JDRF Names Novocell's Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., as President and CEO
Biotech Executive to Guide Leading Organization Focused on Delivering Cures and Therapeutics for Type 1 Diabetes and Its Complications
Contact:
William J. Ahearn, (212) 479-7531
Leslie Schwartz, (212) 479-7553
New York, NY, November 25, 2008 -- JDRF announced today that Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., has been named President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Lewis, who has more than 30 years of experience in biomedical research, comes to JDRF from Novocell, a cell and drug therapy company focused on diabetes, where he is currently President and Chief Executive Officer.
He will join JDRF in January.
"Dr. Lewis has a track record of bringing therapies to the clinic, of managing complex scientific organizations, and of spurring innovation across a range of diseases including diabetes and other chronic diseases," said Leo F. Mullin, Chairman of the JDRF International Board of Directors. "Under his leadership, we are confident that JDRF will continue to accelerate the pace of innovation leading to a cure, and will move forward aggressively towards our goal of a world without diabetes."
Mr. Mullin noted that Dr. Lewis has a long and successful track record in biomedical research. In addition to leading San Diego-based Novocell since 2006, he has also served as President of the Signal Division of Celgene, a biotech company focused on drug and cell therapies for inflammatory diseases and cancer, where he managed a fully integrated target and drug discovery effort consisting of 150 staff, including scientists, project planning, intellectual property, and business development. Previously, he was President and CEO of Signal Pharmaceuticals, and Vice President of Research at Wyeth Laboratories.
Novocell, under the leadership of Dr. Lewis, has advanced research focusing on developing glucose-responsive insulin-secreting cells from stem cells to treat type 1 diabetes. In 2007, Novocell was the recipient of a JDRF Industry Discovery and Development Partnership grant - an innovative JDRF program established to fund small biotech and pharmaceutical companies with promising cures, drugs, and therapeutics for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Born in the United Kingdom, Dr. Lewis has degrees in physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology from Southampton University and the University of Wales in Cardiff. He did postgraduate work at the University of Guelph, Ontario, and Yale University. Dr. Lewis is a member of the American Diabetes Association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the International Association of Inflammation Societies, the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and the British Pharmacological Society, among others. He has published over 120 full manuscripts, and written and edited seven books and some 100 abstracts.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a world-class organization such as JDRF. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as they move from discovery science to the development and delivery of cures and therapies for type 1 diabetes," Dr. Lewis said. "As rewarding as working for large pharmaceutical and small biotechnology companies has been, I could not be more excited about the opportunity to lead a patient-focused organization that intends to make a huge difference in the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes."
About JDRF
JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.
Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.3 billion to diabetes research, including more than $156 million in FY2008. In FY2008 the Foundation funded more than 1,000 centers, grants and fellowships in 22 countries.