Business Development Advisory Board
We at Sunstone are committed to creating a supportive framework for our portfolio companies to enhance the likelihood of successful product development and strategic collaborations. One means to attain this end is through meetings between portfolio companies and the Business Development Advisory Board (BDAB) which we created in 2007.
Sunstone’s BDAB is an external advisory group composed of seasoned business development executives which meets regularly to assist our investment managers in advancing and progressing the portfolio companies, particularly on their business development strategy.
The BDAB meets twice a year, and selected portfolio companies are invited to participate based on company life cycle status and anticipated business events.
The BDAB is composed of a mix of current and former leading Life Science Business Development executives from Europe and the US who have deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, including operational and leadership experience in R&D, commercial and business development functions within small to large-cap life science companies. The BDAB’s diverse, but complementary knowledge and experience provides a multi-facetted and global perspective.
Robert J. Cobuzzi Jr.
Robert J. Cobuzzi Jr. (United States) – Chairman of the BDAB, Sunstone Venture Partner and COO at CervoMed (Nasdaq:CRVO). Bob was formerly President and CEO at Diffusion Pharmaceuticals. He previously held roles at Endo Pharmaceuticals, Adolor, Centocor/JnJ and AstraMerck.
Christine Lemke
Christine Lemke, (Germany/Switzerland) – Senior Vice President of Portfolio and Growth Strategy, absci. Christine has extensive business development, corporate strategy and R&D experience in leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry, including as Head of Global Corporate Development at Ferring; SVP, Global Head of R&D Strategy and Planning at Shire and Head of Bayer HealthCare Strategy.
Corinne Venot
Corinne Venot, PhD, MBA (France) – VP, Business Development Europe, BeiGene, former Business Development at Servier and previously R&D Partnering and Research Scientist at Sanofi-Aventis.
David Colpman
David Colpman (United Kingdom) – Independent Consultant, current Board Director of Oak Hill Bio, former Head of Global Business Development, Shire Pharmaceuticals, and previouly Business Development at GSK and Novo Nordisk.
Simon Dew
Simon Dew (United Kingdom) – Chief Business Officer at Macomics. Prior to Macomics, Simon has held senior business development and strategy roles at ReNeuron, Mereo, Evox Therapeutics Ltd., Gyroscope Therapeutics, and was previously the Senior Vice President, Business Development and Corporate Strategy, Astellas Pharma (UK/Japan).