Oct. 7, 2009 (Business Wire) -- Pennsylvania Bio (www.pennsylvaniabio.org), the statewide Association representing Pennsylvania’s biosciences community, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Ivan Gergel, M.D., executive vice president, research and development, Endo Pharmaceuticals; and Dr. Marc Malandro, Ph.D., C.L.P., associate vice chancellor for technology management and commercialization, University of Pittsburgh.

"It is important for the growth of the biosciences in Pennsylvania that the Association’s board represents all sectors of the industry," said Pennsylvania Bio Board Chair Julie McHugh, CEO, Nora Therapeutics, Inc. "Ivan and Marc are exceptional leaders, bringing to the Board great scientific and commercialization expertise."

Ivan Gergel, M.D., was appointed executive vice president, research & development at Endo Pharmaceuticals, in April 2008. Prior to joining Endo, Dr. Gergel was senior vice president of scientific affairs and president of the Forest Research Institute of Forest Laboratories Inc., managing more than 900 physicians, scientists and staff at the Research Institute. Prior to that, Dr. Gergel served as vice president and chief medical officer at Forest and executive vice president of the Forest Research Institute. He joined Forest in 1998 as executive director of clinical research following nine years at SmithKline Beecham, and was named vice president of clinical development and clinical affairs in 1999.

In October 2006, Marc Malandro, Ph.D., C.L.P., was appointed associate vice chancellor for technology management and commercialization at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to 2006, Dr. Malandro was serving as director of the Office of Technology Management (OTM); before that, he served as a technology licensing manager for OTM. OTM works with Pitt faculty, students, and staff on all aspects of the commercialization process, from protecting potentially commercial ideas through the patenting process to soliciting licensing contracts and creation of spinoff companies. OTM recently has focused its efforts on educating Pitt faculty about the process of commercialization and encouraging faculty in all disciplines to think of commercial applications for their discoveries.

"I am so pleased that as our Board grows, we continue to reflect the great diversity of the industry throughout the commonwealth," said Pennsylvania Bio President Dennis M. "Mickey" Flynn. "I think it would be difficult to find anywhere else a more talented group of leaders than we have at the helm of Pennsylvania Bio."

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