Lode Debrabandere, former BMS Vice President, Neuroscience, to Lead Autoimmune Business Unit at Osiris Therapeutics

Life Science Partner brings clinical development and marketing talent to help launch first stem-cell therapy

Life Science Partner announces today the recruitment of Lode Debrabandere, PhD, former vice president, Neuroscience Business Unit of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to Osiris Therapeutics to become general manager of Osiris Therapeutics’ Autoimmune Diseases business unit.  Osiris is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing innovative technology for isolating and expanding messchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from donated bone marrow for therapeutic drug products.

In the past few years, Osiris has transformed from an early-stage, research-focused organization to a commercially-focused enterprise – as it prepares to complete trials and launch Prochymal in autoimmune -related disorders including the treatment of acute graft-versus-host-disease in patients receiving bone marrow transplantation, Crohn’s Disease, and other related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

“Osiris fits Debrabandere like a glove,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He has significant global regulatory and clinical development experience – and demonstrated global marketing strategy expertise that will accelerate the successful launch of Prochymal to help these patients.”

At Bristol-Myers Squibb, Debrabandere led an interdisciplinary team to evaluate the company’s portfolio of products and programs – and then implemented a market-driven realignment of resources to expand into infectious diseases and CNS.  Earlier he led U.S. marketing and global clinical development for UCB Pharma where he led the co-promotional agreements with Pfizer and Alza to rapidly grow sales of Zyrtec and Ditropan, respectively.  He began his career as a trainee to the CEO of UCB Pharma before joining the global company in clinical development, rising to director of global clinical operations.

A native of Belgium, Debrabandere  earned his Pharm.D and PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences) and his MBA at University of Leuven.