Continuing Ed For Pharma Suits

NJBIZ, Aug 4, 2008 by Gaudio, Thomas

The Center for Management Development at Rutgers University said last week it will launch a continuing education program that targets professionals in the drug industry.

Biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical executives along with Rutgers faculty will head up the 12week Rutgers Mini-M.BA.: BioPharma Innovation program. The miniM.BA. looks to teach skills to address changes in the industry, such as increasing layoffs, global competition, patent expirations and government regulation.

"We seem to be losing pharma and biopharma jobs inNew Jersey," says Abe Weiss, the center's director. "Rutgers is making a big commitment in the face of that to retain and draw emerging pharma companies here."

Executives from Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. of Pine Brook, Managed Markets Resources of Morristown and Vertex Pharm- aceuticals of Cambridge, Mass., have signed on as teachers, Weiss says.

The program will begin in September and be offered at Rutgers and on-site at companies. Weiss says two of the country's five top drug makers have contracted with Rutgers to run the program at their locations in Central Jersey and Manhattan.

Those who complete the miniM.B A. are eligible for a three-credit waiver for Rutgers Business School's M.B.A. program. - Thomas Gaudio