Dragon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: DDD; OTC BB: DRUG) is pleased to announce that it has appointed James Harris as VP of Sales and Marketing, replacing Robert Walsh. He will be responsible for increasing the company’s sales and marketing effort in our existing markets outside of China (India, Egypt, Peru and Brazil) and accelerating the introduction of Dragon’s erythropoietin in the other out licensed markets, which cover most of the territories outside Europe, North America and Japan. He will also prepare the company for entry into the European market.
Mr. Harris has over 22 years of experience within the above field in several capacities of increasing responsibility. Prior to Dragon, Mr. Harris has been a consultant in biotech and pharmaceuticals, and he has worked with various firms ranging from large multinationals to small generic companies. Mr. Harris spent eight years with Amgen most recently as a National Accounts Manager and ten years with Bayer in various sales and marketing capacities.
Mr. Harris has been associated with numerous major product launches, including the launches of EPO(Epogen?, GCSF(Neupogen?, and Intravenous Immune Globulin, IVIG (Gamimune?. He has also assisted the field sales organization with training and development efforts.
He also serves as the Assistant Area Chair Department of Graduate Business and Management at the University of Phoenix. Mr. Harris obtained a B.A. in Political Science from Wright State University and an M.B.A., in Finance from Long Island University.
Dr. Wick, President of Dragon Pharmaceuticals said, “James Harris brings to Dragon the extensive sales and marketing experience necessary to further develop our international sales. We are excited to have him as part of the company.”
Robert Walsh has been appointed as Director of Corporate Development, an area in which he has had a keen interest since beginning with Dragon three years ago.
“I am pleased to fill this position with a staff member who is experienced, very knowledgeable in the field of technology and, more specifically, in all aspects of erythropoietin”, said Dr. Wick, “I am determined to realign the company resources to meet our objective of profitability in 2003. This change in management is a clear signal of how we are meeting the identified priorities and the dynamics with which the company is determined to confront the future.”
