Biotech people

BT Catalyst, Dec, 2001

* Paradigm Genetics Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM) of Research Triangle Park has created and filled three new management positions. Jin Sun Kim, J.D., has been named vice president of human healthcare. Most recently, Kim was senior vice president of strategic development and general counsel for Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. of Scottsdale, Ariz. Ian J. Mehr, Ph.D., MBA, has been named director of business development for human health. Mehr previously directed pharmacogenomics business development activities at Laboratory Corp. of America in Research Triangle Park. Gary A. Miller, Ph.D., has been named vice president of nutrition. He was most recently senior vice president of science and business development for ADM Nutraceuticals of Decatur, Ill.

* Closure Medical Corp. (Nasdaq: CLSR) of Raleigh has elected Dr. James E. Niedel, Ph.D., to its board of directors. Niedel was most recently the chief science and technology officer for GlaxoSmithKline, with facilities in Research Triangle Park.

* BioStratum Inc. of Research Triangle Park has appointed Seymour Mong, Ph.D., vice president of research. Mong was most recently vice president of biotechnology and co-founder of Structural BioInformatics of San Diego.

* Biolex Inc. of Pittsboro has appointed David G. Spencer, Ph.D., vice president of research and development and chief operating officer. Spencer was previously vice president of respiratory and critical-care life-cycle management for the Biological Products Business Unit of Bayer Corp. in Raleigh, where he had worldwide responsibility for marketed and pipeline products.

* Magellan Laboratories of Research Triangle Park has added two new employees to its staff. Lenie Valencia has been named senior technical manager of microbiology. She most recently served as manager of microbiology at Oread Laboratories Inc. of Lawrence, Kansas. Michael Barron has been named senior business development scientist, with responsibility for building the southeast region of the company's analytical division. Barron was most recently the business development director with Inceutica Inc. of Research Triangle Park. In related news, Al Childers, Ph.D., CEO of Magellan, has joined the advisory board of Southern Capitol Ventures of Raleigh, a venture capital and consulting company for emerging growth companies in the Southeast.

* Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: INCR) of Research Triangle Park has appointed Mark E. Furth, Ph.D., senior vice president of research, with responsibility for expanding technology applications in tissue protection, repair and regeneration. Furth was recently chief scientific officer for PPD Discovery of Morrisville.