Biotech Values

[apljack]

Idenix Pharmaceuticals Appoints Tamar D. Howson to Its Board of Directors

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Idenix-Pharmaceuticals-prnews-3739087483.html?x=0&.v=1

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDIX - News), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today announced that it has appointed Tamar D. Howson to its Board of Directors. Ms. Howson is currently a Partner at JSB-Partners, a transaction advisory firm serving the life sciences industry. Ms. Howson has extensive experience in licensing, collaborations and M&A transactions in her 20-year career as a corporate and business development executive and advisor to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

"Tamar is an internationally recognized pharmaceutical executive with broad industry expertise in global business development and venture capital investments. Over the course of her career, Ms. Howson has executed close to 100 transactions in life sciences," said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Idenix. "Her background and strategic insight will be an important asset to the Idenix Board of Directors."

Prior to joining JSB-Partners, Ms. Howson was executive vice president of business development at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals where she led the company's partnering and licensing efforts. From 2001 to 2007, Tamar was senior vice president corporate and business development at Bristol Myers Squibb overseeing M&A, licensing and research collaborations across all businesses. In 2000 and 2001, Ms. Howson served as a business development and strategy consultant to biotechnology companies in the United States and in Europe. Ms. Howson worked at SmithKline Beecham from 1991 to 2000, where she was senior vice president and director of business development, responsible for worldwide in-licensing and business development. She also managed SR One, SmithKline Beecham's $100 million venture capital fund. Before joining SmithKline Beecham, Ms. Howson served as vice president, venture investments at Johnson Associates, a venture capital firm, and earlier as director, worldwide business development and licensing for Squibb Corporation. In 1999, Ms. Howson received the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association "Woman of the Year" Award.

Ms. Howson currently serves on the board of S*Bio Pte Ltd., a consultant to Pitnago Venture Fund and is a member of the advisory board to Triana Venture Partners. She previously served on the boards of Ariad Pharmaceuticals, SkyPharma, NPS Pharma, Targacept, and HBA. Ms. Howson holds an M.B.A from Columbia University, a M.S. from City College of New York and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Technion in Israel.

Appears to have the bona fides, and a good fit for the co. Anyone know of her work?

aj