BIOCOM/san diego Announces 1998 Board Appointments and Five-Point Plan of Action
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 1998--BIOCOM/san diego, Southern California's leading biotechnology, medical device, bioagriculture and life sciences trade association, announces its board of directors for 1998.
David E. Robinson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:LGND) assumes the role of BIOCOM's 1998 president. William H. Rastetter, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer of IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ:IDPH) and BIOCOM's 1997 president, and Howard R. Asher, RAC, chairman and chief executive officer of Advanced Bioresearch Associates, become BIOCOM's 1998 co-chairs.
"BIOCOM/san diego plays a significant role in our nation's biotechnology development programs for safer, better and more effective drugs, devices and diagnostics," stated Robinson.
"This year, we have laid aggressive plans focusing on five main initiatives: regional infrastructure improvement, supportive public perception of biotechnology, work force education programs, more outreach services to our member companies, and perhaps most important to the future of biotechnology, the final implementation of the FDA Modernization Act of 1997."
Prominent local biomedical leaders have filled the officer positions. Robert S. Whitehead, president and chief executive officer of Trega Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:TRGA) becomes president-elect, as well as serving as vice president, Biotechnology and will represent biotechnology companies. William J. Mercer, president and chief executive officer of Alaris Medical Systems (NASDAQ:ALRS), will represent local diagnostic, reagent and device companies as BIOCOM's vice president, Medical Devices. John M. Dunn, partner of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro LLP, will serve as secretary and general counsel to BIOCOM. Thomas H. Insley, managing partner of Price Waterhouse LLP, replacing Anthony Altig, Price Waterhouse, as acting treasurer until the board can vote on his nomination at their April 16 meeting.
"This is a well-seasoned board of directors committed to volunteer their time and energy to make our healthcare technology community thrive here in San Diego," stated Ann Ryder Randolph, managing director and board member of BIOCOM/san diego. "The five-point plan created by the board adds value, not only to local technology companies themselves, but to the San Diego community in terms of job creation, medical care and education."
In total there are 39 BIOCOM directors. Re-elected to the board are: Kennon W. Baldwin, principal of McGraw/Baldwin Architects; Jerry D. Caulder, Ph.D., chairman of Myelos Neurosciences Corp.; Gregg K. Carpenter, senior vice president, Branch Manager of J & H Marsh & McLennan; William T. Comer, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of SIBIA Inc. (NASDAQ:SIBI); Lois J. Crandell, president and chief executive officer of Genetronics Inc. (VSE:GEB); A. Stephen Dahms, Ph.D., director of California State University Biotechnology Program CSUPERB; Raymond V. Dittamore, managing partner, Ernst & Young LLP; Edward L. Erickson, former president and chief executive officer of DepoTech Corp. (NASDAQ:DEPO); M. Wainright Fishburn, Jr., partner of Cooley Godward LLP; David F. Hale, consultant at Gensia Sicor Inc. (NASDAQ:GNSA); Robert J. Harman, D.VM., MPVM, chief executive officer, Bio-Products and Services of HTI Bio-Services Inc.; Guy J. Iannuzzi, president of Mentus Inc.; Brent D. Jacobs, vice president, head, Life Sciences of John Burnham & Co.; Richard B. Jaffe, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Safeskin Corp. (NASDAQ:SFSK); David H. Katz, M.D., founder and director of Lidak Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:LDAKA); Tina S. Nova, Ph.D., president and chief operating officer of Nanogen Inc.; Rita M. Pirkl, executive vice president Technology Group of Silicon Valley Bank; Peter Preuss, president and founder of The Preuss Foundation; Duane J. Roth, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.(NASDAQ:ALLP); James V. Schumacher, consultant; Mary L. Walker, Esq., partner of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison; Kenneth J. Widder, M.D., chairman of Molecular Biosystems Inc. (NYSE:MB); Gerald J. Yakatan, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Lidak Pharmaceuticals Corp. and IriSys Research & Development.
Newly elected directors are: Karen A. Klause, president and chief executive officer of DIGIRAD; John Lyon, president and chief executive officer, Vista Medical Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:VMTI); Randall L. Whitfield, president and chief executive officer of VIA Medical Corp.; and Chris Woolley, senior vice president and group manager, Emerging Growth Industries, of Imperial Bank.
Ex officio board members include: David L. Gollaher, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of California Health Care Institute; William W. Otterson, director of CONNECT at the University of California, San Diego; and Julie Meier Wright, president of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.
Elected by the board to serve on the 1998 BIOCOM/san diego executive committee in addition to the officers and managing director listed above are David Hale, Duane Roth, Ray Dittamore and Gregg Carpenter. Resigning from the BIOCOM board are David Winkler, chief executive officer of Del Mar Partnership Inc. and Jed Harris, senior vice president of Imperial Bank.
BIOCOM/san diego also interfaces with several toher organizations, including: Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO); the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA); the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA); the United AgriBusiness League (UABL); UCSD's CONNECT, as well as with San Diego City and County Governments; the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. (EDC); the San Diego Chapter of the American Electronic Association (AEA); and The Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
Visit www.biocom.org for full details.
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CONTACT:
BIOCOM/san diego
Ann Ryder Randolph, 619/455-0300
OR
Lucid BioStrategies LLC
Virginia S. Rybski, 619/793-9688 |
