Bridge Laboratories, a preclinical contract research organization, announced that it has received $18 million in new funding.  The funding has been secured from returning Series B investors and new global investors.  The capital will enable Bridge to execute its strategy of expanding their industry-leading toxicology lab in China, and continue to grow their U.S. operations. Tom Oakley, President and chief executive officer, said: “The involvement of new investors in Bridge affirms the validity of our strategy to revolutionize preclinical development by delivering high-quality services in China at significant savings, while providing a US-based service for clients that prefer this option..  In the year ahead, we will be actively considering many different opportunities to expand our ability to serve our customers.”

Parexel announced that Eduard Holdener, former head of global pharmaceutical development at Hoffmann-La Roche, has been elected to its board of directors. Holdener was also recently appointed to the role of non-executive chairman of NovImmune.  “With 22 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience, which has included managing global operations and overseeing global drug development during the past nine years for a major pharmaceutical company, Dr. Holdener will be an excellent addition to PAREXEL and our Board of Directors,” said Josef von Rickenbach, Parexel’s chairman and CEO.

Quintiles announced the appointment of Kelly McKee, M.D., as executive director of operations for the company’s public health and government services unit. His expertise in infectious diseases and vaccine product development.

The Drug Information Association (DIA) named Linda McGoldrick as its new worldwide executive director, the first woman in the post. She’s a Wharton MBA who was president and CEO of Financial Health Associations International (FHAI); and she previously worked at Arthur D. Little and Kaiser Permanente International (KPI). Says McGoldrick: “I am excited to be part of the DIA cause in providing a universally respected neutral forum for information exchange on global drug development and discovery. It is this type of global collaboration that provides DIA a tremendous opportunity for growth and innovation aligning itself with the markets it serves.” The press release suggests she’ll be eager to form more alliances with clinical development professional and companies in India and China.

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