WASHINGTON, DC, October 3, 2005 - BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) today announced that Christopher D. Earl, PhD, a leading venture capitalist and entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry, has been appointed president, chief executive officer and director of BVGH. Dr. Earl was previously managing director at the Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund. BVGH was founded in 2004 with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation to focus the resources of the biotechnology industry on the most urgent medical challenges of the developing world.
“Chris is a terrific choice to lead BVGH’s drive to accelerate the development and delivery of biopharmaceutical products that treat diseases of the developing world,” commented Rob Chess, chairman of the BVGH board of directors and chairman of Nektar Therapeutics, Inc. “That BVGH was able to attract someone of Chris’ accomplishment, industry stature, energy and commitment speaks to the importance of the issues BVGH is addressing.”
Dr. Earl has 20 years of experience in biotechnology entrepreneurship. Before joining the Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund, LP, a prominent private equity firm investing in later-stage life science companies, Dr. Earl was president and CEO of Avitech Diagnostics, Inc., and a general partner at Plant Resources Venture Funds. Dr. Earl received a BA in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in cellular and developmental biology from Harvard University.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to join BVGH at a time when industry, government and non-profit organizations are forging new partnerships to attack the most urgent global health problems,” stated Dr. Earl. “I very much look forward to working with the biotechnology community to marshal its considerable intellectual, financial and product resources in addressing diseases that claim millions of lives each year.”
Dr. Earl further commented, “I am grateful for the initiative and drive that Wendy Taylor has shown as BVGH’s founding executive director, and I am looking forward to working with her in her role as vice president of strategy and operations.”
About BVGH
BIO Ventures for Global Health is breaking down barriers that hinder development of new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics to treat the urgent medical needs of the developing world. Working globally with partners in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, BVGH is building market-based solutions to catalyze industry investment in global health innovations. BVGH devotes its expertise in the business and science of biotechnology product development to improving the lives of people in the neediest regions of the world.
For further information visit the BVGH website at: http://www.bvgh.org.
Contact: Victor Zonana, BVGH +1-212-929-7888 x22 vzonana@ghstrat.com
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