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09/23/2004 - THE BIOTECHNOLOGY COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AND EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM --Michael D. Becker to serve as Vice Chair; Frank LaSaracina as Treasurer--
Trenton, NJ, September 23, 2004 -- The Biotechnology Council of New Jersey (BCNJ) has announced that it has elected two new officers: Michael D. Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cytogen Corporation, Princeton, NJ, as Vice Chair of the Council, and Frank LaSaracina, Managing Director of Speedel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Bridgewater, NJ, as Treasurer. The election of Mr. Becker and Mr. LaSaracina expands the BCNJ leadership team in its quest to create a positive culture for biotechnology companies to prosper in New Jersey.
Commenting on the election, BCNJ Chairman Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alteon, said, "We are delighted to be working with Michael and Frank and thank them for their commitment to BCNJ and its important efforts. It is critical to have a strong and committed leadership team for the BCNJ as we build the industry within New Jersey. Additionally, this team and all of the Council members will play an important role in preparing for BIO 2005, the Biotechnology Industry Organization's major international meeting which will be held next June in Philadelphia. BCNJ is the co-sponsor of this event, which will bring more than 17,000 biotechnology professionals to the region."
Mr. Becker joined Cytogen, a biotechnology company, in April 2001 and has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Executive Officer of the Companys AxCell Biosciences subsidiary and Vice President, Business Development and Industry Relations. Prior to joining Cytogen, he was with Wayne Hummer Investments LLC, a Chicago-based regional brokerage firm from July 1996 to April 2001, where he held senior positions as a biotechnology analyst, investment executive and portfolio manager in addition to participating in sales management activities. Mr. Becker attended DePaul University.
Mr. LaSaracina joined Speedel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., US affiliate of the Speedel Group, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, in 2000. Prior to joining Speedel, Mr. LaSaracina was Vice President, Business Strategy, at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. During his twenty years at Novartis, Mr. LaSaracina held a number of management positions in Business Development, Business Strategy and Finance. Mr. LaSaracina, a CPA, began his career at Deloitte, where as Senior Auditor, he supervised the audits of numerous companies in the financial, manufacturing and retail sectors. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Mr. LaSaracina is a Trustee of Newark Beth Israel Hospital and has served as Trustee of the Summit Chapter of the American Red Cross, as well as the Oradell Board of Education.
In addition to Mr. Moch, Mr. Becker and Mr. LaSaracina, the BCNJ volunteer leadership team includes: Alan J. Main, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (Secretary); Donald L. Drakeman, Ph.D., President and CEO of Medarex, Inc. (Chairman, BCNJ Public Policy Committee) ; Paul G. Thomas, President, CEO and Chairman of LifeCell Corporation (Liaison with New Jersey Biotechnology and Life Sciences Coalition); Keith L. Brownlie, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP (Co-Chair, BCNJ Membership Committee); James J. Marino, Esq., Partner, Dechert, LLP. (Co-Chair, BCNJ Membership Committee).
Debbie Hart serves as the President of BCNJ. She worked alongside industry leaders to establish the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey in 1994.
The mission of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey is to promote a business and public policy environment in the state of New Jersey and beyond that enhances the growth and prosperity of New Jersey's biotechnology companies. BCNJ currently has 150 member companies. For more information, please visit the BCNJ website at biotechnj.org.
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