SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stem Cell Sciences plc (AIM: STEM), the global biotechnology company focused on the commercialisation of stem cells and stem cell technologies in research and novel cell-based therapies, is pleased to announce the appointment of David A Dodd to the Stem Cell Sciences’ Board as Non-executive Director with immediate effect.
Mr. Dodd, aged 57, brings a wealth of commercial and corporate Life Sciences experience to the Group. He was President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NASDAQ quoted Serologicals Corporation until it was acquired by the Millipore Corporation on 14 July 2006. During Mr. Dodd’s six year leadership, the value of Serologicals Corporation increased from $85 million to $1.4 billion.
From August 1995 until June 2000, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. and as a member of the Management Board for the Pharmaceutical Sector for Solvay S.A. Mr. Dodd was also Chairman of the Board of Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Solvay, he served in a number of management and executive positions with major life science corporations, including Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Abbott Laboratories.
Mr. Dodd currently serves on the board of a number of not-for-profit organisations including; the Board of the Georgia Biomedical Partnership, as Immediate Past-Chair; on the Board of the Southern BioAlliance; and, is Chairman of the Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Additionally he sits on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Tech/Emory University and the International Development Board, of the University of Dundee, Scotland.
He recently was awarded the 2005 GBP Biomedical Industry Growth Award for his efforts in promoting Georgia’s life sciences industry. In addition, Mr. Dodd received the 2005 Oglethorpe Award from the Atlanta Chapter of the British American Business Group, in recognition of his ongoing leadership in fostering business relationships between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
David holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Georgia State University and completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
Dr Michael Dexter, Chairman of Stem Cell Sciences said: “The appointment of David brings considerable strengths to our Board and will greatly assist us in meeting our targets for expansion into US markets.”
Commenting on his appointment David Dodd said: “I am delighted to be joining the Stem Cell Sciences’ team. I look forward to bringing my own experience to the Board and assisting Stem Cell Sciences in the development of the Group’s exciting plans for the business, particularly in the United States where we are seeing very exciting times for stem cell research.”
Stem Cell Sciences’ Chief Executive, Peter Mountford said: “We are delighted that David has accepted our invitation to join the Board. I am sure his extensive knowledge of the life science industry and depth of experience in international business will add great value to our global business initiative.”
Current Commercial Appointments held Company Name Position Appointed None Past Appointments Held Name Position Appointed Resigned Serologicals Corporation President, CEO June 2000 July 2006 and Director Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc President and CEO August 1995 June 2000 Unimed Pharmaceuticals Inc Chairman July 1995 June 2000 American Home Senior Vice March 1995 July 1995 Products/Wyeth Ayerst President Laboratories American Home Vice President February Promoted Products/Wyeth Ayerst and General 1991 March 1995 Laboratories Manager Bristol Myers General August February Squibb/Mead Johnson Manager 1990 1991 Laboratories Division Bristol Myers Director of October Promoted Squibb/Mead Johnson Marketing 1986 August 1990 Laboratories Division Notes to Editors Stem Cell Sciences plc
Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS, AIM: STEM) is a global biotechnology company providing products in the burgeoning stem cell research and drug discovery markets, in addition to the targeted development of cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative disease and injury.
The Company has established a leading intellectual property (IP) and technology portfolio that provides a single platform of stem cells and stem cell technologies for both research and clinical application. Revenue streams and technology development for the scaled production of stem cells in basic research and drug discovery underpin the company’s longer term plans to be a leading provider of cell-based therapeutics.
SCS’ principal focus is in neurological disease. Total revenues for the global neurotech market, including pharmaceuticals, devices and diagnostics, grew 10% in 2005 to US$110 billion(*).
SCS operates as a global group with laboratories in Scotland, Japan and Australia, each of which is affiliated with an academic centre of excellence. These include the Institute of Stem Cell Research (ISCR), Edinburgh, UK; RIKEN Centre for Development Biology, Kobe, Japan and the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
SCS has four business units focused on key sustainable business strategies.
SC Proven(R) provides cell culture media (liquid formulations) and reagents that enable the growth and differentiation of stem cells. The first commercially available product, a novel, serum free, stem cell growth medium, has been exclusively licensed for manufacture and marketing to Chemicon International (part of the Millipore Group).
SC Licensing licenses SCS proprietary technologies, such as Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) and Stem Cell Selection, for application in laboratory-based research and discovery. SCS has licensed technology to major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, GSK, Deltagen Inc and Lexicon Genetics Inc.
SC Services provides specialised stem cell production for basic research and drug discovery, including high-throughput applications.
SC Therapies goal is to develop safe and effective cell-based therapies for currently incurable diseases. SCS is evaluating proprietary technologies in early stage research for future cell therapy applications.
(*) Neurotech Insights, Volume 2/3 April 30 2006.
Serologicals Corporation
Serologicals Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, was a global provider of biological products, enabling technologies and custom services to life science companies and research organizations. The Company’s diverse customer base included major life science companies and leading research institutions. Prior to its recent purchase, Serologicals had approximately 1000 employees worldwide, and its shares were traded on the NASDAQ national stock market under the symbol SERO.
Stem Cell Sciences plc
CONTACT: Kelly Krueger of Weber Shandwick for Stem Cell Sciences,+1-415-248-3415, kkrueger@webershandwick.com
