FDA OFFICE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY DIRECTOR FAICH MOVING TO BESSELAAR-PACT

Executive Summary

FDA OFFICE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY DIRECTOR FAICH MOVING TO BESSELAAR-PACT as a VP in August. The 47 year-old Faich, MD, who will retire from the agency after 20 years in the Public Health Service, has served as director of the Office of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for six years, where he has coordinated adverse reaction reporting and post-marketing surveillance. FDA has not named a replacement for the position. The agency reportedly has not yet decided whether it will conduct an internal or external search for his successor. Next in line to Faich is the office's deputy director Charles Anello, who has been with agency for 20 years. Prior to coming to FDA, Faich spent two years in the Surgeon General's Office. Before that he performed epidemiological research for the Centers for Disease Control for 12 years. At Besselaar, Faich will be responsible for Phase IV studies and drug safety reviews. Corning Laboratory Science Division subsidiary Besselaar, founded by former Merck exec G.H. Besselaar, acquired PACT (Philadelphia Association for Clinical Trials) in December ("The Pink Sheet" Jan. 1, T&G-10). The new corporation says it conducts Phase I-IV studies for at least half of the top 50 U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company also maintains offices in Europe, Japan and Australia.