New CEO Barry Starkman Takes the Wheel at HemCon

New CEO Barry Starkman Takes the Wheel at HemCon
As the company recovers from bankruptcy, Starkman has a particular set of challenges ahead.
HemCon has named Barry Starkman as its new CEO. He brings three decades worth of biologics and medtech manufacturing experience with him.

Stark will be key in leading the company through its recovery from filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which HemCon filed for in April of last year. In March 2011, the company lost a patent infringement suit brought against them by Marine Polymer Technologies Inc. Marine Polymer claimed that HemCon’s chitosan product, derived from shrimp and designed to staunch bleeding in battle and disaster environments, violated its patents for chitosan developed from micro algae. The ruling set HemCon back $29.4 million, forcing it to file.

“As we reorganize and restructure with the objective of successfully exiting Chapter 11, Barry is an extremely important addition to the HemCon team,” said Bill Wiesmann, chairman and co-counder of HemCon. “His leadership and expertise will prove valuable in realizing the full potential of our lyophilized plasma program (LyP program), and in developing the optimal strategy for the Medical Device division. Barry rounds out our executive team, working with Nick Hart who will continue his role as president and CFO [chief financial officer].”

Starkman will be tasked with the execution and delivery of the LyP program through Phase 2 clinical trials, as well as overseeing the facility expansion planned to facilitate the Phase 3 trials. Lyophilization of plasma is used to keep the blood product usable for long periods of time. He will also review the Medical Device division fully, and determine optimal strategy for making it financially profitable.

Prior to joining HemCon, Starkman served as vice president of operations at Promega, where he was responsible for global manufacturing, planning and logistics for the $300 million organization. Starkman had previously overseen the design, construction, start-up and operation of Genentech’s $450 million formulation, packaging and distribution facility in Portland, Ore., serving as general manager. Earlier in his career, Starkman spent 24 years at Merck taking on increasing responsibility which culminated at director of manufacturing within vaccine operations.

“I look forward to working with the team in a timely exit from Chapter 11 and then helping HemCon realize its potential as a highly successful and viable enterprise.” Starkman said.

HemCon Medical Technologies Inc., founded in 2001, develops, manufactures, and markets technologies for rapid delivery of plasma and hemostatic devices for the control of bleeding resulting from trauma or surgery. HemCon products are designed for use by military and civilian first responders as well as medical professionals in hospital and clinical settings where rapid supply of plasma and control of bleeding are of critical importance. The company is headquartered in Portland, Ore., with additional commercial operations in Ireland and the Czech Republic.