NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2007
 

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"There is nothing like a dream to create the future."

Victor Hugo


The BENEFITS of PENNSYLVANIA BIO MEMBERSHIP

Just a few of the benefits include:

  • Multiple member      networking      activities
  • Group purchasing      discounts
  • Access to      workforce      development      grants
  • Advocacy support      in Harrisburg and      Washington D.C.
  • To learn more about PA Bio, visit their or contact .

    Ashton Tweed Hosts CEO Guests at the 2007 Pennsylvania Bio Annual Dinner

    On February 15, the Ashton Tweed Partners and a table of distinguished Life Sciences CEO guests attended the 2007 Pennsylvania Bio Annual Dinner at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The dinner provided approximately 850 attendees and Pennsylvania Bio members an opportunity to celebrate the strengths and accomplishments of the Pennsylvania biosciences community over the past year.

    The event’s host, Pennsylvania Bio, (www.pennsylvaniabio.org), serves as the Voice of Advancement for the biosciences industry in Pennsylvania and represents the continuum of the biosciences community—research institutions; emerging biotech, device, and diagnostic companies; global pharmaceuticals; and support organizations. Ashton Tweed joined Pennsylvania Bio in December 2005 and was one of the first companies to join the Association under the new leadership of Dennis M. “Mickey” Flynn.

    Ashton Tweed invited the following CEOs to its reserved table: David Brand of CardioKine; Patrick Cashman of Lundbeck USA; John Fraher of Eurand; Ray Krauss of GlucoLight Corporation; Shawn O’Brien of Solstice Neurosciences, Inc; Ed Seguine of Fast Track Systems, Inc.; Josh Tarnoff of HoustonPharma, and Jim Walker of Octagon Research Solutions.

    “We are pleased to have such a distinguished cross-section of Life Sciences CEOs join us for the event,” said Ashton Tweed CEO Jim Rudman. “The work these companies are doing is vital to the success of the Pennsylvania bioscience community, and seeing such leaders come together is the harbinger of a bright future for Pennsylvania.”

    The event provided ample opportunity for networking and the Ashton Tweed partners utilized the time to introduce our table of CEOs to other Pennsylvania Bio members. We were also fortunate to have Mickey Flynn and awards presenter, Anne Faulkner Schoemaker, interim CEO of Neuronyx, stop by the Ashton Tweed table to meet our guests.

    Attendees at the Ashton Tweed table were pleased to learn that our partners have backgrounds and expertise in both the pharmaceutical and medical device markets. The lively discussion at the table presented the opportunity to add insight not only on human capital issues, but also on other aspects of business processes.

    The event afforded CEOs an unrushed opportunity to converse with their peers. “I very much enjoyed the camaraderie and the ability to share similar experiences with fellow CEOs without worrying about having to rush off to my next meeting,” said Josh Tarnoff of HoustonPharma. “The event was a good opportunity to set up an ongoing dialogue with peers who particularly understand the business.”

    Ray Krauss, Josh Tarnoff, and Jordan Warshafsky at the Ashton Tweed table

    The evening kicked off with a welcome from PA Bio President Mickey Flynn. Speakers included the Honorable James C. Greenwood, President, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO); the Honorable Calvin B. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Health; Joseph Scodari, Worldwide Chairman of Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson; Anne Faulkner Schoemaker, interim CEO, Neuronyx, Inc. and Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Cephalon, Inc.

    PA Bio Dinner attendees were treated to a presentation of the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Leadership Award, sponsored by Centocor, Inc., to David P. Holveck, Vice President of Corporate Development, for Johnson & Johnson and President of the Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation. The Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding leader in the biosciences community who best exemplifies the spirit of innovation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The award is in honor of the late biotech leader and former founder and CEO of Centocor and Neuronyx, Hubert J.P. Schoemaker.

    Ashton Tweed’s partners and guests look forward to next year’s Pennsylvania Bio Annual Dinner and the opportunity to continue their work with members of the Pennsylvania biosciences community.

    Ashton Tweed Launches New Improved Website

    Ashton Tweed is pleased to announce the launch of our new website at www.ashtontweed.com.

    The new website features an updated look and emphasis on our diverse service offerings including Retained Executive Search, Interim Executive Talent and Commercialization Management Consulting.

    Other new website features include a newsroom, case studies, and representative positions.

    Website visitors can get quick reference information on interim talent at our new Interim Talent FAQ page, and also learn more about our Commercialization Management Group.

    As always, we are pleased to receive resumes from interested candidates to be included in our exclusive Life Sciences Executive Talent Bank. Resumes can be submitted to info@ashtontweed.com.

    For candidates interested specifically in Lundbeck USA opportunities please submit resumes to lundbeck@ashtontweed.com.

    The ASHTON TWEED DIFFERENCE

    1. Immediate access to highly skilled talent
    Our Executive Talent Bank is the first dedicated to the Life Sciences Industry.

    2. Diverse range of options for human capital and commercialization management needs
    Our services include interim talent, retained executive search and commercialization consulting.

    3. Significant Life Sciences Industry experience
    Our partners have diverse backgrounds in the Life Sciences Industry and understand the specific challenges Life Sciences clients face.

    4. Personal attention
    Each client and candidate receives personal attention by a member of our Leadership Team.

    Profiles of Ashton Tweed Life Science CEO Guests

    The invited Life Sciences CEOs at the Ashton Tweed table this year represented an array of companies and sectors including cardiology, neurology, drug delivery, diabetes care, oncology, specialty biopharmaceutical, clinical trial development, and IT solutions.

    David Brand, President & CEO, CardioKine, Inc.

    CardioKine, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceuticals for the treatment and prevention of heart failure and related cardiovascular indications. CardioKine both in-licenses and develops innovative new compounds and therapies to address what is a growing epidemic around the industrialized world. For more information, please visit www.cardiokine.com.

    Patrick Cashman, President, Lundbeck USA

    Focusing on psychiatry and neurology, Lundbeck USA is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to advancing CNS care in the United States by bringing the most advanced products and information to psychiatrists, neurologists, patients, and caregivers. Lundbeck USA is the US division of H. Lundbeck A/S, a worldwide (US)$1.5 billion Danish company. For more information, please visit www.lundbeck.us.

    John Fraher, President of North America, Eurand

    Eurand is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops enhanced pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products using their innovative drug delivery technologies. The company’s drug development efforts are based on three commercialized technology platforms; bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble drugs, customized release and taste masked/fast dissolving formulations. Eurand has recently added a fourth technology platform, drug targeting, to its capabilities that, once commercialized, can be applied to small molecule and biotechnology derived products for improved drug delivery. For more information, please visit www.eurand.com.

    Jim Rudman, Patrick Cashman and John Fraher enjoy the Pennsylvania Bio Dinner

    Ray Krauss, CEO, GlucoLight Corporation

    Founded in 2003, GlucoLight Corporation is developing a non-invasive glucose monitoring system that can be utilized as a continuous monitor in a hospital environment and ultimately as a low cost, portable monitor for use with diabetic patients. GlucoLight’s unique optical approach is based on patented technologies in the area of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Low Coherence Interferometry (LCI). For more information, please visit www.glucolight.com.

    Shawn O’Brien, President & CEO, Solstice NeuroSciences, Inc.

    Solstice Neurosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing, sales and marketing of specialty products. Solstice’s first product Myobloc®/Neurobloc® (Botulinum Toxin Type B) Injectable Solution, represents the only botulinum toxin type B currently available to physicians and patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.solsticeneuro.com.

    Ed Seguine, CEO, Fast Track Systems, Inc.

    As a world-class provider of clinical trial software and professional services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Fast Track Systems, Inc., provides a true competitive edge in the clinical development process. Whether authoring protocols; planning, negotiating, or managing trial budgets; seeking to drastically reduce trial cycle times; and/or needing to maintain strict fiscal responsibility, Fast Track has a customized solution to fit clients’ needs. For more information, please visit www.fast-track.com.

    Shawn O’Brien, Mickey Flynn and Ed Seguine at the Pennsylvania Bio Dinner

    Josh Tarnoff, CEO and Director, Houston Pharma

    HoustonPharma is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that is developing oncolytic virus technologies for the treatment of cancer, including ovarian cancer, glioblastoma and multiple myeloma. HoustonPharma's most advanced products are in Phase I clinical trials. Potomac Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary, is developing new treatments for mental illness based on alpha-2 receptor antagonism. The first application is Schizophrenia where the company's lead compound, Idazoxan, is in Phase IIb clinical development. For more information, please visit www.houstonpharma.com.

    James Walker, CEO & Chairman, Octagon Research Solutions

    Octagon Research Solutions is the leader in the electronic transformation of clinical R&D. The company offers a suite of regulatory, clinical, process and IT solutions to the life sciences industry. The integrated suite of offerings is built upon deep domain knowledge, cross-functional eSub expertise, a holistic process approach and integrated solutions. For more information, please visit www.octagonresearch.com.

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    UPCOMING EVENTS

    Join Ashton Tweed Partner Jordan Warshafsky at a PCCI Networking event March 12, 2007, Wayne, PA

    The Pharmaceutical Consulting Consortium Inc. (PCCI) is a social/ networking group of former pharmaceutical executives, managers and talent, many of whom now serve as or are retired consultants to the healthcare industry. The group, founded in the Philadelphia area in 1989, provides support to individual consulting practices and its monthly meetings are useful for professionals wishing to network with consultants or secure a consultant’s help.

    The meetings can be a mix of guest speakers or special “Mentor” presentations. The Mentor format is unique and stimulating. In this format, representatives of a company present their ideas and ask for input from the consulting members. Two or three members on a panel prepare formal comments, after which the rest of the group joins in with more questions and comments.

    The monthly meetings also include a buffet dinner and cash bar. The March 12 panel, including Jordan Warshafsky, will be discussing In Silico Scientifics.

    The next PCCI meeting is:
    March 12, 2007
    6:30-9:30 PM
    Valley Forge Suites
    Wayne, PA 19087

    For more information on this event, please visit: www.rxpcci.com. If you are interested in attending, please contact:
    Don Skerrett,
    PCCI President
    Mobile: 610-608-1569
    E-mail: dskerrett@aol.com.


    5th Annual Pharmaceutical Marketing & Sales Summit - April 16-17, New Brunswick, NJ

    The 2007 Summit's 4 tracks will cover: Strategic Marketing & Branding; Pharmaceutical Compliance; Patient Compliance; and Sales Force Optimization. To register or for more information, visit the event website.


    BIO 2007 International Convention - May 6-9, 2007, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA

    Join Ashton Tweed at the BIO International Convention! BIO 2007 offers attendees an opportunity to meet face–to–face with key players in the biotechnology industry.

    Program participants include researchers, academia, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and others who will soon be recognized for their vision and achievement.

    Ashton Tweed will be a participant in the Pennsylvania Pavilion (location 1440) at this meeting.

    Online registration is available.

    UPCOMING EVENTS

    BioPharmaceutical Investment Strategies - May 22-23, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    BioPharmaceutical Investment Strategies offers a place to meet executives from Pharma, biotechs and the financial community to explore ways to optimize licensing, business deal-making and commercialization practices.

    Topics covered include:

  • Financial Metrics       to determine       Attractive       Collaborations
  • Beyond Venture       Capital -       Alternative       Funding       Strategies
  • Outsourcing:       Making the Virtual       Integrated Model       Work
  • Why Healthcare       Costs Matter to       Deal Makers
  • For more details, please visit the .

    Industry Trends

    Business Week’s Feb 12, 2007 article - “Hello, You Must be Going” by Nanette Byrnes and David Kiley discussed executive hiring trends. Some of the trends mentioned in the article include:

    • 2006 saw 28,058 executive turnovers, including board members and executives from CEO down to vice-president, a 68% increase over 2005, according to Liberum Research's analysis of North American public companies. 44% of these positions were filled from outside the company.
    • Russell Reynolds Associates estimates that at large companies, chief financial officers are turning over at a rate of 22% a year.
    • Interim executive talent can be a good solution for companies experiencing turnover and change. To learn more about how interim executives work, visit our new webpage at www.ashtontweed.com/interim_companies.php.
    • ExecuNet reports that their Recruiters Confidence Index (RCI) reached a new all-time high in December 2006. The survey of executive recruiters found an anticipated 20 percent increase in executive search assignments for the second consecutive year in 2007.
    • ExecuNet also reports a sharp rise in demand for executive talent in 2006 with a 23% increase in the number of corporate search assignments - the largest increase since the dot-com boom in 2000. In 2007, search firms are forecasting a 26% increase in executive-level job opportunities. Read more about the trends at http://www.execunet.com/m_releases_content.cfm?id=3501.

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    UPCOMING EVENTS

    BIO VentureForum East 2007 - June 18-20, 2007 Marriott Chateau Champlain, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), in partnership with 11 state biotechnology associations and BIOTECanada will bring venture capitalists together with promising seed, early- and late-stage private biotechnology product and platform companies from the East Coast. The conference will showcase up to 100 individual company presentations to leading North American venture capital firms in the life sciences field. In addition, there will be workshops and plenary sessions and formal and informal networking opportunities with industry CEOs and venture capital leaders.

    For more information on this event, please visit the event website.