Business and People: June 2015

People News

DrugDev continues to attract pharmaceutical industry visionaries to join its mission of developing innovative clinical technology solutions to help sponsors, CROs and sites do more trials together. Today, the company announced Jeffrey Kasher, Ph.D., has joined as Chairman of the DrugDev Advisory Board, a distinguished team of current and former clinical research executives from many of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world.

PAREXEL announced that Alberto Grignolo, PhD, Corporate Vice President, PAREXEL Consulting, was awarded the DIA Global Connector Award. The honor recognizes Dr. Grignolo's meritorious service through a leadership role that has advanced the mission of DIA to foster innovation and to improve health and well-being worldwide. At PAREXEL, Dr. Grignolo developed the Company's Worldwide Regulatory Affairs and Drug Development Consulting Practice. Recently, he established PAREXEL's Japan Consulting Services during a two-year assignment in Tokyo. He is the Executive Sponsor of a number of global development programs and advises clients in the areas of drug development strategy, regulatory negotiation, and best regulatory and clinical practices. 

CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services Announces the Following New Hires:

Jeanie White joins as Senior Project Accountant

CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services Announces the Following Promotions:

Jane Ahlrichs promoted to Executive Director, Study Management

Matt Bobinski promoted to Study Manager

Ryan Bodle promoted to Manager, Accounting

Elaine Moorman promoted to Senior Study Manager

Alicia Temmesfeld promoted to Senior Manager, Business Development Operations

BioClinica® Inc. a specialty clinical trials services and technology provider, today announced that David Peters, an accomplished senior finance and accounting executive, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will be joining BioClinica on June 8, 2015.

Peters brings more than 25 years of financial and accounting experience with a focus in pharmaceutical services. “David has extensive and deep knowledge in all areas of finance, accounting and business operations and understands the specifics of our high growth and diverse business segments in both private and public markets, making him well-suited for the position,” said BioClinica CEO John Hubbard, Ph.D.

TKL Research Inc., a full-service clinical research organization (CRO), is pleased to announce the hiring of Jeffrey Bagshaw as Vice President of Global Business Development for the Clinical Trials Division. Bagshaw will be responsible for leading strategic corporate and business development efforts internationally. “Jeff is a proven leader in business development and clinical operations,” said Dr. Robert Reardon Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer at TKL. “This unique combination gives him an exceptional ability to understand client needs and will help us tailor our offerings for rapid enrollment and high-quality clinical research.”

Global healthcare services provider inVentiv Health has appointed CRO industry veteran Michael McKelvey, Ph.D., as President, inVentiv Health Clinical Division and Executive Vice President, inVentiv Health. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Aptiv Solutions, a global clinical development services company.

Rho, a contract research organization focused on bringing new products to market through a full range of product development services, recently announced that its Chairman and Co-founder Ronald W. Helms has been inducted as a Fellow of the Society for Clinical Trials. The Society established the title of “Fellow of the Society for Clinical Trials” (FSCT) in 2005 to honor Society members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of clinical trials and to the Society. The SCT Class of 2015 Fellows were announced during the SCT 36th Annual Meeting, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, Virginia, on May 18.

Following the completion of the management buyout of Synexus the new board confirms its intention to expand the footprint of the company through organic growth and acquisition. Synexus, already a multi-national company dedicated to the recruitment and running of clinical trials at its own research centers across the globe, intends to become a major player in the US, continue to expand its existing network of sites in Europe and Africa and develop a presence in Asia and South America.

The new board members of Synexus are: Chairman Charles Woler and non-executives Benjamin Harrild, Hywel Evans, Ged Gould and Simon Braham. CEO of Synexus, Christophe Berthoux, and Financial Director of Synexus, Paul Chambers, will remain on the board.

Business and Award News 

Rho, a contract research organization focused on bringing new products to market through a full range of product development services, recently announced that the company was recognized as one of the Best CROs by the Triangle Business Journal, a multimedia source for local business news, research and events in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill region of North Carolina, where Rho is headquartered.

Lead investigators affiliated with The US Oncology Network and US Oncology Research will showcase detailed findings from more than 60 clinical trials at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held May 29-June 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago. These data presentations cover novel approaches to numerous types of cancer specialties including breast, bladder, blood and lung cancers as well as promising immunotherapy research.

CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services, a multi-national, privately held, full-service contract research organization announces that Timothy J. Schroeder received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ 2015 Award in the services category in the Ohio Valley Region. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.  Schroeder was honored, along with the 30 other finalists selected by a panel of independent judges, at the award ceremony on Thursday, June 4, 2015.

goBalto, Inc. a provider of cloud-based clinical study startup solutions, announced today that the company has been included in the Cool Vendors in Life Sciences, 2015 report, published by Gartner, Inc. Gartner's Cool Vendor research "is designed to highlight interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services."

"We consider goBalto's inclusion in the Cool Vendor report by Gartner confirmation of our mission to be the world's leading cloud-based study startup platform," said Sujay Jadhav, goBalto's CEO. "Industry leaders in clinical trials continue to show strong adoption of our flagship product, goBalto Activate. Our solution is now being used in hundreds of studies in multiple countries at over 16,000 sites – enabling medicines to get to those in need faster."

Schulman Associates IRB, Inc., a central IRB in customer service and technology, recently began build-out of its new office space on Laboratory Drive in Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina. The location will house review board and administrative staff, including IT, operations and customer service professionals. “This new office enables Schulman to be closer to many of our clients and will help us better serve the research organizations located in this vibrant life sciences community,” said Michael Woods, President, CEO and Institutional Official at Schulman.

ClinTec International announces a Regional Hub Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, with opening of new larger office premises in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Aligning with new client partnerships, the office will support region wide clinical research services including a significant new clinical FSP assignment with a global biotechnology major where ClinTec is the sole FSP partner for South Africa.  “ClinTec has a track-record of aligning its investment programme with strategically important client needs.  Our continued investment in South Africa over the last 5 years demonstrates a consistent effort to address high-potential markets for clinical research” said Bobby Bal, Executive Vice President.