Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ/BGEN) today announced the appointment of John W. Palmer as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. Mr. Palmer will supervise the company’s global business development activities. He reports to Hans Peter Hasler, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations.
James C. Mullen, Biogen’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Business development takes on increased importance in the highly competitive marketplace in which biotechnology companies operate today. Biogen’s combination of financial strength, world-class resources, targeted research focus and commercial experience makes us a desirable partner. In particular, our expertise in biologics manufacturing and experience in registering and marketing drugs globally are unique in the biotechnology industry. John Palmer has done an outstanding job at Biogen for more than a decade and we are pleased that an executive of his caliber will lead this important commercial capability.”
Mr. Palmer, 51, joined Biogen in 1989 as Director of Marketing and Business Development. In 1993, he was named Director of Operations, leading the U.S. and European logistical launches of Biogen’s first commercial product. In 1997, he was named Program Executive for Cardiovascular Program, and since 1999 has served as Senior Vice President, Program Management, overseeing all Biogen Development Programs. Before joining Biogen, Mr. Palmer was a Marketing and Business Development Director at General Foods Corporation. From 1980-1982, he was Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Caribbean Emergency Medical Air Transport, Inc., a novel air ambulance service operating throughout the Caribbean market. From 1979-1980, he was a managing consultant with Strategic Planning Associates in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Palmer received an MBA from The Wharton School, a BA in International Finance and Psychology and a AS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara. From 1972-1977 he served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division.
About Biogen
Biogen, Inc., winner of the U.S. National Medal of Technology, is a biotechnology company principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human healthcare through genetic engineering. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, the Company’s revenues are generated from worldwide sales of AVONEX for treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and from the sales by licensees of a number of products. (Please see full prescribing information at http://www.avonex.com.) Biogen’s research and development activities are focused on novel products to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, fibrosis and congestive heart failure. The Company maintains active clinical research programs in protein therapeutics, small molecules, genomics and gene therapy. For copies of press releases and additional information about the Company, please consult Biogen’s homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.biogen.com.