Pfizer Launches Global Regenerative Medicine Research Unit at Granta Park

Following Pfizer’s announcement on Friday of the launch of a new research unit known as Pfizer Regenerative Medicine. The Granta Park Managing Director, John Granger, commented, “We are very pleased that Pfizer Regenerative Medicine has chosen Granta Park as its European home and look forward to working with the new team joining the already 2000 strong park community. The Regenerative Medicine staff will be in good company with the likes of MedImmune, PPD, Vernalis, Alizyme and Gilead already in residence. ”

Vernalis appoints new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Vernalis plc today announced two key appointments. Firstly, Ian Garland was named as Chief Executive Officer. It is expected that he will take up his position with the Company in December 2008.

Ian commented “I am very excited to be joining Vernalis which, for a small company, has one of the broadest portfolios of promising and unpartnered drug candidates in the European biotechnology industry. I look forward to working with the Vernalis team to build significant value for shareholders.”

From May 2007 until September 2008, Ian was CEO of Acambis plc, a company focussed on the development of novel vaccines. During this period he oversaw a series of important advances for Acambis including approval by the FDA of its smallpox vaccine, partnering with Sanofi Pasteur on a West Nile vaccine and advancing vaccines against other infectious diseases such as pandemic influenza and clostridium difficile. In April 2008, Acambis was awarded a $425m. biodefence contract with the US Government, and successfully raised £43.4m in a secondary financing. The exceptional progress achieved during this period led to acquisition of Acambis by Sanofi Aventis in September 2008 for £280m.
From 2004 to 2007, Ian served as CFO of Arrow Therapeutics Ltd., a privately-held company engaged in the discovery and development of new anti-viral agents. He oversaw its acquisition by AstraZeneca plc for $150m in February 2007.
From 1999 to 2003, Ian was President and Chief Operating Officer of Celltech Pharmaceuticals Inc., which had a turnover of around $300 million and approximately 1,000 employees, encompassing the US operations of Celltech Group plc. He was responsible for all US activities, including marketing, manufacturing and supply chain management, and US-based development and support functions. During this time, he achieved significant US sales and earnings growth, the approval of two US New Drug Applications, and the divestment of several non-core businesses.
For much of this period Ian reported directly to Peter Fellner, then CEO of Celltech, and now Chairman of Vernalis, and then worked closely with him again whilst Peter served as Chairman of Acambis.
From 1988 to 1995 Ian worked at KPMG, specialising in the pharmaceutical sector, following qualification as a Chartered Accountant.
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In conjunction with the new CEO appointment, David Mackney (40) is named as Chief Financial Officer, and is expected to join the Company on 1st February 2009.
From February 2008 to the present, David has served as Interim CFO at Acambis plc, working closely with Ian Garland to successfully secure the US biodefence contract and the secondary financing. Prior to this he served as CFO for a private equity-backed technology company.
From January 2002 to May 2005, David served as Group Financial Controller at Shire plc, a FTSE 100 biopharmaceutical company.
From September 1996 to December 2001, he worked as a senior manager in audit and then in transaction services at Arthur Andersen. David is a Chartered Accountant.
Peter Fellner, Chairman, commented:
“I am delighted to welcome Ian Garland, with his exceptional experience and strategic abilities, as our new CEO at Vernalis, following his very successful tenure at Acambis plc.
I am also pleased to welcome David Mackney as Chief Financial Officer. His contribution to the successful development of Acambis, together with his broad previous experience, will be very valuable for Vernalis.”

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Good News for Budi-ng Cyclists

Granta Park employees wanting to cycle to work or use a cycle route for the first time, can now sign up to the new journey-sharing website CamShare.co.uk to find a Bike BUDi.

A Bike BUDi is someone who is willing to share a cycle journey with a new cyclist showing them the way and giving them the confidence to try cycling perhaps for the first time in years. If you are uncertain of a route to work, college, or a one off event, a Bike BUDi is just what you need.

And there are fabulous prizes to be won by registering on CamShare as a Bike BUDi before 1 November; all prizes donated by Cambridge cycle shops.

Residents can now find routes to cycle quicker, easier and more sociably thanks to the new journey-sharing website.

The scheme is funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Travel for Work Partnership.

Members of the public can sign up for free on www.camshare.co.uk. The process is simple and anyone can search for others who are cycling the same route. They are then able to make contact through a secure on-line message centre.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Sir Peter Brown, Cabinet Member for the Economy, Environment and Climate Change, said: “I am delighted that CamShare is offering Cambridgeshire residents more choice about how they travel around the County. Tackling climate change is a top priority for the Council and it is increasingly important to encourage travel by more sustainable means including cycling, thus reducing the amount of CO2 emitted.”

Lindsey Rushmore, Travel for Work Partnership Travel Plan Adviser said: “Bike BUDi’s are a great idea! They help cyclists find the shortest and safest routes to travel. In bringing experienced cyclists and those unfamiliar with routes together, CamShare is able to offer even more travel choice than before.”

Further information can be found by loggin on to www.camshare.co.uk. or contacting Travel for Work on 01223 712429.

Vernalis Drug Trial Milestone

Vernalis plc and Servier, France’s largest privately-owned pharmaceutical company, today announce that they have achieved the first milestone in their three-year oncology drug discovery collaboration initiated in May 2007. The milestone gives rise to a payment of €500,000 from Servier to Vernalis and marks the solving of the novel crystal structure of an undisclosed oncology target.

The joint research programme, in which Servier provides funding for Vernalis’ scientists, applies Vernalis' proprietary structure-based discovery capabilities to two promising oncology targets involved in protein-protein interactions. The research combines fragment-based discovery, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic technologies to rapidly generate and advance novel small molecule inhibitors. The methods provide detailed information on how these compounds bind to the targets and provide a basis for structure-guided medicinal chemistry.

“This milestone provides further demonstration of the power of Vernalis’ suite of discovery platforms to elucidate the structure of challenging drug targets”, commented Peter Fellner, Vernalis’ Executive Chairman. “We look forward to progressing the collaboration with Servier further to develop exciting new cancer therapies”.