Experience

Starton Therapeutics

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chairman & CEO

  • Mar 2017 - Present

  Starton Therapeutics is reimagining standard-of-care therapies with proprietary transdermal technology, so people with cancer can receive continuous treatment to live better, longer. Under my leadership, in the last four years Starton has grown from inception to recruiting an industry-leading team of Scientific Advisors, Board and Management; completing multiple rounds of financing at increasing valuations; preparing for a public listing; establishing multiple IP protections; and initiating… Show more Starton Therapeutics is reimagining standard-of-care therapies with proprietary transdermal technology, so people with cancer can receive continuous treatment to live better, longer. Under my leadership, in the last four years Starton has grown from inception to recruiting an industry-leading team of Scientific Advisors, Board and Management; completing multiple rounds of financing at increasing valuations; preparing for a public listing; establishing multiple IP protections; and initiating successful therapeutic programs in Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM), the most common blood cancers in the United States. Show less



Asterias Biotherapeutics

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President and CEO

  • Jun 2014 - Feb 2016

  San Francisco Led the recapitalization of a stem-cell company that was experiencing difficulties; formed an alliance with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to conduct a Phase 2 program for the spinal cord injury lead and an alliance with Cancer Research UK for an allogeneic dendritic cancer vaccine that had recently showed positive results in its Phase 1 in lung cancer. Both alliances were financed though non-dilutive capital. Managed an up-listing from the over-the-counter (OTC)… Show more Led the recapitalization of a stem-cell company that was experiencing difficulties; formed an alliance with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to conduct a Phase 2 program for the spinal cord injury lead and an alliance with Cancer Research UK for an allogeneic dendritic cancer vaccine that had recently showed positive results in its Phase 1 in lung cancer. Both alliances were financed though non-dilutive capital. Managed an up-listing from the over-the-counter (OTC) market to the New York Stock exchange; left two years later with the company valued at $200 million and both clinical programs ongoing. Show less



Optimer Pharmaceuticals

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President and CEO

  • May 2010 - Feb 2013

  San Diego and New Jersey Led completion of the Phase 3 clinical program for Dificid (now owned by Merck); obtained an FDA registration as one of the few hospital antibiotics with a superiority claim and brought Dificid to market. Established several successful alliances, including licensing Dificid to Astellas for commercialization in Europe, launching a novel co-promotion alliance with Cubist Pharmaceuticals and obtaining the first new technology add-on payment (NTAP) for an antibiotic from Medicare. Optimer was sold… Show more Led completion of the Phase 3 clinical program for Dificid (now owned by Merck); obtained an FDA registration as one of the few hospital antibiotics with a superiority claim and brought Dificid to market. Established several successful alliances, including licensing Dificid to Astellas for commercialization in Europe, launching a novel co-promotion alliance with Cubist Pharmaceuticals and obtaining the first new technology add-on payment (NTAP) for an antibiotic from Medicare. Optimer was sold to Cubist, which was then sold to Merck with significant value creation. Show less



Pfizer

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• President, Global Primary Care Business Unit

  • 2008 - 2009

  Oversaw operations in North America, Europe, Canada, Japan, Korea and Australia with responsibility for $23 billion dollars in revenue, equating to 70% of the profit of the Corporation. Managed the development pipeline, from proof of concept to loss of exclusivity, including 100-120 clinical programs per year, with a development budget of $800 million.

• President, Europe Pharmaceuticals

  • 2006 - 2008

  Spearheaded effort to better position products for cost effectiveness. Established multi-country research initiative in Europe for Alzheimer’s disease and worked with the European Commission on regulatory strategy for the disease. During this time, I architected the creation of multiple business units which enabled Pfizer to significantly reduce costs across Europe while reversing an ongoing revenue decline.

• President, Global Animal Health Business

  • 1999 - 2006

  Reporting to former CEO, Hank McKinnell, led a research-model change that integrated animal health colleague representation into human health research; out of this effort came a new medicine for atopic dermatitis and Pfizer’s first canine cancer drug. The division was transformed into Zoetis, now an independent company with an $80+ billion valuation.

• President, Europe Animal Health

  • 1997 - 1999

  Brussels Area, Belgium Integrated the Smith Kline Beecham Animal Health acquisition by Pfizer, exceeding both revenue and profit synergy goals. Was the first non-Pfizer executive to be appointed to a key leadership role.



Smith Kline Beecham

• Area President, Animal Health Europe

  • 1992 - 1995

  Led Europe-region Animal Health business.

• Southern Europe Area VP, Animal Health

  • 1987 - 1992

  Brussels Area, Belgium



Smith Kline & French

• Development Director

  • 1984 - 1987

  Greater Philadelphia Area



Smith Kline & French

• Country Manager Brazil, Animal Health

  • 1979 - 1983

  Rio de Janeiro