BIO Ventures for Global Health Announces Appointment of Christopher Earl As New CEO
Washington, D.C. – October 3, 2005
BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) today announced that Christopher D. Earl, PhD, a leading venture capitalist and entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry, has been appointed president, chief executive officer and director of BVGH. Dr. Earl was previously managing director at the Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund. BVGH was founded in 2004 with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation to focus the resources of the biotechnology industry on the most urgent medical challenges of the developing world.
“Chris is a terrific choice to lead BVGH’s drive to accelerate the development and delivery of biopharmaceutical products that treat diseases of the developing world,” commented Rob Chess, chairman of the BVGH board of directors and chairman of Nektar Therapeutics, Inc. “That BVGH was able to attract someone of Chris’ accomplishment, industry stature, energy and commitment speaks to the importance of the issues BVGH is addressing.”
Dr. Earl has 20 years of experience in biotechnology entrepreneurship. Before joining the Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund, LP, a prominent private equity firm investing in later-stage life science companies, Dr. Earl was president and CEO of Avitech Diagnostics, Inc., and a general partner at Plant Resources Venture Funds. Dr. Earl received a BA in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in cellular and developmental biology from Harvard University.
“I'm excited to have the opportunity to join BVGH at a time when industry, government and non-profit organizations are forging new partnerships to attack the most urgent global health problems,” stated Dr. Earl. “I very much look forward to working with the biotechnology community to marshal its considerable intellectual, financial and product resources in addressing diseases that claim millions of lives each year.”
Dr. Earl further commented, “I am grateful for the initiative and drive that Wendy Taylor has shown as BVGH’s founding executive director, and I am looking forward to working with her in her role as vice president of strategy and operations.”
About BIO Ventures for Global Health
BIO Ventures for Global Health is a non-profit organization whose mission is to save lives by accelerating the development of novel biotechnology-based drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to address the unmet medical needs of the developing world. The organization spurs biotech industry involvement in global health product development by increasing biotech and global health partnerships, designing and advocating for compelling market-based incentives, and synthesizing and disseminating critical information and quantitative analysis. For more information, please visit www.bvgh.org.
For additional information, contact:
Molly Polen, Director of Communications, BIO Ventures for Global Health 202-470-6232