Press Releases
Chiron Appoints Jack Goldstein President, Chiron Blood Testing
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Aug. 22
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (Nasdaq: CHIR) today named Jack Goldstein, 55, as president of Chiron's Blood Testing division. Based in Emeryville, Dr. Goldstein will be responsible for the commercial operations of Chiron's blood testing business. He will also serve as a member of Chiron's executive committee. Dr. Goldstein's appointment is effective September 3. William G. Green, who has served as president of the Blood Testing division since April, will continue in his roles as Chiron's general counsel, senior vice president and member of the executive committee.
"With his depth of experience, Jack will bring valuable skills and knowledge to our blood testing business," said Sean Lance, Chiron's chairman and chief executive officer. "Jack's operational skills will be an important asset at a time when we are growing our business with geographic expansion of Chiron's PROCLEIX® HIV-1/HCV Assay and the development of new assays. Under his guidance, Chiron Blood Testing can build on the success of the PROCLEIX launch in the US. and achieve even greater success. I am grateful to Bill Green for the leadership that he brought to the division at a critically important moment in its history."
Dr. Goldstein brings substantial experience in the pharmaceutical industry and in blood testing to his new position, as well as a strong scientific background. Since 2000, he has served as chairman of the board of directors of Applied Imaging Corporation, a leading supplier of instrumentation systems for prenatal genetics, cancer genetics and cancer pathology. From 1997 to 2000, he served as president and chief executive officer of the company. He is also currently a general partner in Windamere Venture Partners, L.L.C., a venture fund investing in early stage biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies.
Prior to joining Applied Imaging, Dr. Goldstein worked from 1986 to 1997 in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility at Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company specializing in medical diagnostics for blood banks and blood donor centers. He served as president of Ortho Diagnostics from 1993 to 1997. Dr. Goldstein's experience also includes positions at Baxter Healthcare Corporation and American Home Products. He earned a B.A. in biology from Rider University, and an M.S. in Immunology and Ph.D. in Microbiology from St. John's University.
"Because of his experience at Ortho Diagnostic Systems, a longtime partner of Chiron's, Jack is uniquely able to make Chiron's vision for its Blood Testing division a reality," said Mr. Green. "I am confident that he will help us to take our commitment to the safety of the blood supply to the next level by bringing our portfolio of new assays to market and continuing to expand into new geographical markets."
About Chiron Blood Testing
Chiron Blood Testing is a leading provider of products used worldwide by the blood banking industry to help ensure the safety of the world's blood supply. With its collaborator, Gen-Probe Incorporated, Chiron Blood Testing is developing and commercializing innovative and highly sensitive NAT (nucleic acid testing) blood screening assays, including the PROCLEIX HIV-1/HCV Assay for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Currently more than 70% of the U.S. blood supply is tested with the PROCLEIX System. Through its joint business with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Chiron Blood Testing develops and markets a line of immunoassay screening and supplemental tests for infectious diseases. Chiron and its collaborator, Gen-Probe Incorporated, received FDA approval of the PROCLEIX HIV-1/HCV Assay on February 27, 2002.
About Chiron
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, headquartered in Emeryville, California, is a global pharmaceutical company that leverages a diverse business model to develop and commercialize high-value products that make a difference in people's lives. The company has a strategic focus on cancer and infectious disease. Chiron applies its advanced understanding of the biology of cancer and infectious disease to develop products from its platforms in proteins, small molecules and vaccines. The company commercializes its products through three business units: biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and blood testing. For more information about Chiron, visit the company's website at www.chiron.com. For more information about Chiron Blood Testing, visit www.ebloodbank.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding sales growth, product development initiatives, new product marketing, acquisitions and in- and out-licensing activities, that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change. A full discussion of the company's operations and financial condition, including factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is contained in documents the company has filed with the SEC, including the form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, and the form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and will be contained in all subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documents identify important factors that could cause the company's actual performance to differ from current expectations, including the outcome of clinical trials, regulatory review and approvals, manufacturing capabilities, intellectual property protections and defenses, stock-price and interest-rate volatility, and marketing effectiveness. In particular, there can be no assurance that Chiron will increase sales of existing products, successfully develop and receive approval to market new products, or achieve market acceptance for such new products. There can be no assurance that Chiron's out-licensing activity will generate significant revenue, nor that its in-licensing activities will fully protect it from claims of infringement by third parties. In addition, the company may engage in business opportunities, the successful completion of which is subject to certain risks, including shareholder and regulatory approvals and the integration of operations.
Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not undertake an obligation to update the forward-looking information we are giving today.
NOTE: PROCLEIX is a trademark of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.
SOURCE Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
Web site: http://www.chiron.com.
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