PhRMA Elects Four New Members to Board of Directors

Ian Read, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer

Jerzy Gruhn, President, Novo Nordisk Inc.

Mark Iwicki, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Staffan Schuberg, President, Lundbeck Inc.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today announced the election of four new members to its Board of Directors.

"We are pleased to welcome four new biopharmaceutical heavyweights to join PhRMA's Board of Directors," said PhRMA President and Chief Executive Officer John J. Castellani.  "As leaders of one of the most research-intensive sectors in the U.S., they bring to the table incredible insight and a keen understanding of the challenging economic, legislative and regulatory environments the industry faces on a daily basis."  

Castellani continued, "Despite these challenges, our Board of Directors has made it a top priority to build upon core patient-centered principles that guide our advocacy efforts as we work to advance public policies that foster medical innovation and help the U.S. maintain its global leadership in medical discovery.  We look forward to working with all our Board members to this aim in the months and years ahead."  

Ian Read was recently named President and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer Inc.  Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc., and Group President of the Worldwide Biopharmaceutical Businesses, which he led from 2006 through December 2010.  In that role, he oversaw five global business units – Primary Care, Specialty Care, Oncology, Established Products and Emerging Markets.  

Mr. Read began his career with Pfizer in 1978 as an operational auditor.  He held various positions, including Chief Financial Officer, Pfizer Mexico in Pfizer's Latin America operations.  In 1996, Mr. Read was appointed President of Pfizer's International Pharmaceuticals Groups, with responsibility for Latin America and Canada.  He became Executive Vice President, Europe in 2000, was named a Corporate Vice President in 2001, and assumed responsibility for Canada, in addition to Europe, in 2002.  Mr. Read later became accountable for operations in both the Africa/Middle East region and Latin America as well.  

Jerzy Gruhn serves as President of Novo Nordisk, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk North America, having joined the U.S. business in 2008. Mr. Gruhn has worked in the biopharmaceutical sector for more than 20 years.  During his 11 years with Novo Nordisk, Mr. Gruhn has played a critical role in the company's growth in Central and Eastern Europe, positively transforming that region's business performance.

As a person with diabetes, Mr. Gruhn has made it his personal and professional mission to help advance diabetes care through awareness, prevention, education and policy changes. In 2003, Mr. Gruhn was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit by the President of Poland for his involvement in the improvement of diabetes care in the country.

Mark Iwicki was elevated to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Sepracor – now Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. – in February 2010.  While in this position, he was responsible for shepherding Sepracor through the company's acquisition by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., now Sunovion's Japanese parent, and the merger with DSP's U.S. subsidiary, Dainippn Sumitomo Pharma America.  Prior to this position, Mr. Iwicki served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for three years.  Before joining Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mr. Iwicki held several senior positions at Novartis Pharmaceuticals from 1998 through 2007.  He has also worked in various positions at Merck and Astra Merck.

Staffan Schuberg assumed the role of President, Lundbeck Inc., in November 2010.  Mr. Schuberg has held various positions within Lundbeck over the course of several years.  He began his career with H. Lundbeck A/S in 1994, serving in a product management role in South Africa before becoming a central nervous system product manager in Sweden.

After three years with the company, Mr. Schuberg worked briefly as an international marketing manager in respiratory therapies at Astra Draco AB in Sweden before returning to Lundbeck as an international marketing director in the company's psychiatry business unit.  He subsequently managed the company's business in Portugal, and in 2005, assumed the position of regional vice president for southern Europe.  Last year, he added the coordination and strategic development of Lundbeck Inc. to his responsibilities.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $45.8 billion in 2009 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $65.3 billion in 2009.

PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org

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SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America