MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CPHR; TSX:CPH) ("Cipher" or "the Company") today announced that Rosemary A. (Rose) Crane and Dr. Renee P. Tannenbaum, two pharmaceutical industry leaders, are being proposed for election to Cipher's Board of Directors at the Company's Annual and Special Meeting on May 5, 2016.
Ms. Crane has more than 30 years of experience in large global pharmaceutical companies and development-stage companies. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) one of the largest generic pharmaceutical companies in the world. Previously, Ms. Crane served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MELA Sciences, Inc. from 2013 to 2014. Ms. Crane was Head of Commercialization and a partner at Appletree Partners from 2011 to 2013. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Epocrates Inc.; and held several senior executive positions at Johnson & Johnson, including as Group Chairman, OTC & Nutritional Group, Group Chairman, Consumer, Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Nutritionals, and Executive Vice President of Global Marketing for the Pharmaceutical Group. Prior to that, she held various positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb from 1982 to 2002, including as President of U.S. Primary Care and as President of Global Marketing and Consumer Products. Ms. Crane has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Zealand Pharma A/S since 2015. Ms. Crane received an M.B.A. from Kent State University in 1986 and a B.A. in communications and English from the State University of New York in 1981.
Dr. Tannenbaum has more than 30 years of experience with leading companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she served as Head of Global Customer Excellence at AbbVie, Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) where she was responsible for building commercial capabilities for the organization. Prior to joining AbbVie, Dr. Tannenbaum served as President of Myrtle Potter & Company, LLC, a global life sciences consulting and advisory firm. From 2009 to 2011, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she was responsible for revenue generation for Elan's marketed products and preparation for the commercialization of the company's pipeline. Prior to her role at Elan, Dr. Tannenbaum was at Novartis Pharma AG for three years, where she led the Global Commercial Operations organization. Prior to that, she spent nine years at Bristol Myers Squibb and 16 years at Merck and Company in a variety of leadership positions. Dr. Tannenbaum received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences, where she retains an Adjunct Faculty position in the Mayes College of Healthcare Business and Policy, her MBA from Temple University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Zogenix, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGNX)
"We're fortunate to attract two highly accomplished pharmaceutical industry leaders as potential independent directors," said Gerry McDole, Chair of Cipher's Board of Directors. "As Cipher continues on its path to building the most customer-centric dermatology company in North America, Renee and Rose would bring proven and relevant industry experience to complement and strengthen our existing Board skill-set."