PRINCETON, NJ - February 19, 2009 - Covance Inc., (NYSE: CVD) announced today that it is expanding its project management bandwith to meet growing customer demand for postmarketing studies that further establish safety and effectiveness and mitigate risk. Accordingly, Sandra DiGiambattista, M.S., CCRA and Vanessa N. Castillo, M.S. each have been named as project directors of clinical operations for periapproval services. Due to increased regulatory requirements and the growing demand for more safety data resulting from the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA), these positions will support a variety of postmarketing studies, particularly Phase IIIb/IV studies. In her role as project director of clinical operations, Sandra DiGiambattista will oversee project managers to ensure that projects are implemented and conducted according to company standard operational procedures, including International Clinical of Harmonization (ICH) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. With more than 18 years of clinical research and clinical trial management experience, Ms. DiGiambattista previously supported projects for major pharmaceutical companies as a therapeutic area regional associate director. These projects involved various therapeutic areas including internal medicine, diabetes, cardiovascular, CNS, psychiatry, and neurology.
Ms. DiGiambatttista holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health Education from West Chester University and a master’s degree in Health Administration of Gerontology Services from St. Joseph’s University. She is the Director of Programs for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals Philadelphia Chapter and is CCRA certified.
As project director of clinical operations, Vanessa Castillo will serve as operational leader for domestic and international projects, working with project managers to ensure study timelines are met within budget and according to the highest standards for clinical research. Ms. Castillo began her career in Buenos Aires where she monitored clinical trials, and has since gained extensive experience in the management and direction of clinical trials for both pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, CNS, immunology, genitourinary and dermatology, muskoskeletal and mental disorders. Ms. Castillo also brings experience in global clinical research to Covance’s periapproval services team.
Ms. Castillo holds a master’s degree in Biology Sciences from Buenos Aires University in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Covance offers a broad spectrum of post-marketing services, ranging from Phase IIIb/IV clinical studies to registries and observational studies, risk management, epidemiology, and product safety services. As the leader in the design and implementation of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), Covance’s periapproval services team offers unique tools and methodologies specifically designed for results to meet post-approval goals for clients.
About Covance
Covance, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive drug development services companies with annual revenues greater than $1.7 billion, global operations in more than 20 countries, and greater than 9,600 employees worldwide. Information on Covance’s products and services, recent press releases, and SEC filings can be obtained through its website at www.covance.com.
Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All such forward-looking statements including the statements contained herein regarding anticipated trends in the Company’s business are based largely on management’s expectations and are subject to an qualified by risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, competitive factors, outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical industry, levels of industry research and development spending, the Company’s ability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel, the fixed price nature of contracts or the loss of large contracts, and other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Covance and the Covance are registered service marks of Covance in the United States and other countries.
