Stephen Ubl planning move from AdvaMed to PhRMA: Reports

Sep 25, 2015 8:08am

Chutes and Ladders

Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Amirah Al Idrus (email | Twitter), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.

Stephen Ubl planning move from AdvaMed to PhRMA: Reports


	PhRMA Stephen Ubl will serve as CEO, reports say.

Late this week, several media outlets reported that Stephen Ubl, CEO of med tech industry group AdvaMed, is preparing a jump to lead Big Pharma lobbying group PhRMA as its next CEO. According to Politico, an official announcement could come as early as next week. Ubl spent 10 years as AdvaMed CEO, bringing a period of improved relations between regulators and industry toward the end of the span, though he continues to advocate for faster approval times and other industry-friendly initiatives. If he assumes the new position, Ubl will be thrust into the center of a drug pricing debate that's sure to be discussed throughout the upcoming presidential election. Story | More

Novartis' top scientist Mark Fishman to retire, replacement named


	Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Mark Fishman announced his retirement.

After 13 years as the head of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Mark Fishman plans to retire next year, creating a vacancy that'll be filled by Harvard luminary Jay Bradner. Bradner will come onboard starting in January, working alongside Fishman until his March retirement. During his time at Novartis, Fishman led an organization that developed innovative medicines for cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and ophthalmics. His replacement is a decorated oncologist and has co-authored more than 130 scientific articles since joining the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2005. Story | Release

TSRI names chemist, entrepreneur Peter Schultz its CEO


	TSRI Peter Schultz was named CEO.

The Scripps Research Institute named Peter Schultz--a faculty member for 16 years--its next CEO this week. Schultz, also director of the California Institute for Biomedical Research, has led major drug discovery efforts in both the commercial and nonprofit sectors. He'll take responsibility for developing long-term strategy and external alliances with a focus on building "bench-to-bedside" research capabilities. Along with Schultz's announcement, TSRI named Steve Kay its president. Kay, a former faculty member, is currently dean of the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California. Science has highlighted his work as "Breakthroughs of the Year" three separate times. Schultz assumes his role immediately, while Kay will begin as president-elect as he transitions from USC. Release

Troubled GlaxoSmithKline will shutter a R&D facility in France. Story

Novo will build a $78M plant in Iran. Story

Biotech

> Global Blood Therapeutics ($GBT) added Dr. Philip Pizzo to its board of directors. Release

> Cerulean Pharma ($CERU) appointed David Walt to its board of directors. Release

> Dr. William Berg joined Exelixis ($EXEL) as senior vice president of medical affairs, Jonathan Berndt as vice president of sales and Gregg Bernier as vice president of marketing. Release

> Crown Bioscience hired Severine Marrony as manager of business development in France. Release

> BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics ($BCLI) appointed its president, Chaim Lebovits, as CEO. Release

> Ron Cooper, formerly Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) president of Europe, joined Albireo as CEO. Release

> Argos Therapeutics ($ARGS) added Robert Carey to its board of directors. Release

> Mary Kerr joined NeRRe Therapeutics as CEO. Release

> Collagen Matrix named Bart Doedens as CEO. Release

> Arvinas appointed Robert Kleinfeld as chief development officer. Release

> Abivax appointed Dr. Jean-Marc Steens as chief medical officer. Release

> ImaginAb added Jeff Bailey to its board of directors. Release

> Bicycle Therapeutics appointed Kevin Lee as CEO. Release

> NantKwest appointed three new executives: Dr. Andreas Niethammer as executive medical director, Dvorit Samid as senior vice president of medical affairs and Dr. Jerel Banks as senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions. Release

> LCG named Chanaka Perera its director of technical services. Release

> The CEO of Helix Biopharma, Robert Verhagen, resigned from his position. Release

> Dr. Harald Hampel joined Anavex as a member of the company's scientific advisory board. Release

> Sonendo appointed Christopher Rabbitt as its chief commercial officer. Release

> Blaine Templeman joined Aduro Biotech ($ADRO) as its executive vice president, general counsel and secretary. Release

> Tesaro ($TSRO) brought on Dr. Martin Huber as its senior vice president and chief medical officer. Release

> AlphaNet named Martha Sanchez as its chief operating officer. Release

> Syros Pharmaceuticals hired Kyle Kuvalanka as its chief operating officer. Release

> Leon-nanodrugs appointed Theron Odlaug as its CEO. Release

> Jason Adams joined Medytox Solutions as the company's chief financial officer. Release

Medical Devices

> Acutus Medical named John Dahldorf as chief financial officer, Martin Chambers as chief commercial officer and Steven McQuillan as senior vice president of regulatory and clinical affairs. Release

Biotech IT

> DNAnexus appointed Balaji Venkateswaran as chief technology officer. Release

Diagnostics

> RainDance Technologies named Kathy Ordoñez to its board of directors. Release

> Sequenom ($SQNM) brought on Dirk van den Boom as its interim president and CEO. Release