MDS Pharma Services Hires Industry Experts to Support Biopharmaceutical Development and MDS Growth Strategy
01 Settembre 2006 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Leading experts will increase focus on emerging opportunities in
developing markets PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- MDS Pharma Services, a leading provider of innovative drug
discovery and development solutions, has hired two industry
experts, Dr. Claudio Carini, a globally recognized leader for his
work in developing and applying biomarkers to indicate the risk,
presence and progression of diseases; and Suzanne Sensabaugh, a
global leader recognized for her regulatory expertise in helping
clients in the development of biopharmaceuticals. These new hires
are the latest in a series of changes at MDS Pharma Services
designed to sharpen the focus on new business opportunities in drug
and biopharmaceutical development as part of its plans to support
the new growth strategy at MDS Inc. Dr Carini has been appointed as
Vice-President of Translational Medicine, an emerging area in
medical research aimed at improving the drug discovery and
development process by expediting the translation of basic
discovery research into personalized patient care. In this
position, Dr. Carini will manage and direct The Biomarker
Alliance(TM), (http://www.mdsps.com/Biomarkers/alliance.htm) which
provides one-stop shopping for biomarker service providers to join
together to design and execute a wide range of biomarker discovery
and development programs. Dr. Carini draws upon his more than 25
years experience as a physician and scientist in industry and
academia to provide expertise to MDS Pharma Services and its
clients in translational medicine and biomarker development and
applications. He most recently served as Vice- President and Global
Head of Biomarkers, at Roche Pharma and is well known for his
development of several products to provide anti-infective and
anti-inflammatory relief for patients. "We are delighted to welcome
a scientist of Dr. Carini's caliber to our team to lead our efforts
to assist clients in bridging the gap between preclinical discovery
and clinical development," said MDS Pharma Services President David
Spaight. "His expertise in biomarkers will strengthen our ability
to help our clients move compounds from the lab bench to bedside."
Dr. Carini's experience includes: - Professionally certified in
Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology, Respiratory Medicine and
Pathology - Held teaching positions in Immunology at Harvard
University, Johns Hopkins University, and the universities of Rome
and London - Vice-President and Global Head of Biomarkers, at Roche
Pharma, where he developed global strategic plans for therapeutic
remedies; supervised medical teams through Phase I, II and III
clinical trials; and managed alliances for biomarker discovery -
Global Director for Translational Medicine and Therapeutic Area
Head for Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Novartis - His
academic credentials include a M.D. degree from Italy's University
of Palermo, graduate work in Respiratory Medicine and Clinical
Immunology at the University of Rome, in Florence, and the
University of London, where he earned a Ph.D. in Immunology, and
M.R.C. Path. and F.R.C. Path. certification in Immunology. Suzanne
Sensabaugh has been named Vice-President of Biopharmaceutical
Development, where she will play a leadership role in this area. In
this role, Ms. Sensabaugh will lead the consulting group
responsible for development of biopharmaceuticals, which are drugs
produced by living organisms used for therapy or diagnosis. She
served most recently as Vice-President for U.S. Regulatory Affairs
and Senior Director for Global Biogenerics at Teva Pharmaceuticals
Industries and she has more than 10 years of experience at the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics
Evaluation. Ms. Sensabaugh will use her expertise to help MDS
clients meet regulatory requirements as they explore exciting new
areas of biopharmaceutical development. "Ms. Sensabaugh brings to
the position a profound understanding of global biopharmaceutical
development regulations, from both the regulatory agency and
biotech industry perspectives," said MDS Pharma Services President
David Spaight. "Her vast range of experiences in both the
biotechnology industry and the FDA will provide the in-depth
expertise that our clients need to effectively manage regulatory
requirements in new areas of drug development." Ms. Sensabaugh's
experience includes: - Vice-President for U.S. Regulatory Affairs
and Senior Director for Global Biogenerics at Teva Pharmaceuticals
Industries, where she developed and oversaw regulatory strategies
and contributed to drug development programs for innovative
biotechnology products, biological devices, and synthetic peptides
- Vice-President for Regulatory Affairs and Quality, Biotechnology
Division of SICOR Inc., where she developed and implemented the
global regulatory strategy for biogeneric and innovative biotech
product lines - Associate Director for Regulatory Affairs with
Genzyme, where she was responsible for global regulatory affairs
for enzyme replacement therapies - More than 10 years of experience
at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for
Biologics Evaluation and Review, as a researcher, product reviewer,
and inspector for biologics/biotechnology products. She also had
extensive involvement in the development and implementation of
standard operating procedures, guidance, regulations and
legislation. Prior to leaving the FDA, she was Special Assistant to
the Associate Director of Policy in the Office of the Center
Director - Her academic credentials include a B.S. in Zoology from
the University of Maryland at College Park, an M.S. in
Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.B.A. in
General Management from Duke University. About MDS Pharma Services
MDS Pharma Services offers a full spectrum of resources to meet the
drug discovery and development needs of the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries. With numerous facilities strategically
located around the world, the company applies advanced scientific
and technological expertise to each stage of the drug discovery and
development process - Early Stage: lead optimization, pre-IND
research, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical development, early
clinical research (bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis;
and Late Stage: global clinical development (phases IIb-IV) and
central lab. For more information, visit MDS Pharma Services' Web
site at http://www.mdsps.com/. MDS Pharma Services is an integral
part of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ). MDS Inc. has more than
8,800 highly skilled people in 28 countries. It provides a diverse
range of superior products and services to increase customers'
speed, precision and productivity in the drug development and
disease diagnosis processes. MDS is a global, values-driven life
sciences company, recognized for its reliability and collaborative
relationships that help create better outcomes in the treatment of
disease. Find out more at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling
1-800-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Pharma Services
CONTACT: MDS information contact: For Investors: Sharon Mathers,
(416) 675-6777 ext. 4721, ; For Media: Charlene McGrady, (610)
239-7900, ext. 231,
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