KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Pharma Services, a leading provider of innovative drug discovery and development solutions, has appointed Dr. James M. Pusey as Vice-President and General Manager of its Global Clinical Development business, which manages late-stage clinical drug trials. Dr. Pusey brings more than 25 years of experience in medicine, global clinical trial management, contract research organization services, and global pharmaceutical sales, marketing and operations. Before joining MDS, Dr. Pusey was President and CEO of OrthoLogic, Inc., a biotech company, where he put in place a strategic plan involving collaborative agreements and acquisitions. Prior to that role, he was Executive Vice-President for Neurology at Serono, Inc., where he was accountable for late-stage drug development, including co-development projects with Pfizer. In addition, he has held the positions of Vice-President of Marketing and Therapeutic Area Leader for Central Nervous System, Pain and Infection at Astra-Zeneca USA. "Dr. Pusey's vast industry experience combined with his medical background will enhance our ability to assess client needs and provide exceptional service managing their most demanding clinical trials," said MDS Pharma Services President David Spaight. Dr. Pusey began his career in medical practice in London, where he worked on the staff of four London hospitals. He also served as the International Medical Advisor in Southeast Asia, where he managed anti-viral drug development trials for The Wellcome Foundation, Ltd. His career in the pharmaceutical industry began at SmithKlineBeecham (SKB) as International Marketing Manager for two hospital antibiotics. He later served as General Manager of SKB - New Zealand and Vice-President and General Manager of the company's global Clinical Trials Center before moving to other senior leadership roles. Educated at London University, he holds Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, and an MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Pusey will lead a business area that is focused upon enhancing client service through its LeanSigma and other initiatives to improve process efficiency and support client needs. MDS Pharma Services has also been recognized as the top contract research organization in Europe in the 2006 Thomson Center Watch survey of investigators, the preferred CRO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium, and as the most promising CRO in Asia in the 2006 Frost & Sullivan CRO Awards. 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, we apply advanced scientific and technological expertise throughout the drug discovery and development process - from lead optimization, pre-IND research, early clinical research (bioequivalence, phases I-IIa) and bioanalysis through to global clinical development (phases IIb-IV), central lab and centralized cardiac services. For more information, visit our website at http://www.mdsps.com/. MDS Pharma Services is a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), a global life sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs and diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS has more than 6,200 highly skilled people in 28 countries. Find out more at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day. DATASOURCE: MDS Pharma Services CONTACT: For Investors, Sharon Mathers, (416) 675-6777 ext. 34721, ; For Media, Charlene McGrady, (610) 239-7900 ext. 231,

Copyright