kim is a founder of AngioLab, and CEO since the company’s inception in 1999. Prior to founding AngioLab, Dr. Kim had extensive experience in angiogenesis research at a research institute for eight years. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry at Ohio State University.
Paul Kim
Vice President, Business Development
Viromed Co., Ltd.
Mr. Kim is vice president of business development for ViroMed, a leading public biotherapeutics company. Mr. Kim also concurrently serves as head of Novartis Korea Venture Fund – the first global pharmaceutical fund to focus solely on emerging Korean biotech investments. Prior to joining ViroMed, Mr. Kim also served as vice president of business development at Crystal Genomics. Prior to CG, Mr. Kim was co-founder & director of POSCO BioVentures. Before starting POSCO BioVentures, Mr. Kim was a senior research associate at Genentech and AP Pharma. Mr. Kim holds a bachelors degree in Molecular Cell Biology from UC-Berkeley, and is a graduate of the National Venture Capital Institute & member of the Licensing Executives Society.
David King
Partner
Quaker BioVentures
David R. King was a co-founder and CEO of BioRexis Pharmaceutical Corporation, which was acquired by Pfizer in 2007. He is currently a venture partner with Quaker BioVentures, a life sciences VC firm with $700 million under management, and chairman of Diasome Pharmaceuticals, which is developing drugs for diabetes. Prior to starting BioRexis, Mr. King was president of Delsys Pharmaceutical Corp., which was acquired by Elan, and CEO of Principia Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Human Genome
Sciences. For over 25 years before his positions in biotech, Mr. King was with Morgan Lewis, one of the country’s largest and most prominent law firms.
Joseph La Barge
Executive Director and Corporate Counsel
Tengion Inc.
Mr. La Barge is executive director, corporate counsel and secretary of Tengion Inc. Mr. La Barge has guided Tengion through multiple venture financings, debt restructurings, and its recent IPO. Prior to Tengion, he was the assistant general counsel at PMA Capital Corporation, a provider of specialized risk management solutions. Mr. La Barge started his career as an associate in the Business and Finance Department of Ballard Spahr LLP where he counseled companies in a variety of securities, M&A, and licensing transactions. Mr. La Barge received a B.A. from Bucknell University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
Charles LaPree
Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs
Shire Pharmaceuticals
Chuck LaPree has spent the last 18 years in regulatory affairs out of a total of 21 years in the industry. For the past 6 years he has been globally responsible for the ADHD therapeutic area at Shire, and has recently transitioned to head of U.S. regulatory affairs. Prior to Shire, he worked in various regulatory positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Teva, Astra Merck and Fisons. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology and an M.S. In Environmental Sciences from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Woo Sirl Lee, Ph.D.
Post-Doc Researcher
Postech-Arconex
Woo Sirl Lee, Ph.D. is a researcher as a post doctoral fellow in the department of chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Dr. Lee has worked on novel drug delivery technology for the treatment of brain diseases crossing blood-brain barrier (BBB) since 2004. Dr. Lee has published about 20 papers and patents in the area of drug delivery technology. Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. from the Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory (Prof. Sung-Kee Chung) at POSTECH.
James Lewis
Vice President, Business Development
Esperance Pharmaceuticals
James Lewis has over two decades of leadership experience in the life science industry across a range of strategic and operational roles in business development and commercialization. Before joining Esperance, Mr. Lewis founded the Freestone Group, a professional and venture services firm supporting emerging life science companies and investors. Previously, he was director, business development in metabolic disorders, brand director for Crestor® and commercial director for gastroenterology emerging brands at AstraZeneca. He has also held senior leadership positions in corporate and business development, portfolio strategy and commercial operations in both private public companies including Biosyn, ViroPharma and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
Peter Loftus
Reporter
Dow Jones Newswires
Peter Loftus reports on the pharmaceutical industry for Dow Jones Newswires and is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal. He is currently based in Philadelphia and has been with Dow Jones since 1997. He contributed to coverage of the merger of Pfizer and Wyeth that won a “Best in Business” journalism award from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers. Prior to joining Dow Jones, he worked for community newspapers outside Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in English and history in 1992.
Doug Long
Vice President of Industry Relations
IMS HEALTH
Doug Long is vice president of industry relations at IMS Heath, the world’s largest pharmaceutical information company, serving over 101 countries. He has been with IMS since 1989. Previously, Mr. Long was at Nielsen Market Research for sixteen years. He received a B.A. degree from DePauw University, and an MBA in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D.
CEO
QR Pharma, Inc.
Maria Maccecchini received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rockefeller University and was a postdoc in molecular biology at Caltech. She worked for a large and then a small company before starting Symphony Pharmaceuticals which was acquired by Transgenomic. Dr. Maccecchini then joined two angel groups – Robin Hood Ventures and Mid-Atlantic Angel Group.
In 2008, Dr. Maccecchini started her second company, QR Pharma, with clinical-stage technology licensed from NIH/Torrey Pines. The company is developing two therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD): one targets early-stage AD and the other late-stage AD. Posiphen, the lead compound successfully completed its 3rd phase I study and the second compound is ready to enter first in man safety.
John Maki
President & CEO
Vicus Therapeutics
John Maki is president CEO and founder of Vicus Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focus on breakthrough adjunct therapies for cancer. Previously, managing director, Technology Directors, 2001-2005, managing director, Audax Group, 1999-2001; principal, Bain Capital, 1988-1997; consultant, Bain & Company, 1983-1988; research assistant, National Bureau of Economic Research, 1980-1983. He has over 25 years of industry experience and has been founding investor and/or board member of eleven life science companies. Three of his portfolio companies had successful IPO, growing to a combined market capitalization exceeding $1.5 billion. He serves on the boards of 3DMatrix, Addition Technology, and BioNJ. He holds an AB in Economics from Harvard University.
Kathleen McGowan
Vice President of Finance
Tobira Therapeutics
Kathleen McGowan has 27 years of financial experience in the pharmaceutical/ biotech industry. She has served as vice president of finance for Tobira Therapeutics since 2008. Previously, she served as director, finance & controller (CAO) of Discovery Laboratories; director financial analysis of Claneil Enterprises; financial controller of Liposome Company; controller of Nelson Communications; and 13 years in financial management positions with Johnson & Johnson. She holds a B.S. in finance and accounting from Drexel University and an MBA in finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Mark McKinlay, Ph.D.
CSO and Senior Vice President Research & Development
TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals
Mark McKinlay is CSO and senior vice president research and development of TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, a Malvern, PA-based biotech developing Smac mimetics for the treatment of cancer. TetraLogic’s lead compound, TL32711, is currently in clinical trials. Following doctoral studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a postdoctoral research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, he joined the Sterling Winthrop Research Institute. Dr. McKinlay subsequently cofounded ViroPharma Incorporated where he served as Vice President of R&D.
Vincent Milano
President and CEO
ViroPharma Incorporated
Vincent Milano is ViroPharma’s president and CEO, and member of the Board of Directors as of March 2008. He joined the company in 1996 and served as vice president, CFO, and treasurer from 1997 to 2006. In 2006, he assumed the role of vice president, CFO and chief operating officer. Mr. Milano has been instrumental in building ViroPharma, including leading efforts in raising nearly $900 million in capital and the acquisition of Vancocin(R) from Eli Lilly and Company. He has played a critical role in all business development and investor relations activities of the company, and has contributed significantly to establishing the strategic direction of the company. Prior to joining ViroPharma, he was with KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, where he served as senior manager. Mr. Milano received his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Rider College.
Will Mongan
Executive Director, U.S. Business Development
AstraZeneca
During his 18 years of service at AstraZeneca, Will Mongan has completed strategic collaborations, in-licenses, out-licenses, acquisitions and divestitures as both an attorney and transaction leader. Currently, he oversees activities to fuel AstraZeneca’s pipeline and leverage transformational commercial capabilities. Prior to his current position, Mr. Mongan held a range of positions of increasing responsibility in AstraZeneca’s commercial, business development and legal organizations. During his career he has overseen the creation of a broad spectrum of healthcare alliances both within and beyond traditional pharma/biotech. Mr. Mongan received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from University of Delaware and his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law.
Ted Moon
Managing Director
Roberts Mitani Advisors, LLC
Mr. Moon is the managing director of RMA, and has over 9 years of global finance, business development, and law experience. He specializes in the technology and life sciences sectors in addition to structured finance. Before joining Roberts Mitani, he practiced corporate law at a Philadelphia based firm as well as served as general counsel to VAI. Mr. Moon received both a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and an MBA from Kyung Hee University (Seoul). He also earned an MBA from George Washington University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
John Murphy
Director for State Health Policy
Biotechnology Industry Organization
John Murphy directs all state-level advocacy for healthcare-related issues on behalf of BIO’s member companies and affiliates. In that capacity, Mr. Murphy oversees the development of policy positions, trade articles, briefings, and direct legislative advocacy on issues ranging from healthcare reform implementation to general state activity related to pharmaceutical and biotechnology sales and marketing practices, economic development, and research innovation. Previously, Mr. Murphy was an associate at the law firm of Hogan Lovells, LLP where his practice focused on pharmaceutical industry compliance matters as well as state and federal healthcare policy. Mr. Murphy is a graduate of Villanova University and The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.
John Murray
Owner
Grayscale Compliance
John is an expert in FDA regulation of prescription drug and biologic advertising and promotion. While an employee of Johnson & Johnson/Centocor, AstraZeneca and Astra Merck, John successfully managed compliance operations, promotional regulatory departments and teams, and regulatory issues for some of the most complex and successful biologic and drug products. In 2008, John has founded a successful consulting practice that leverages experience, expert knowledge, preparation, and creativity to help clients successfully manage routine and non-routine regulatory and compliance issues.
Francois Nader, M.D.
President and CEO
NPS Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Francois Nader has been president and CEO of NPS Pharmaceuticals since 2008. After joining NPS in 2006, Dr Nader lead the transformation of the company into a leading late-stage development company focused on rare GI and endocrine disorders. Dr. Nader is a 25-year veteran of the healthcare industry. Prior to NPS, he was a venture partner at Care Capital. He was also senior vice president, integrated healthcare markets and senior vice president, North America medical and regulatory affairs with Aventis. Dr. Nader received a French State Doctorate in Medicine from St. Joseph University and a Physician Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee.
P. Sherrill Neff
Partner
Quaker BioVentures
Mr. Neff is a founding partner of Quaker BioVentures as well as a member of the board of directors of the National Venture Capital Association, and was previously chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group and former president of Pennsylvania Bio. Prior to forming Quaker BioVentures, Mr. Neff was president, chief operating officer, and a director of Neose Technologies, Inc., a publicly-traded life sciences company. Previously, Mr. Neff was senior vice president, corporate development at U.S. Healthcare, Inc., a leading health maintenance organization. Mr. Neff is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Michigan Law School.
Oye Olukotun, M.D., MPH, FACC
CEO
CardioVax
Dr. Oye Olukotun is the CEO, CardioVax Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative cardiovascular therapies. He is a co-founder of VIA Pharmaceuticals and has served as the chief medical officer since the company’s formation. A Board Certified Cardiologist with 30 years of experience in clinical research and drug development, Dr. Olukotun has been instrumental in the submission of more than fourteen New Drug Applications, Premarket Authorization Applications, and 510k Applications. Dr. Olukotun received his M.D. degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and obtained a MPH degree from Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston.
Ashleigh Palmer
President and CEO
Unigene Laboratories, Inc.
Ashleigh Palmer joined Unigene Laboratories in June 2010 as CEO. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Critical Biologics Corporation and headed the strategic advisory firm, Creative BioVentures ™. Previously, he was vice president of business development at Ohmeda Pharmaceuticals from where he spun out and founded INO Therapeutics. Under his leadership as CEO, INO commercialized the world’s first selective pulmonary vasodilator, INOmax ®. Subsequently, INO was sold to critical care company Ikaria for $670 million.
Debra Parrish
Managing Director and Co-Founder
Parrish Law Offices
Ms. Parrish is an attorney who works with academic medical centers, research institutions, high technology, and start-up companies, particularly those in the life sciences area. She assists life science companies with their reimbursement and regulatory strategies, and has secured coverage and appropriate reimbursement for a variety of new technologies including laboratory tests, medical devices and supplies, and medical treatments. She received her J.D. and B.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Duke University.
Richard Pasternak, M.D.
Former Head Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership
Merck & Co., Inc.
After 25 years at Harvard, Dr. Richard Pasternak joined Merck in 2004 as vice president, clinical research, cardiovascular, responsible for all clinical trials and related clinical strategies and activities within a newly merged CV/ Atherosclerosis therapeutic area. From 2008 through June 2010, he held the position of vice president, head of global scientific affairs and scientific
leadership at Merck. The mission of this new department was to enhance Merck's scientific reputation and advance health care through scientific leadership. Additionally, Dr. Pasternak oversaw the Global Medical and Scientific Publishing department, which was also responsible for manuscripts, the Merck Manuals, Merck Index and Merck publication policies.
Michael Pollard
Senior Advisor
Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
Mr. Pollard advises the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association on a wide range of public policy and regulatory matters, including implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Medicare Part D. Previously, he was a senior partner at a Washington, DC law firm where he represented pharmacy benefit management companies, health insurers, managed care organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health professional societies. His government service included senior policy and management appointments at the Federal Trade Commission as well as long term consultancies with the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the Center for Health Services Research at the Department of Health and Human Services. He received his J.D. and M.P.H. degrees from Harvard University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in community health at Harvard Medical School.
Dennis Purcell
Senior Managing Director
Aisling Capital
Dennis Purcell currently serves as the senior managing partner at Aisling Capital. Previously, he operated as managing director of the Life Sciences Investment Banking Group at Chase H&Q and served on the Executive Committee. Prior to joining H&Q, he was a managing director in the Healthcare Group at PaineWebber, Inc. Mr. Purcell currently serves as a director of Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Dynova Laboratories and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Mr. Purcell received his MBA from Harvard University, and his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Delaware.
Gloria Rabinowitz
Managing Director
Golden Seeds Philadelphia
Gloria Rabinowitz is director of the Enterprise Management Consulting Practice, The Fox School, Temple University. She is also the founder the GCM Group LLC, a technology development, strategy, and marketing company. Before founding the GCM Group, Ms. Rabinowitz worked for the DuPont Company holding executive level positions. She is a managing director, Golden Seeds Philadelphia Forum, a women-friendly angel investor group providing early-stage and growth capital to women entrepreneurs across all sectors. Ms. Rabinowitz has her undergraduate degree from Temple University, her MBA in Finance from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and her Masters in Information Science from The University of Michigan.
Andrew Reaume, Ph.D., MBA
President & CEO
Melior Discovery, Inc.
Dr. Reaume was previously a senior business analyst at Pfizer, Inc. in the department of Genomics and Proteomic Sciences. There he spearheaded an initiative to create a platform for comprehensively characterizing genetically modified mice and ran the collaboration involving a third party partnership to build it. This effort involved working closely with scientists throughout the global Pfizer organization, business development professionals, IT specialists as well as the scientists and business development professionals at the partner company. From 1993 to 1999, Dr. Reaume worked as a research scientist at Cephalon. He received his MBA from the Wharton School where he graduated with honors in Entrepreneurial Management. He received his Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Connecticut.
H. Joseph Reiser, Ph.D.
President & CEO
CureDM, Inc.
H. Joseph Reiser, Ph.D. has more than 30 years of pharmaceutical and biotech experience and is currently president and CEO of diabetes company CureDM Inc.. Previously, Dr. Reiser served as president and CEO of Locus Pharmaceuticals and Cytogen Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed, product based oncology company. Dr. Reiser was also corporate vice president and general manager, pharmaceuticals and a member of the Board of Berlex Laboratories, Inc. Dr. Reiser has served on numerous boards and is currently a member of the board and executive committee of Pennsylvania Bio. Dr. Reiser received his Ph.D. in Physiology from Indiana University School of Medicine.
Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein, M.D.
Associate Center Director, Post Market Operations, CDRH
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
As associate center director for post market operations of FDA’s CDRH, Dr. Sackner-Bernstein led the launch of the networked structure underlying the Center’s medical product safety programs. In parallel, he leads the Center’s focus on facilitating innovation, largely through integration of engineering and medical aspects of product development. He chaired the Center’s Task Force on using new science in regulatory decision making and leads the inter-Agency Council on Medical Device Innovation. He received his B.S.E. from the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College and completed training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Salvatore Salamone, Ph.D.
CEO
Saladax Biomedical, Inc.
Dr. Salamone has over 25 years experience in the health care and medical device industries. Prior to founding Saladax, Dr. Salamone was vice president of research and development, Roche Diagnostics, where he was responsible for North American research and development efforts for the Laboratory Systems Division. Dr. Salamone is world-recognized in the field of drug monitoring with well over 100 publications, including textbook chapters, books, patents, and articles in the area. Dr. Salamone received 2 bachelor's degrees from Villanova University, a master's and a Ph.D. degree from Rutgers University, and was a SERC Post-Doctoral Fellow at Oxford University.
Thomas Sanford
Worldwide Vice President, Public Affairs & Communication
Johnson & Johnson
Mr. Sanford is worldwide vice president, public affairs & communication for Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices & Diagnostics sector and a member of MD&D’s Group Operating Committee. He is responsible for communication and public affairs programs that drive the strategic priorities of the MD&D sector, the largest of Johnson & Johnson’s three sectors. Prior to his current role, Mr. Sanford served as vice president, corporate communication for the Cordis Franchise, and before that as executive director, global cross-pharmaceutical communication. He joined Johnson & Johnson as a result of the Company’s 2006 acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, where he was senior director, global communication. Mr. Sanford is a cum laude graduate of Yale University.
James Sapirstein, RPh, MBA
President and CEO
Tobira Therapeutics
James Sapirstein is president and CEO of Tobira Therapeutics. He was formerly executive vice president of metabolic and endocrinology at Serono, Inc. Mr. Sapirstein has held positions of increasing responsibility at Gilead Sciences, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd. and Eli Lilly and Company. He has launched several HIV/AIDS agents worldwide during his 26-year career in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. He attained his pharmacy degree at Rutgers University, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and his MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Evonne Sepsis
Managing Director
ESC Advisors
Evonne Sepsis has spent the last 18 years in the healthcare sector. In 2008, she founded ESC Advisors, a boutique investment bank focusing on emerging growth and mid-cap biotech and specialty pharma companies. ESC concentrates on advisory work, product partnering opportunities, private financings, and business development. ESC has closed four deals; two with public companies and two with private companies and is working on four deals including two sell sides, and two private placements. Prior to ESC, Ms. Sepsis was the head of healthcare investment banking at Susquehanna Financial Group. She received her MBA from Yale and B.A. from Northwestern.
Sanjiv Sharma
Former Head of NicOx Inc. and Senior Vice President WW Commercial Affairs
Sanjiv Sharma has twenty-five years of successful experience in general management, commercial and business development. He has worked at sanofi-aventis, Biovail Inc. and most recently served as head of NicOx Inc., the US-based subsidiary of NicOx SA and senior vice president of worldwide commercial affairs. During his career, he has launched a company in North America (NicOx Inc.); been involved with product launches as well as life cycle management of major brands and has led several successful global strategic initiatives. Mr. Sharma holds MBA with Distinction from Richard Ivey School of Business, Canada and was designated as an Ivey Scholar.
Hunwoo (Harry) Shin, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Business Development
SK Life Science
As associate director of business development for SK Life Science, Dr. Hunwoo Shin is responsible for in-licensing item searches, confidential data package procurement, platform set up, and business training. Before SK Life Science, he was the diabetes team leader at SK Energy and Chemicals, where he prepared research plans, selected target areas, recruited and utilized consultants for diabetes research, and designed and synthesized target molecules. Dr. Shin has published several scientific articles, including “Photolytic Mass Laddering for fast Characterization of Oligomers on Single Resin Bead” and “Recent Development of Analytical Methods for the Biopolymers Built on A Solid Support”.
Stephen Simpson
Partner, Strategic Growth Markets
Ernst & Young
Stephen Simpson is an audit partner in the Strategic Growth Markets Practice of Ernst & Young and Life-Sciences Industry Leader for its East-Central Sub Area. He works with high-growth emerging companies, primarily in biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical and medical device. Mr. Simpson has more than 20 years of experience working with publicly- and privately-held domestic and international corporations, with extensive experience in accounting and auditing, financial reporting, SEC registration and reporting, public and private offerings, M&A and transaction support. A Villanova University graduate, he serves on the Program Committee of Pennsylvania Bio and on the board of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education.
Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D.
President & CEO
Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
Dr. Skovronsky, president & CEO of Avid, founded the company in mid-2005. Over the
last five years, he has led strong clinical programs in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and
Diabetes. Avid is backed by $70M in venture financing. Dr. Skovronsky has more
than 20 peer reviewed publications and is PI on numerous funded NIH research grants.
Dr. Skovronsky trained as a resident in Pathology and completed a fellowship in
Neuropathology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, received his M.D. and
Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and did his undergraduate training in
molecular biochemistry at Yale University.
Joel Slackman
Managing Director, Policy
BlueCross BlueShield Association
Joel Slackman is managing director of policy for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) Office of Policy and Representation. He oversees the analysis and formulation of policy on health information technology legislation and regulations, health care and delivery system reforms, quality and performance measurement, and health plan business operations and ERISA issues. He was previously the executive director for private health care policy for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), where he represented a wide variety of health insurance companies and health plans on issues ranging from medical malpractice reform, health care costs and access, to improving health care quality. Before AHIP, he spent six years as director of managed care for BCBSA, where he was responsible for helping formulate and advocate legislative positions on commercial managed care and Medicare business.
Mark Stejbach
Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer
Tengion Inc.
Tengion is a clinical-stage, public biotechnology company focused on development of products intended to harness the body’s intrinsic regenerative pathways to produce a range of native-like organs and tissues. Mr. Stejbach leads the company’s commercial planning, business development, public affairs, HR, and IT functions. His 20+ years of biopharma experience includes marketing roles at Biogen and a number of roles at Merck including vice president of managed care marketing, head of investor relations, and senior leadership positions in marketing and sales. Mr. Stejbach holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in mathematics from Virginia Tech.
Stephen Tullman
Executive Chairman
Vicept Therapeutics, Inc.
Mr. Tullman is executive chairman of Vicept Therapeutics, Inc., established in 2009 to develop a new treatment for rosacea. Prior to Vicept, Mr. Tullman was co-founder, president and CEO of Ception Therapeutics, which was acquired by Cephalon, Inc. in April, 2010, and co-founder of Trigenesis Therapeutics, Inc., where he served as chief business officer until the company’s sale in 2004. He was also a director for Euromed, a wound care specialty company. Mr. Tullman is also co-founder and director of Cutix Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held company which sells a specialty sunscreen product line. Mr. Tullman began his pharmaceutical career at SmithKline Beecham where he accumulated 14 years of broad industry experience in finance, sales, marketing, R&D and global commercial development, both domestically and abroad.
Stephen Ubl
President and CEO
AdvaMed
Mr. Ubl is recognized as a top health care advocate and policy expert with considerable experience across multiple health sectors. His accomplishments include landmark reforms related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration product review process and Medicare's coverage and reimbursement of medical technologies. Mr. Ubl is a sought out expert on both policy and politics, and is consistently ranked among the most influential association leaders in Washington, D.C. Prior to AdvaMed, Mr. Ubl was vice president of legislation for the Federation of American Hospitals. Mr. Ubl began his Washington career on Capitol Hill, where he worked for U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA).
Judy Ways, Ph.D.
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance
Neuronetics, Inc.
Dr. Ways is vice president, regulatory affairs and quality assurance, for Neuronetics, a start-up medical device firm in Malvern, PA. Neuronetics manufactures a non-invasive brain stimulation technology, the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system, for depression. Dr. Ways navigated the NeuroStar De Novo FDA clearance in 2008, and implemented Neuronetics quality management system and compliance programs. Prior to Neuronetics, Dr. Ways served in senior positions in RAQA in medical device, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical settings.
Darren Wolfe, Ph.D.
President
Diamyd, Inc.
Darren Wolfe was a postdoctoral fellow, research instructor, and assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at University of Pittsburgh Medical College until 2006. While at Pittsburgh, he was part of a team that developed the Nerve Targeting Drug Delivery System (NTDDS), which was licensed to Diamyd in late 2005. Diamyd Incorporated performs clinical research and development on the NTDDS platform and also on a diabetes immunomodulator for the parent company, Diamyd Medical. Wolfe received his B.S. from Lock Haven University and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical Center.
Sung-Eun Yoo, Ph.D.
Director
Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Sung-Eun Yoo is the director of the Center for Biological Modulators at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), which is a part of the National Frontier R&D Program that is supervised by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science & Technology. He is currently leading several new drug development projects in many therapeutic areas, including stroke, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis. He has been working at KRICT since 1987. Before joining KRICT, he was a senior researcher at E. I. Dupont Co. Dr. Yoo received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Yale University and did his Post-Doc work in organic chemistry at Harvard University.