TRENTON, NJ (February 18, 2014) – BioNJ, the state’s trade association for biotech companies and affiliated organizations, has elected David C. Pearson, Ph.D., Global Head of Corporate Development of ThromboGenics, Inc., and Alan L. Rubino President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emisphere Technologies, Inc., to its Board of Trustees. Six Board members were also re-elected to new two-year terms.
The Board appointments were announced at BioNJ’s 21st Annual Dinner Meeting and Networking Event at the Hilton East Brunswick, where some 700 industry leaders and associates gathered for the organization’s annual awards ceremony, which included a special focus on patient advocacy. The event featured a keynote address from National Football League Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti, who has founded two organizations targeting paralysis and raised more than $150 million for research since his son Marc was paralyzed in 1985.
During the meeting, BioNJ presented its first Patient Advocacy Awards to Nick Buoniconti; John F. Crowley, Chairman & CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.; the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), which was represented by NORD President & CEO Peter L. Saltonstall; and Wise Young, M.D., Ph.D., director of the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and a professor at Rutgers University. The 2014 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation, and Leadership was presented by Dr. Barer himself to Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D., CEO of PTC Therapeutics of South Plainfield.
“It is a pleasure to welcome David and Alan to our Board of Trustees,” said BioNJ Chairman Francois Nader, M.D., President and CEO, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Given their deep knowledge of and insight into the biopharmaceutical industry we look forward to their valuable perspectives as we continue to establish BioNJ as one of the leading biotechnology associations in the U.S.”
Pearson is an accomplished biopharmaceutical industry executive with more than 25 years of senior management experience in technical, operational and general management roles. His passion has been the creation of innovative solutions for business, competitive and team challenges, while bridging the research and development, commercial and international worlds.
Rubino has more than 30 years of experience at every level of the biopharmaceutical industry with the vast majority being with Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. [now Genentech] where he was a member of the Company’s executive committee for 10 years. His background includes executive responsibilities in both private and public companies encompassing business operations, business strategy, human resources, marketing, sales, corporate development and strategic planning.
“Our Board continues to attract C-level executives who bring critical leadership abilities that are invaluable as we work to advance the BioNJ mission,” said BioNJ President and CEO Debbie Hart. “In a challenging marketplace and ever-changing industry, our board members consistently give generously of their time and talents to advance goals that ultimately help deliver life-saving and life-enhancing therapies to patients and providers.”
In addition to Nader and Hart, officers of the Board of Trustees are: Immediate Past Chair, Sol J. Barer, Ph.D., Former Chairman, Celgene Corporation; Vice Chair, Christopher J. Schaber, Ph.D., President & CEO, Soligenix; Treasurer, Elizabeth G. Posillico, Ph.D., President & CEO, Elusys Therapeutics; and Secretary, Donna L. Tempel, Ph.D., President & CEO, Drais Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Board members that have been re-elected to another two-year term are: John Crowley; Francois Nader, M.D.; Elizabeth G. Posillico, Ph.D.; John Haney, Vice President, Immunology Marketing, Janssen Biotech; Christian Kopfli, Esq., CEO, Chromocell Corporation; and Spiro Rombotis, President & CEO, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Returning to the Board in continuing terms are: Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D.; Al Altomari, President & CEO, Agile Therapeutics; Marc Bonnefoi, D.V.M., Ph.D., Head of the North America R&D Hub and Vice President of Disposition, Safety and Animal Research Scientific Core Platform, Sanofi; Pamela R. Demain, Executive Director, Corporate Licensing, Merck & Co., Inc.; Will Lewis, President & CEO, Insmed Incorporated; John Maki, President & CEO, Vicus Therapeutics; Anthony S. Marucci, Founder, President, CEO & Director, Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.; and Shawn Tomasello, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Hematology and Oncology, Celgene Corporation.
Returning as Board Advisors are: Rajeev Dadoo, Ph.D., Partner, SR One; Jim Marino, Esq., Office Managing Partner, Dechert; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Ph.D., Partner, Care Capital LLC; Kathleen Scotto, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor of Research, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, and Dean, Graduate School of BioMedical Sciences, Rutgers University; and Tony Torrington, CPA, NY/NJ Life Science Market Leader and Audit Partner, EY, LLP.
About BioNJ
With more than 300 member companies, BioNJ is focused on the growth and prosperity of New Jersey’s life sciences cluster. Founded in 1994 by New Jersey industry CEOs, BioNJ serves as the voice of companies located in New Jersey, seeks to advance their economic growth and development and works to encourage new and established companies from around the world to locate in New Jersey. BioNJ represents companies engaged in biopharmaceutical, biomedical, bioagricultural and bioremedial endeavors.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bill O’Donnell
BioNJ
(609) 890-3185, Ext. 117
(609) 802-3091
Bodonnell@BioNJ.org
Fred Feiner
Yankee Public Relations
(908) 425-4878
fred@yankeepr.com
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