Product news
The FDA approved Sepracor’s Xopenex (levalbuterol tartrate) inhalation aerosol, for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in adults, adolescents and children four years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease.
Fujisawa Healthcare won FDA approval to market Mycamine (micafungin sodium for injection), the antifungal product for prophylaxis of Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the treatment of esophageal candidiasis.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals won FDA approval to market its diabetes drug Symlin to treat Type II diabetes and Type I diabetes in certain patients.
An FDA panel unanimously recommended approval of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Baraclude for the treatment of Hepatitis B. The FDA usually follows the advice of outside panels but is not required to do so.
People News
MANUFACTURERS
Pfizer has named former Veterans Affairs secretary Anthony Principi to replace vice president of government relations Kenneth Bowler as head of its government affairs staff.
Solexa has named Peter Lundberg vice president and chief technical officer. Lundberg was vice president, DNA platforms R&D at the Applied Biosystems unit of Applera Corporation. Tony Smith, who was chief technology officer, was promoted
to vice president and chief scientific officer. Mary Schramke was promoted to vice president and general manager of genomic services.
Theratechnologies appointed Chantal Desrochers vice president, business development and commercialization.
Questcor Pharmaceuticals has named Steve Cartt executive vice president of commercial development. Cartt was senior director of strategic marketing for Elan Pharmaceuticals.
AGENCIES
GSW Worldwide has promoted Phil Deschamps from president to president and chief executive of the company.
Advanced Health Media has promoted Rebecca Wheeler to operations manager from senior project supervisor.
The Hal Lewis Group of Philadelphia named Peter Siegel executive creative director. Previously Siegel held the position of executive vice president, chief creative officer/North America with Torre Lazur Communications.
SUPPLIERS
Gentris Corporation named Deborah Oronzio vice president of business development and marketing. Oronzio held a managerial position at PPD/PPGx. Sandra Sonnessa has been tapped as vice president of corporate development. She was at Quintiles Transnational.
Fusion Medical Education, a Massachusetts-based medical education company, promoted Kevin Flynn as managing director. Flynn, who was senior vice president of medical affairs and scientific services, assumes this role following the departure of Patricia Patrick who was managing director.
Dimensional HealthCare has named Adam Serody as vice president of clinical solutions. Serody was a senior member at Paragon Biomedical, in clinical services and business development.
MEDIA
CMI has promoted Anna Buckley to senior supervisor, media strategies. At CMI, Buckley has worked on accounts for AstraZeneca, GSK, and Galderma.
Company news
Conor Medsystems has signed an agreement with Novartis Pharma AG to evaluate three Novartis pharmaceutical compounds — imatinib mesylate, pimecrolimus and midostaurin– for the potential develop-Biosystems unit of Applera Corporation. Tony Smith, who was chief technology officer, was promoted to vice president and chief scientific officer. Mary Schramke was promoted to vice president and general manager of genomic services.
Gloucester Pharmaceuticals has named Nicholas Vrolijk vice president, manufacturing operations. Prior to Gloucester, Vrolijk was a founding managing partner of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Compliance Associates, a consulting firm.
Progenics Pharmaceuticals announced that Ronald Prentki, president and director, is resigning. Paul Maddon, the company
