07.24.12
Creganna-Tactx Appoints New Board Chairman
Scott R. Ward has been appointed chairman of Galway, Ireland-based Creganna-Tactx Medical, a provider of medical device outsourcing services. Ward succeeds Ian Quinn, the company founder, who will continue as a non-executive director of the firm’s board.
“Scott Ward will be a substantial presence on our board,” Quinn said. “His unparalleled experience and industry insight is invaluable at this time of significant growth and expansion for the company.”
Ward brings years of medical device experience to the Creganna-Tactx table. He first joined the board in 2011. A former vice president and president of Medtronic Cardiovascular, he was responsible for the worldwide operations of the coronary, peripheral, endovascular and structural heart disease business units at the company.
“I look forward to working closely with the management and board to deliver the company’s next phase of growth,” Ward said. “Building on its current market leadership positions, the company is well placed to explore new avenues for development and expansion in a dynamic market environment.”
Helen Ryan, CEO of Creganna-Tactx Medical, added: “I would like to thank Mr. Quinn for his support over the past eight years and I look forward to working with Mr. Ward as our new chairman. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience which will be of great benefit to the management team as we embark on a new phase in the development of the business.”
In addition to his appointment as chairman of the Creganna-Tactx Medical board, Ward is board chairman at MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, and a member of the board of SurModics Inc. Ward holds a B.S. in genetics and cell biology and an M.S. in toxicology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Ward joins non-executive directors Bernard Collins, Sally Flanagan & Fabio Andreottola on the board.
Creganna-Tactx Medical specializes in technologies, products and services for minimally invasive medical device solutions. In 2010 the company announced that Permira funds had acquired a majority stake in the company.
Alliqua Continues to Beef Up its Scientific Advisory Board
Alliqua Inc., a biomedical company that develops and manufactures proprietary technologies in the fields of drug delivery, advanced wound care and liver health preservation, has appointed Charles J. Wolff, D.P.M., to its scientific advisory board. The board’s goal is to offer scientific perspectives on Alliqua’s hydrogel technology platform, as well as strategize its entry into medical markets, specifically wound care and transdermal drug delivery.
Wolff is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He currently serves as the director of the Department of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, N.Y., and attending staff at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y., Ramapo Valley Surgical Center in Ramsey, N.J., Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y., and Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus, N.J. Wolff is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the New York State Podiatric Medical Society.
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and innovative company like Alliqua,” Wolff said. “Having evaluated the company’s newly launched SilverSeal silver based hydrogel wound dressing, I am very encouraged by its upside and the potential for further line extensions and improvements.”
The SilverSeal hydrogel dressing is made from cross-linked polymer based gel that can be molded into sheets. Silver as an antimicrobial agent has been used increasingly in hospital settings because of an upsurge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA.
“Dr. Wolff is a very well-respected practitioner in markets that our products serve,” said Richard Rosenblum, president of Alliqua. “Having him join our scientific advisory board will help us immensely in our commercialization and future development research efforts. He will be an excellent fit for our Board.”
In May, Alliqua welcomed Michael F. Moore, M.D., to the board. He is “recognized as an expert in the field of wound care,” said Rosenblum, who is assembling quite a group of advisors for his company.
Moore is a graduate of Fairfield University and Albany Medical College. Moore pioneered the treatment of wound care in northeastern Pennsylvania, establishing the first wound center in 1997, and has practiced in the region since 1983. Currently, as the Medical Director of the Wound Institute and Research Center in Dunmore, Pa., he is conducting research involving interactive dressings and dietary supplements.
In his role as medical consultant for Noble Biomaterials Inc. and RJL Systems, he is the principal investigator involving the development of a physiologic electronic garment with the U.S. Air Force and the development of a hemostatic antimicrobial dressing for the U.S. Army. Moore has been elected to the board of directors of the Fellows of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists and the advisory nutrition board for Abbott Laboratories.
Like Wolff, Moore praised the features of SilverSeal: “Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to evaluate the company’s SilverSeal hydrogel and believe that it is a ‘best in class’ type product with respect to multiple wound care applications, particularly diabetic ulcers and skin tears.”
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alliqua BioMedical Inc., Alliqua intends to develop active ingredient and transdermal drug delivery products, primarily using the proprietary hydrogel technology platform of AquaMed Technologies Inc., another Alliqua subsidiary. Alliqua is based in New York, N.Y.
New CEO Barry Starkman Takes the Wheel at HemCon
HemCon Medical Technologies Inc. has named Barry Starkman as its new CEO. He brings three decades worth of biologics and medtech manufacturing with him.
Starkman 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-founder 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 previously had 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 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.
CVRx Creates Chief Commercial Officer Position
Medical device company CVRx Inc. has created a new executive position to head its marketing department—chief commercial officer. The company attracted Philippe Wanstock, Ph.D., from Medtronic Inc. to take on this new role, where he will take responsibility for the global launch of CVRx’s Barostim neo product. Barostim neo has received CE Mark approval and is currently available in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria.
Barostin neo is intended to treat hypertension and heart failure by helping trigger the body’s natural blood flow regulation systems that may not be functioning correctly. The system works by electrically activating the baroreceptors located in the carotid artery, the body’s natural blood pressure sensors that regulate cardiovascular function. CVRx claims the system helps arteries to relax, making it easier for blood to flow through the body and easing cardiac exertion.
Wanstok brings 20 years of medical device experience to CVRx. Most recently, he served as the international general manager of cardiac rhythm disease management, commercial operations, at Medtronic, leading an international team of 3,000 colleagues and generating more than $2.4 billion of revenues in active implantable devices. He began his career with Medtronic in his native France, where he helped establish the cardiac rhythm disease management business. Prior to that, he served as vice president of international marketing of cardiac rhythm management (CRM) and electrophysiology at Boston Scientific Corp., which he joined when the company acquired Guidant Corp., where he was at different times general manager and director of CRM marketing. At Guidant, he served in a variety of management roles.
Wanstok holds a master’s degree in economics from the Université Paris-Assas and a doctorate degree in finance and international marketing from the Université Panthéon Sorbonne, both in Paris, France.
“Philippe’s track record of accomplishments in the active implantable medical device market makes him ideally suited to lead CVRx’s worldwide commercial activities,” Nadim Yared, president and CEO of CVRx, said in a prepared statement.
Wanstock expressed enthusiasm for CVRx’s technology: “The Barostim neo is an unparalleled technology for treating hypertension and heart failure,” he said, calling it a “game-changing therapy.”
The Minneapolis, Minn.-based firm launched a European post-market hypertension registry in July to track performance outcomes and physician experience using the company’s Barostim neo device for hypertension. The registry is expected to enroll up to 500 patients.
Scott R. Ward has been appointed chairman of Galway, Ireland-based Creganna-Tactx Medical, a provider of medical device outsourcing services. Ward succeeds Ian Quinn, the company founder, who will continue as a non-executive director of the firm’s board.
“Scott Ward will be a substantial presence on our board,” Quinn said. “His unparalleled experience and industry insight is invaluable at this time of significant growth and expansion for the company.”
Ward brings years of medical device experience to the Creganna-Tactx table. He first joined the board in 2011. A former vice president and president of Medtronic Cardiovascular, he was responsible for the worldwide operations of the coronary, peripheral, endovascular and structural heart disease business units at the company.
“I look forward to working closely with the management and board to deliver the company’s next phase of growth,” Ward said. “Building on its current market leadership positions, the company is well placed to explore new avenues for development and expansion in a dynamic market environment.”
Helen Ryan, CEO of Creganna-Tactx Medical, added: “I would like to thank Mr. Quinn for his support over the past eight years and I look forward to working with Mr. Ward as our new chairman. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience which will be of great benefit to the management team as we embark on a new phase in the development of the business.”
In addition to his appointment as chairman of the Creganna-Tactx Medical board, Ward is board chairman at MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, and a member of the board of SurModics Inc. Ward holds a B.S. in genetics and cell biology and an M.S. in toxicology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Ward joins non-executive directors Bernard Collins, Sally Flanagan & Fabio Andreottola on the board.
Creganna-Tactx Medical specializes in technologies, products and services for minimally invasive medical device solutions. In 2010 the company announced that Permira funds had acquired a majority stake in the company.
Alliqua Continues to Beef Up its Scientific Advisory Board
Alliqua Inc., a biomedical company that develops and manufactures proprietary technologies in the fields of drug delivery, advanced wound care and liver health preservation, has appointed Charles J. Wolff, D.P.M., to its scientific advisory board. The board’s goal is to offer scientific perspectives on Alliqua’s hydrogel technology platform, as well as strategize its entry into medical markets, specifically wound care and transdermal drug delivery.
Wolff is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He currently serves as the director of the Department of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, N.Y., and attending staff at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y., Ramapo Valley Surgical Center in Ramsey, N.J., Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y., and Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus, N.J. Wolff is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and the New York State Podiatric Medical Society.
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and innovative company like Alliqua,” Wolff said. “Having evaluated the company’s newly launched SilverSeal silver based hydrogel wound dressing, I am very encouraged by its upside and the potential for further line extensions and improvements.”
The SilverSeal hydrogel dressing is made from cross-linked polymer based gel that can be molded into sheets. Silver as an antimicrobial agent has been used increasingly in hospital settings because of an upsurge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA.
“Dr. Wolff is a very well-respected practitioner in markets that our products serve,” said Richard Rosenblum, president of Alliqua. “Having him join our scientific advisory board will help us immensely in our commercialization and future development research efforts. He will be an excellent fit for our Board.”
In May, Alliqua welcomed Michael F. Moore, M.D., to the board. He is “recognized as an expert in the field of wound care,” said Rosenblum, who is assembling quite a group of advisors for his company.
Moore is a graduate of Fairfield University and Albany Medical College. Moore pioneered the treatment of wound care in northeastern Pennsylvania, establishing the first wound center in 1997, and has practiced in the region since 1983. Currently, as the Medical Director of the Wound Institute and Research Center in Dunmore, Pa., he is conducting research involving interactive dressings and dietary supplements.
In his role as medical consultant for Noble Biomaterials Inc. and RJL Systems, he is the principal investigator involving the development of a physiologic electronic garment with the U.S. Air Force and the development of a hemostatic antimicrobial dressing for the U.S. Army. Moore has been elected to the board of directors of the Fellows of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists and the advisory nutrition board for Abbott Laboratories.
Like Wolff, Moore praised the features of SilverSeal: “Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to evaluate the company’s SilverSeal hydrogel and believe that it is a ‘best in class’ type product with respect to multiple wound care applications, particularly diabetic ulcers and skin tears.”
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alliqua BioMedical Inc., Alliqua intends to develop active ingredient and transdermal drug delivery products, primarily using the proprietary hydrogel technology platform of AquaMed Technologies Inc., another Alliqua subsidiary. Alliqua is based in New York, N.Y.
New CEO Barry Starkman Takes the Wheel at HemCon
HemCon Medical Technologies Inc. has named Barry Starkman as its new CEO. He brings three decades worth of biologics and medtech manufacturing with him.
Starkman 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-founder 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 previously had 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 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.
CVRx Creates Chief Commercial Officer Position
Medical device company CVRx Inc. has created a new executive position to head its marketing department—chief commercial officer. The company attracted Philippe Wanstock, Ph.D., from Medtronic Inc. to take on this new role, where he will take responsibility for the global launch of CVRx’s Barostim neo product. Barostim neo has received CE Mark approval and is currently available in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria.
Barostin neo is intended to treat hypertension and heart failure by helping trigger the body’s natural blood flow regulation systems that may not be functioning correctly. The system works by electrically activating the baroreceptors located in the carotid artery, the body’s natural blood pressure sensors that regulate cardiovascular function. CVRx claims the system helps arteries to relax, making it easier for blood to flow through the body and easing cardiac exertion.
Wanstok brings 20 years of medical device experience to CVRx. Most recently, he served as the international general manager of cardiac rhythm disease management, commercial operations, at Medtronic, leading an international team of 3,000 colleagues and generating more than $2.4 billion of revenues in active implantable devices. He began his career with Medtronic in his native France, where he helped establish the cardiac rhythm disease management business. Prior to that, he served as vice president of international marketing of cardiac rhythm management (CRM) and electrophysiology at Boston Scientific Corp., which he joined when the company acquired Guidant Corp., where he was at different times general manager and director of CRM marketing. At Guidant, he served in a variety of management roles.
Wanstok holds a master’s degree in economics from the Université Paris-Assas and a doctorate degree in finance and international marketing from the Université Panthéon Sorbonne, both in Paris, France.
“Philippe’s track record of accomplishments in the active implantable medical device market makes him ideally suited to lead CVRx’s worldwide commercial activities,” Nadim Yared, president and CEO of CVRx, said in a prepared statement.
Wanstock expressed enthusiasm for CVRx’s technology: “The Barostim neo is an unparalleled technology for treating hypertension and heart failure,” he said, calling it a “game-changing therapy.”
The Minneapolis, Minn.-based firm launched a European post-market hypertension registry in July to track performance outcomes and physician experience using the company’s Barostim neo device for hypertension. The registry is expected to enroll up to 500 patients.