Hospira Recruits Kurt Gunter, MD, to Lead Cell Therapy Initiatives

Life Science Partner recruit offers valuable experience in regulatory and commercialization strategy

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Kurt C. Gunter, MD, as medical director, cell therapy of Hospira, a Chicago area based medical products company.  Hospira is a specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company launched from the core global hospital products business of Abbott Laboratories. 

With the recruitment of Gunter, Hospira now has a leader in the field of cell therapy to provide scientific and medical leadership for technology assessment and investment, and manage key relationships with academic and research institutions.  He will have the critical responsibility for representing the cell-therapy companies seeking investment and/or partnership.

“Kurt has a broad background in cell and gene therapy – with a specific expertise in developing regulatory guidelines for the field,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “Few can match his experience in the use of cells for new therapies that hold out the promise to cure intractable diseases.”

As the vice president and medical affairs/governmental relations of ZymeQuest, Gunter led the clinical strategy of a biotechnology company removing A and B antigens from red blood cells to create “universal donor” blood.  Previously, he held a similar role at ViaCell, a cord blood banking and cell therapy company.  His first commercial experience was as vice president, clinical and regulatory for Transkaryotic Therapies (TKT) supervising all regulatory filings for its orphan drug program.

His earlier career was as a researcher and clinical pathologist at Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University Medical School, and the FDA, where he was acting director, division of cellular and gene therapy.  A recognized leader in the field, he was appointed as the industry representative to the standards-setting organization, the FDA Cellular Tissue and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

Gunter earned his BS at Stanford and his MD at University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency.  He continued his anatomical pathology training at University of Maryland and was a biotechnology fellow in molecular immunology at the National Cancer Institute.

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Mark Johnson to Join Medtronic Emergency Response Systems as Vice President of Operations

Life Science Partner recruits expert in operations and supply-chain management

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Mark Johnson to become vice president of operations for Redwood, Washington-based Medtronic Emergency Response Systems (ERS).  In this role, Johnson will lead a team of 300, including 125 in manufacturing, who are building Medtronic’s lifesaving LIFEPAK defibrillator/monitors and automated external defibrillators (AEDs).  An innovator in the field, Medtronic ERS is on the forefront of integrating information technology and AED devices to advance the performance and benefits for improved patient survival.

Johnson has considerable experience with supply chain management and the turnaround of manufacturing operations.  He joins Medtronic ERS from Philips Consumer, with responsibility for transitioning Sonicare oral health products from a U.S.-focused organization to a world leader, with a global supply chain system to match its sales ambitions.  Using a data-driven system, Johnson was able to introduce an outsourcing program to reduce costs while increasing diversity in the product lines.

“We have found that consumer goods companies, particularly in electronically-driven appliances, hone operational skill sets not typically found in the medical device industry,” noted Cindi Roberts, vice president, Life Science Partner.  “Mark provides Medtronic with the high-quality, low-cost manufacturing and sourcing leadership that we did not find when we examined prospective candidates from its medical device competitors.”

Previously, Johnson was a leader in the manufacturing contractors Integrex and Flextronics.  As the general manager of the Chatham facility, Johnson eliminated a significant work backlog for a client who was threatening to terminate their contract due to non-performance.  He honed his operational skills at Metawave, a cellular infrastructure company, and Motorola.  By joining Medtronic ERS, Johnson now leads the AED operations team in the world’s leading medical device company.

Johnson received his BS in Mechanical Engineering at University of Washington and is a graduate of their MBA program.

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Andy Lux to Join Medtronic Sofamor Danek as General Manager, Warsaw Operations

Life Science Partner recruits a general manager and manufacturing operations expert from Baxter Healthcare

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Andrew (Andy) Lux to become general manager of operations for the Medtronic Sofamor Danek Warsaw facilities. Medtronic Sofamor Danek is a leading orthopaedic company and the fast growing division of Medtronic, Inc. 

The Company develops and manufactures products that treat a variety of disorders of the cranium and spine with worldwide sales reaching approximately $2 B and growing at  17%.  Lux will lead the 600-employee operation in Warsaw, Indiana, that manufactures spinal implants which are approximately 55% of the products manufactured within the Company.

Lux has considerable experience with the turnaround of manufacturing operations.  He joins Medtronic Sofamor Danek from Baxter Healthcare where he had worldwide responsibilities for the renal and transfusion product lines, including 5,000 employees in seven plants and $750 mm in cost of goods.

“Andy is highly qualified to run a complex manufacturing operation,” noted Cindi Roberts, vice president, Life Science Partner.  “Most importantly, he knows business and will make a great partner with Peter Wehrly as their business continues to grow exponentially.”

To some degree this role is a homecoming for Lux, as he was previously vice president of operations and research and development for Medtronic’s cardiac surgery division.  His general management skills were recognized when he became CEO of Biomec, a pacing leads company.  Earlier, he was vice president and general manager of the x-ray division of Picker International and vice president of operations of Johnson and Johnson’s Advanced Sterilization Products.  Other leadership roles at major corporations include Diasonics, Resonex and GE Medical Systems Business Group.

Lux earned his BS, Metallurgical Engineering at Cleveland State University, and his MS and Doctor of Science at MIT.  He received his MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve.

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Hal Mathews, MD to Become VP Medical Affairs for Medtronic Sofamor Danek

To Lead Clinical, Regulatory, Reimbursement Strategy and Physician Relations

Life Science Partner announced today the recruitment of Hallet H. Mathews, MD, to become vice president, medical affairs for Medtronic Sofamor Danek. 

Medtronic Sofamor Danek is the world’s leading orthopaedic company which develops and manufactures products that treat a variety of disorders of the cranium and spine, including traumatically induced conditions, degenerative conditions, deformities and tumors.  Medtronic Sofamor Danek markets its products worldwide and has FY2003 revenue of approximately $1.3 billion.

A leader in the field orthopaedic basic and clinical research, Mathews is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon.  He is the Founder and President of MidAtlantic Spine Specialists, a multi-disciplinary, multi-specialty group that incorporates Orthopaedic, Neurosurgery and Pain Management & Rehabilitation specialties in Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.

“He is a demonstrated clinical leader and general manager – as he now oversees a 10,000 square foot clinic with 45 employees in Richmond and a smaller clinic facility in Williamsburg,” said Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “In addition, he has already established strong relationships with the Sofamor Danek clinical investigators worldwide, having participated in and led clinical trials for many of Medtronic’s products.”

In his new role, Mathews will oversee clinical development and regulatory affairs for the Company, with an emphasis on working with business units to identify potential drug or device technologies with strong clinical indications, managing the regulatory strategy globally and overseeing Medtronic Sofamor Danek’s relationships with physicians worldwide.

  Medtronic Sofamor Danek is the leader in the use of biological materials, including the first product using a bioengineered bone morphogenetic protein, INFUSE, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with titanium interbody implants in the lumbar spine.

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Ray Cohen Appointed CEO of Symphony Medical

Former CEO of Cardiac Science to Build New Atrial Fibrillation Company

Life Science Partner announced today the recruitment of Ray Cohen to become Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Symphony Medical, a clinical development stage company commercializing biopolymer-based products for cardiovascular conduction abnormalities, including atrial fibrillation.

A Cleveland Clinic spin-off company, Symphony Medical recently raised more than $6 million in equity funding to develop treatments for atrial fibrillation and other ailments.

Symphony Medical was founded in 2002 with technologies that focus on the development and commercialization of novel treatments of cardiovascular conduction abnormalities. Using practical and cost-effective approaches, Symphony’s products are designed to correct cardiac conduction disorders through safe biologic, non-ablative means.

Presently, Symphony is engaged in the clinical development phase of its first product for the prevention of post-operative atrial fibrillation.

Tom Callaway, MD, President of Life Science Partner noted, “Cohen is an acknowledged leader in the field of the early-stage company in cardiac disease – having revived Cardiac Science, the early leader in the field of Automatic Atrial Defibrillators.” Joining Cardiac Science in 1997, he identified the vision, hired the scientific and sales leadership team, raised over $130 million in equity and debt capital, and captured 25% the world market share in AEDs.

Cohen led a very aggressive acquisition strategy, acquiring and integrating four companies – Cadent Medical, Survivalink, Comlient and Artema), that enabled the company to continue its rapid growth and build its technology portfolio.  Versed in international business, Cohen’s team established OEM relationships with Medtronic Physio-Control, GE and Japan’s Nihon Kohden Corporation. 

In September 2005, Cohen merged Cardiac Science with Quinton Cardiology Systems, Inc., where he remains as Chairman of the Board and strategic advisor of the merged company still operating under the Cardiac Science name (www.cardiacscience.com).

Cohen’s experience in building companies based upon novel technologies did not begin with Cardiac Science. He was previously the owner of a cardiac diagnostic monitoring and device company, Diagnostic Monitoring, and the President of BioAnalogics, a developer of bio electrical impedence devices.  His early career is marked by a successful track record as a sales leader in the field of medical devices rising to the level Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Brentwood Instruments in Torrance, California.

Under Cohen’s leadership, Symphony expects to commercialize its atrial fibrillation technologies and other products through corporate partners with global marketing and sales capabilities. The company has established a culture of rapid product development, continuous expansion of intellectual property, minimization of capital and personnel expenses, and superior science and clinical know-how.

In addition to his leadership as Chairman of the Board of Cardiac Science, Cohen is a member of the Young President Organization, the IndUS Entrepreneurs and a lecturer at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Merage School of Business at UC Irvine.

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Dr. Jerry Fernandez to Join Aureon Biosciences as Senior Director of Pathology

To lead a team developing novel diagnostic services and products for prostate cancer patients

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Dr. Gerardo “Jerry” Javier Fernandez, an anatomic pathologist, to Aureon Biosciences. 

Aureon is a Yonkers, New York-based company enabling personalized patient care utilizing systems pathology to develop predictive clinical tests for cancer care, as well as to enable biopharmaceutical research and development.

Fernandez was recruited from Genzyme Genetics where he was an anatomic pathologist providing referring physicians with highly specialized referral services.  Dr. Fernandez is interested in computer-assisted diagnostics and led the company’s imaging applications and interactive analysis group.  Most recently, he was a core team member and the medical consultant for the information system consolidation between laboratory and surgical pathology.

“Jerry is unique in that he is an anatomical pathologist whose keen interest in using computers for improving patient care is his passion,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “Aureon will allow him to lead a team developing the latest tool set for cancer diagnostics and turn data into knowledge by the strategic use of computer imaging and integrating patient information.”

Dr. Fernandez will lead a team of four anatomical pathologists interrogating and analyzing tissue to provide the first comprehensive and fully integrated view of the progression of cancer by studying multiple molecular pathways of disease as well as micro-anatomic imaging.  By utilizing state-of-the-art informatics, Aureon Biosciences will be able to provide referring physicians some of the first predictive tests for cancer by integrating molecular pathology and clinical informatics.

Dr. Fernandez received his MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree in Natural Science and Mathematics at Bennington College.  He completed his residency in Anatomic/Clinical Pathology and his fellowships in Cytopathology and Surgical Pathology at New York University Medical Center.

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IPC – The Hospitalist Company Recruits Strauchman for new Michigan Division

Life Science Partner recruits Skip Strauchman, leading healthcare consultant to hospitals in Detroit

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of  Alvin “Skip” Strauchman, a 30-year veteran of Michigan Healthcare, to become executive director for the new Michigan Region of IPC – The Hospitalist Company. 

IPC, the nation’s leading hospitalist company, entered the state earlier this year through the acquisition of Michigan Hospitalists, a well-established practice of approximately 70 providers in the greater Detroit area.

In this role, Strauchman will be responsible for this rapidly growing market for the nation’s leading private practice hospitalist company.  IPC has taken a leadership role in the emergence of this new medical specialty – and today employs several hundred hospitalist specialists across the United States.

As executive director, Strauchman is responsible for IPC’s growth, development and ongoing operations in Michigan.  IPC physicians in Michigan currently have about 500 patient visits a day, seeing patients at 17 area hospitals plus several long-term assisted care facilities and nursing homes.

“Skip is an acknowledged leader in the field of healthcare delivery in the region,” noted Cindi Roberts, vice president, Life Science Partner.  “He is well known to the CEOs and physician leaders of the hospitals that IPC serves.”

Strauchman worked as an independent consultant, involved in strategic initiatives on behalf of both the Karmanos Cancer Institute and St. John’s Hospital and Medical Center, both in Detroit. Previously, he served in an administrative capacity for Bon Secours Cottage Health Services in Grosse Pointe and immediately prior served as president and chief executive officer of SinaiCare Physician Hospital Organization in Detroit.

Strauchman earned his BA at Oakland University, and his MA, Business Management at Central Michigan University.

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Medtronic Emergency Response Systems Selects Ken Olson to Lead Research and Development

Life Science Partner recruits research and development pioneer in the external defibrillator field

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Ken Olson, as vice president for research and development of Redwood-based Medtronic Emergency Response Systems. In this role, Olson will lead the team of 140 developing Medtronic’s lifesaving LIFEPAK defibrillator/monitors and automated external defibrillators (AEDs).  An innovator in the field, Medtronic ERS is on the forefront of integrating information technology and AED devices to advance the performance and benefits for improved patient survival.

Olson is well-positioned to lead this team, as he developed many of the industry’s innovations at Survivalink Corporation and its successor, Cardiac Science.  .  During these 13 years, he led small and large teams to pioneer AED development with specifications of reduced cost, increasing reliability and functionality, and well-defined, customer-focused benefits.  Olson joins Medtronic from Masimo Corporation, the leading oximeter company,  where he was vice president of the OEM business.

“Ken is a home run,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He is the acknowledged scientific and developmental leader in the field.  Most importantly, however, is that he’s an excellent manager and communicator – working effectively with other leaders, customers and investors to produce market-leading innovation.”

At Survivalink Olson co-founded the company with two partners with the concept of developing an AED for police and first-responders.  Working originally in their basement, the entrepreneurs produced the first AED that became a standard for simple use and reliability.  The company was sold to Cardiac Science in 2001, and Olson continued to lead as chief technology officer, building an increasing interface with customers.  With the company’s sale to Quinton, he joined Masimo.  At Medtronic, Olson will now lead the AED R&D team in the world’s leading medical device company.

Olson is a graduate University of Minnesota, with a BS in Electrical Engineering.  He earned his MBA at the Carlson School of Management.

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Life Science Partner Recruits Ricardo Mesa-Tejada, MD, to Clinical Leadership at Aureon Biosciences

Founder and Director of Immunocytochemistry Laboratory at MetPath/Quest

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Dr. Ricardo Mesa-Tejada, a recognized leader in the field of anatomic pathology to become vice president, pathology, Aureon Biosciences Corporation. 

Aureon is a Yonkers, New York-based company enabling personalized patient care utilizing a systems pathology approach to develop predictive clinical tests for cancer care as well as to enable biopharmaceutical research and development.

Dr. Mesa-Tejada will lead the team of specialized anatomical pathologists interrogating and analyzing tissue to provide the first comprehensive and fully integrated view of the progression of cancer by studying multiple molecular pathways of disease as well as micro-anatomic imaging.  By utilizing state-of-the-art informatics, Dr. Mesa-Tejada will be able to provide referring physicians some of the first predictive tests for cancer by integrating molecular pathology and clinical informatics.

“Ricardo is the prototype of physician-scientist who has a keen interest in harnessing new technologies for better patient care,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He was drawn to Aureon by its intersection of clinical informatics, image analysis and molecular diagnostics to greatly improve the treatment planning of complicated diseases like prostate cancers.”

Dr. Mesa-Tejada is uniquely qualified due to his significant research and clinical service as a pathologist at New York’s Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.  A pioneer in integrating technologies for better patient care, he established the immunocytochemistry laboratory at MetPath in 1987, and remained as either an employee or consultant through its acquisition and integration into Quest Diagnostics.  He remained as director of research in anatomic pathology at the company until 1997.  Until he joined Aureon, he was a consultant to Thieme, an investment banking firm focused on the life sciences.

Dr. Mesa-Tejada received his MD from University of Madrid, completed his residency in Pathology at Columbia-Presbyterian, and was a fellow in OB/GYN Pathology in 1976.

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Russ Ellison, MD, Senior Pharmaceutical Executive Joins FibroGen as Vice President, Clinical Development

Leading Clinical Development of Novel Compounds for Anemia and Fibrosis

Life Science Partner announced today the recruitment of Russell Ellison, MD, to become Vice President, Clinical and Medical Affairs at FibroGen, a biotechnology-based drug discovery company using its expertise in the fields of tissue fibrosis and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) biology to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapeutics for fibrotic disorders, anemia, ischemic disease, cancer and other areas of unmet medical needs.

FibroGen also develops and produces recombinant human collagens and gelatins using unique production technology that provides the basis for FibroGen’s proprietary cosmetic dermal filler and biomaterials supply business.

“Russ was attracted to FibroGen due to its extensive portfolio of compounds marching steadily toward the clinic and their potential to dramatically improve the lives of patients with anemia and other life-threatening diseases,” said Thomas H. Callaway, MD, Founder and President of Life Science Partner. “His combination of FDA regulatory experience and global medical affairs made him a perfect fit for this emerging pharmaceutical company,” he added.

Prior to his recruitment to FibroGen, Ellison was Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of Sanofi-Synthelabo USA, with responsibility for building its best-in-class medical affairs, regulatory and safety teams. He oversaw the clinical development of key products such as Plavix and Ambien, and was renown for reducing project development timelines and improving relations with managed care companies.

Ellison was recruited to Sanofi from Hoffmann La Roche. As Vice President, Medical Affairs and the Chief Medical Officer, he oversaw a 300-member organization that oversaw clinical trials, managed medical strategy, intervened on behalf of the company with regulatory agencies and developed clinical development strategies in sync with the company’s commercial strategies for its compounds in development. He was noted by his peers as a rare physician who understood the business aspects, as well as the clinical implications of the pharmaceutical industry.

A Canadian physician, Ellison has a global understanding of drug development and registration, as well as the challenges of reimbursement and clinical acceptance of new drugs. At FibroGen, his skills will be valuable as he builds the clinical and regulatory teams and moves the products from the pre-clinical to clinical development phase.

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