Eurand, a specialty pharmaceutical company, has hired Robert Becker as their new Chief Research Officer to oversee global research and development. Becker has nearly 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. As CRO, he will consolidate Eurand's core drug delivery technologies and identify new formulation approaches to advance the company's position in drug development partnerships and as an integrated pharmaceutical company. The new role aims to make R&D a greater contributor to Eurand's success and growth by leveraging their innovation in drug delivery to support their expanding proprietary product pipeline.

1. Company Insight
Research and development experts
A wide range of capabilities and a unique business model has
drawn talent to a speciality pharmaceutical company.
R
obert Becker, PhD, (AdvaTab® ODT). With the
joined Eurand as company’s broad project
chief research officer, experience, extensive network R&D will become an even greater
a newly created position, in of company relationships contributor to Eurand’s success
April 2009. He is responsible
for overseeing all global
as a contract development
organisation, and sound
and growth.
research and formulation scientific knowledge, Eurand
activities worldwide. Becker is a reliable partner for Larger pharmaceutical experience in product
joined Eurand with nearly demanding development companies run a large development will help to fuel
25 years of pharmaceutical activities. Most recently, and complex R&D engine, our continuing growth as
industry experience, the company co-developed which requires well-defined a speciality pharmaceutical
including leading positions a new ODT formulation structures and processes. On company focused on the
at Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli of Lamictal® (lamotrigine) the other hand, sufficient gastroenterology market,’ says
Lilly and Biogen Idec. He with pharmaceutical partner room for creativity and Gearoid Faherty, chairman
holds a degree in Chemistry GlaxoSmithKline, which was innovation is also a necessity. and chief executive officer.
and a PhD in Physical approved by the US Food Combining large pharma
Chemistry from the Technical and Drug Administration R&D management skills With such a mandate for
University of Munich. (FDA) in May 2009. with the flexibility of a growth and development,
smaller company – and and a creative and innovative
‘I first became aware of New role ushers in a ensuring continuous flow environment, Eurand is an
Eurand’s drug delivery paradigm shift of information along the exciting prospect for talented
technology expertise in the Eurand’s R&D activities R&D path – will capitalise scientists. ‘Everybody in our
late 1990s when I had to are subdivided into two key on Eurand’s position in R&D organisation is highly
solve a few drug delivery areas: 1. customer business a growing competitive motivated to support the
challenges at Boehringer- with the focus on oral drug environment. ‘After having continued growth of the
Ingelheim,’ says Becker. delivery, and 2. creation established the most effective company and to search for
‘Since that time, I have of a pipeline of innovative infrastructure, Eurand’s R&D new product development
interacted with Eurand pharmaceutical specialities organisation will be able opportunities,’ Becker says.
scientists on multiple of its own. Research and to leverage its innovation ‘There is a spirit and mindset
projects, and I was always development will become potential to advance the here that everyone shares – to
excited about the company’s an even greater contributor shift toward an integrated build Eurand’s future.’ WPF
expertise, experience and to Eurand’s success and pharmaceutical company,’
creativity in overcoming growth. The position of says Becker.
complex and challenging chief research officer was
drug delivery tasks.’ created to consolidate the The company has already
C o m p a ny p r o f i l e
company’s core technologies begun to develop its own Eurand is a global speciality
This experience and and expand on the existing diverse product portfolio. pharmaceutical company that
creativity is supported technology platforms by Zenpep™, for example, a develops, manufactures and
by a range of proprietary identifying new formulation pancreatic enzyme product commercialises enhanced
pharmaceutical and bio-
technology platforms principles. ‘This will enable for the treatment of exocrine
pharmaceutical products based
including bioavailability the company to augment pancreatic insufficiency, on its proprietary drug formulation
enhancement (Biorise®), its competitive position in has recently been approved technologies. Eurand has had six
modified release delivery the field of drug delivery by the FDA. The product products approved by the FDA
(Diffucaps®), taste masking partnering and strengthen was developed leveraging since 2001 and has a pipeline
of products in development for
via microencapsulation its role as an integrated the company’s proprietary itself and partners.
(Microcaps®) and orally pharmaceutical company,’ drug delivery technology For more information, visit:
disintegrating tablets adds Becker. platforms. ‘Robert’s extensive www.eurand.com.
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