CINCINNATI, May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kendle , a leading, global full-service clinical research organization, today announced that Roberto J. Bitton, MD, has joined the company as Project Leader, Latin America. In this role, he will provide medical and therapeutic expertise to deliver Phase I-IV clinical development projects for the company’s biopharmaceutical customers, with an emphasis on the oncology therapeutic area. As a board-certified medical oncologist, Dr. Bitton brings to Kendle more than 20 years of academic, CRO and pharmaceutical industry experience, having led clinical teams in every phase of the oncology drug development process. Oncology is an important focus area for Kendle, with the company’s experience including more than 500 oncology projects in 46 countries involving nearly 67,000 patients.
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“Oncology now ranks as the most researched therapeutic area worldwide in terms of drug development,” said Martha Feller, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development. “Dr. Bitton’s extensive oncology expertise will further strengthen our therapeutic experience in this significant and growing area of global clinical development.”
Dr. Bitton served most recently as Medical Manager, South Latin America Sub-Region for Novartis Oncology, where he had overall responsibility for late phase and medical marketing. Prior to that, he served as Associate Medical Director, leading the efforts for various cancer vaccines from research and development through Phase II trials for an independent pharmaceutical company in Argentina, and as a Program Leader in the clinical oncology department for Pharmacia-Upjohn in Milan, Italy.
“Dr. Bitton’s full-spectrum background in oncology is critically important as the focus in drug development continues to shift beyond simply bringing a new compound to market toward effectively managing the entire life cycle of each drug,” added Dr. Feller.
Dr. Bitton completed a Bone Marrow Transplant Fellowship from John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) and a Clinical Oncology Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD), and earned his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, department of internal medicine and earned a post graduate diploma in Health Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom). He is a member of the American Association of Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). An internationally-recognized researcher, Dr. Bitton also has written and published dozens of articles, abstracts and textbook chapters.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains information about management’s view of Kendle’s future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s latest Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so other than as required by federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
About Kendle
Kendle International Inc. is among the world’s leading global clinical research organizations and is the fourth-largest provider of Phase II-IV clinical development services worldwide. We deliver innovative and robust clinical development solutions -- from first-in-human studies through market launch and surveillance -- to help the world’s biopharmaceutical companies maximize product life cycles and grow market share.
Our global clinical development business is focused on five regions -- North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Africa -- to meet customer needs. With the expertise of our more than 3,000 associates worldwide, Kendle has conducted clinical trials and provided regulatory and pharmacovigilance services in more than 80 countries. The company was named “Best Contract Research Organization” in November 2006 by an independent panel for Scrip World Pharmaceutical News.
Additional information and investor kits are available upon request from Kendle, 441 Vine Street, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, OH 45202 or from the Company’s Web site at http://www.kendle.com.
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CONTACT: Investors, Patty Frank, +1-513-763-1992 or Media, Lori Dorer,+1-513-345-1685
Web site: http://www.kendle.com/
