Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/668575
C h a i n D r u g s t o r e D a i l y S a t u r d a y, A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 8 FOR DAVID BIERNBAUM, SUCCESS IS MEASURED WITH "LIFE-CHANGES" FOR CLIENTS, RETAIL PARTNERS, CPG FRIENDS AND AN UBER DRIVER An interview with David Biernbaum, David Biernbaum & Associates LLC. CDD: You've been employed by CPG leaders like Gillette, P&G, GSK and Abbott. Today, you work in various capacities with many more. What are the services provided by David Biernbaum & Associates LLC? DB: CPG business development; con- sulting, marketing and sometimes, master-broker of national sales, with a network of independent brokers. Helping drive consumer products to maximum success while building value and equity for my client is my passion and expertise. CDD: Remind our readers of some of the brands you helped to develop since 1977. DB: Two current ones are Australian Dream Arthritis Creams and SmartMouth Mouthwash. These are huge success sto- ries developing as we speak. I'm privi- leged to be working with these innova- tions and the teams of extraordinary peo- ple behind them. Some brands have changed hands a few times with increasing value. These are in no particular order, and I'm passionate with all of these. Aquafresh, Sucrets, Mineral Ice, Murine, Oral-B, Germ-X, OraBrush, RectiCare, Gillette Sensor, Selsun Blue, Sonicare, Calgon, Milkscreen, Australian Dream, TheraBreath, now SmartMouth, ZarBees, Softcup, Xlear, LiceGuard, OraBrush, Zooth licensed toothbrushes and toothpaste, now a new innovative brand, Wax Rx. There were lots more big brand names, but I like to call out the challengers that beat the odds. CDD: Everyone who knows you talks about your passion for CPG brands, retailers and especially "your people." DB: My greatest pleasure is mak- ing a difference in people's lives, be it with perspective, ideas, shar- ing, networking, teaching, coaching, mentoring, confidence building and cer- tainly, wealth-building. It's about people, respect, honesty and passion, always communicating, caring, working smart and having fun winning and making money together. CDD: You recently changed the life of a former CPG region manager that hap- pened to be your Uber driver to the air- port. Tell our readers about that. DB: First two miles, my driver asked me what I do, and I told him. Then I learned that Joseph himself has 25 years CPG experience with two big brands, but lost his last job for the usual wrong reasons. Joseph supported his family driving for Uber and selling suits at a men's store. He mentioned reading about a new company on LinkedIn that could use someone like me to help launch new products, and offered to pass along my info. But 14 miles into the ride, I con- vinced Joseph that he, not me, will approach this new CPG company to help out. I spent most of the next weekend helping Joseph get pre- pared for his approach and strategy. Fast forward, Joseph is enjoying a new life in CPG consulting, enjoying greater suc- cess making more money than any previ- ous time in his career. Uber lost a wonder- ful driver! David Biernbaum's CPG bio is a long list of successful brands, prestigious employ- ers and clients, awards, appearances, content, speeches, committees and hun- dreds of endorsements. David has a thriving consulting practice, is always in demand, and founded Consumer Goods & Retail Professionals, with 60,000 con- nections on LinkedIn. David's passions are his beloved clients, brokers, partners, CPG friends and one Uber driver. For more information, contact David Biernbaum at david@biernbaum.com, call 314.434.6008 or go online at www.biernbaum.com. ASCEND CONTINUES GROWTH Ascend Laboratories has taken signifi- cant steps in its efforts to build a leading U.S. generic firm. Bolstered by its acqui- sition of Norac in Azusa, California and Long Pharma in Fenton, Missouri, Ascend has begun to develop its U.S. manufacturing infrastructure. Norac is an API manufacturer with a strong concen- tration on DEA APIs. The recently com- pleted acquisition of Long Pharma pro- vides the company with both general and specialized manufacturing capabilities for finished dose products in the U.S. Ascend, the U.S. arm of Alkem Labs, India, has been in the market since 2008 and currently markets products manufactured by Alkem in India and legacy products it owned and marketed prior to its acquisition by Alkem in 2012. Ascend has also been making invest- ments in its sales, marketing and back room capabilities by adding key posi- tions to strengthen the company's ability to provide outstanding service to its cus- tomers. These upgrades, coupled with the acquisitions, establish a strong platform for the company to grow and develop its U.S. presence and business. The company has also been gaining increasing numbers of approvals from the FDA and current- ly has more than 50 items fully developed and submitted to the FDA awaiting approval, some of which will be made in the U.S. at the Long facility, and more than 100 addition- al products at various stages of development. Most recently, the company received its first approval for a day 181 launch, and joined several others in bringing to market Linezolid 600mg, the generic equivalent of Zyvox in late December. Subsequently, it has gained approval on Gabapentin tablets 600mg and 800mg. These are expected to launch in April and will complement its existing approval on Gabapentin capsules. These items join a strong nucleus of core items that includes Benzonatate, Ibuprofen, SSD Cream and the only generic Mycophenolate Suspension. Together with its remaining prod- ucts and focus on strong customer service, this positions Ascend well. With the increased capabilities pro- vided by its recent acquisitions, Ascend continues its growth into one of the industry's most notable growing young companies. Visit Ascend at booth #460. AVEXIS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AveXis, Inc., a leading clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treat- ments for patients suffering from rare and life-threatening neurological genetic dis- eases, announced three appointments to its Board of Directors: Daniel G. Welch, Terrence C. Kearney and Frank Verwiel, M.D., who joined the Board of Directors prior to the company's initial public offering. Mr. Welch is serving as Non- executive Chairman of the Board. "The addition of these three industry leaders to our board of directors brings extensive corporate operating expertise to our Board," said Sean P. Nolan, President and Chief Executive Officer of AveXis. "These highly accomplished individuals will bring a wealth of opera- tional, financial and strategic acumen to our board, as well as extensive experi- ence in building companies from clini- cal-stage drug development to larger scale global commercialization. I know their impact will be immediate as we work to achieve our goal of fulfilling unmet treatment needs for patients suf- fering from rare, life-threatening neuro- logical genetic diseases." Daniel G. Welch Mr. Welch has more than 35 years of healthcare experience at multi-national pharmaceutical and biotechnology com- panies. Mr. Welch is an executive partner at Sofinnova Ventures, a position he has held since January 2015. He previously served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of InterMune, Inc. from September 2003 to September 2014, and from May 2007 to September 2014 also served as the company's Chairman of the board of directors. From August 2002 to January 2003, Mr. Welch served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In addition to AveXis, Mr. Welch currently serves on the boards of direc- tors of Seattle Genetics, Inc., Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., where he also serves as Chairman, and Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He previously served on the board of directors of Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Welch received a B.S. from the University of Miami and an M.B.A from the University of North Carolina. Terrence C. Kearney Terrence C. Kearney has more than 30 years of global healthcare experience at major pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for Hospira, Inc. where he previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Hospira, Mr. Kearney worked for 25 years in a variety of financial management roles at Abbott Laboratories. In addition to AveXis, Mr. Kearney currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Innoviva (formerly known as Theravance Inc.) and Acceleron Pharma. Mr. Kearney earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Illinois and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver. Frank Verwiel, M.D. Dr. Verwiel has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical indus- try, most recently as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Aptalis Pharma Inc. (formerly known as Axcan Pharma). He has also held a variety of internation- al management positions at Merck & Co. Inc. and Servier Laboratories. Dr. Verwiel previously served on the Board of Directors of InterMune, Inc. Dr. Verwiel was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). He current- ly serves on the Boards of Directors of Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Obseva SA, and is also an observer of the Board of Directors of Bavarian Nordic A/S. Dr. Verwiel received his MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau in France and his medical degree from the Erasmus University, Rotterdam in the Netherlands. About AveXis, Inc. AveXis is a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for patients suffering from rare and life- threatening neurological genetic dis- eases. The company's initial proprietary gene therapy candidate, AVXS-101, is in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of SMA Type 1. For more information, visit www .avexis.com.