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The Convergence Guide Names Ten Most Influential Life Sciences Leaders in New England; Jim Tobin, CEO of Boston Scientific, Heads List; Group Includes Scientists, Business Leaders and Politicians Marking Recent Achievements

Posted on: Friday, 22 September 2006, 12:00 CDT

The ten most influential people in New England's life sciences community were named today based on their contributions to science, business and politics, according to an advance report from The Convergence Guide. Jim Tobin, CEO of Boston Scientific of Natick, Massachusetts, tops the list. This group of visionaries is responsible for driving the ongoing success of the New England life sciences hub.

"New England has solidified its position as one of the leading life science communities in the world, based on the convergence of the key elements required for the growth of this innovation-driven industry," commented Tom Finneran, President of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. "New England offers all of these qualities: a super cluster of world-renowned institutes, teaching hospitals, and universities, revolutionary scientific research, primacy in venture capital and technology transfer, ground-breaking therapeutic and medical device development, as well as a favorable economic development environment to create and maintain the atmosphere conducive to this pioneering work."

According to The Guide, New England is home to pioneering life sciences individuals from every key phase of industry development, beginning with basic research to product development through legislation. Members of the list include leaders from academia, represented by Susan Hockfield, Ph.D., President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; powerhouse pharmaceutical executives like John LaMattina, Ph.D., President of Global Research and Development at Pfizer; and policymakers like Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. The Guide will contain the full list of the top 25 members of the New England life sciences community when the full book is published in October.

Looking forward to major events on the horizon in the New England life sciences community, members of the Top Ten list will play key roles in an upcoming industry-wide event. In May, Boston will again host the annual meeting of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, BIO 2007. Jim Mullen, CEO of Biogen Idec, and one of the ten most influential people in New England Life Sciences, is the Chairman of BIO and a member of the BIO 2007 Host Committee. BIO 2007 is expected to attract approximately 20,000 members of the life sciences community to the hub of New England life sciences to participate in a forum showcasing life sciences' progress and promise.

Recent Achievements in New England Life Sciences Include:

-- New England welcomed the announcement by Bristol-Myers Squibb that build a $1.1 billion biologics manufacturing plant at the former Fort Devens Army Base that will create up to 550 jobs when it is scheduled to open in 2009. Massachusetts emerged as the victor in a highly demanding competition between states including Rhode Island, New York and North Carolina to house the new facility.

-- New England's biggest life sciences IPO in five years: $105 million raised by Altus Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Massachusetts in January 2006.

-- New England's record-setting sum of $430 million paid for the acquisition of a private biotech company, GlycoFi of Hanover, New Hampshire in May of 2006.

-- New England's three biggest medical device clusters gained critical mass and demonstrated their contributions to the workforces of their respective communities: Greater Boston/Southern New Hampshire leading the list with 9,921 employees in the life sciences; the Providence, RI and Fall River, MA cluster with 3,861 employees and New Haven/Milford, CT with 3,260 employees.

About The Guide

The Convergence Guide is the definitive resource on life sciences activity in New England for investors, entrepreneurs, executives, policy-makers, and members of the media. The Ten Most Influential People in Life Sciences was compiled by entrepreneurs and executives at New England life sciences companies. Additional content in the Guide, to be published in October 2006, includes the full list of 25 leading life sciences individuals in New England, interviews with the chief executives of Novartis, Genzyme, and Millennium Pharmaceuticals; an interview with MassMedic president Tom Sommer; perspectives from New England VCs on what they invest in and why; a report on stem cell activity in New England, and data about life sciences employment, venture capital investing, and initial public offerings.

Source: Business Wire

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