PhRMA’s Unlucky Class Of ‘06
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
Dolan's removal from Bristol creates succession challenge for the trade association as well.
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Peter Dolan will be stepping down as chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America following his dismissal as CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb. The trade group's board is understood to be meeting Sept. 14, and a decision on leadership could be made then. Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer is the board's chairman-elect. Succession issues are complicated by the fact that Karen Katen, who is leaving Pfizer after recently being passed over for the CEO post, had been elected PhRMA treasurer in March at the same time Dolan was elevated to chairman (1 (Also see "J&J's Weldon Challenges Use Of Evidence-Based Medicine For Policy Decisions" - Pink Sheet, 16 Mar, 2006.)). Dolan's agenda at PhRMA included the creation of a long-term strategic planning process and a focus on five key areas: "making medicines available to patients who need them"; "driving innovation"; "delivering the best value solutions to patients"; "confronting the toughest healthcare problems" (such as AIDS, natural disasters and pandemic flu); and partnering with doctors and patients - "our natural allies in the fight against disease" (2 (Also see "PhRMA Priorities Include Insurance Advocacy And Public Education On Patent Issues" - Pink Sheet, 17 Mar, 2006.)). Dolan's road to PhRMA chairman was a relatively long one. He was elected treasurer for 2002-2003, but then resigned the post to concentrate on Bristol's management and earnings reporting issues. He resumed the succession track by being named treasurer in 2004. Dolan was removed from his CEO post at Bristol in the aftermath of the company's failed efforts to keep generic Plavix off the market (see 3 related story ). -M. Nielsen Hobbs ([email protected]) |