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Drug Enhancement Company of America |
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Drug Enhancement Company of America (DECA) Adds Two Key Executives
Joel Ivers and Andrew (A.J.) Schaeffer Join DECA
Union, KY. (August 2, 2007) The Drug Enhancement Company of America, LLC ("DECA"), today announced that two area executives have joined its management team.Ý Joel Ivers, formerly CEO at Hill Top Research Corporation, and Andrew (A.J.) Schaeffer, formerly a Member of the law firm Greenebaum, Doll, and McDonald PLLC, have been named Principals at the Northern Kentucky drug development firm.
Joel Ivers has over 25 years of experience in diagnostics, biotechnology, information technology, clinical research, and pharmaceuticals where he has developed extensive strategic marketing, licensing, business development, operations, and senior management expertise. Joel began his career in 1979 as a high school chemistry teacher in Cincinnati and then moved through various sales and management positions at Ortho Diagnostic Systems, a division of Johnson and Johnson. In 1990, Joel launched and developed the market for The Big Blue® Transgenic Mouse Mutagenesis Assay System worldwide and managed a national sales force at Stratagene, where he was VP Mutagenesis Marketing and North American Sales. Joel later became the VP Marketing and one of the founders of Diversa (now known as Verenium Corporation), an enzyme discovery biotechnology company currently listed on the NASDAQ. In 1997 Joel joined a health care IT firm which was later acquired by Computer Task Group (CTG), a publicly held IT consulting firm. Joel servedÝ as Chief Marketing Officer for CTG for where he formed and led a global marketing organization. Joel joined Hill Top Research in 2002 where he served as Chief Operation Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Joel is a board member of BioStart, Cincinnatiís biotechnology business incubator, and served as a member of the Bioscience Task Force for the state of Ohioís Business Roundtable working on A Prospectus for Achieving Success in the Third Frontier. Recently Joel was a speaker at the BioPharma in Ohio conference, and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati School of Pharmacy. Joel earned a Masters Degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from The University of Redlands in Redlands, California.
Andrew J. "A.J." Schaeffer offers a wide range of legal experience to DECA. A.J. was a Member of the respected national business law firm of Greenebaum Doll and McDonald, PLLC from 1999-2007, and was one of the youngest Members in firm history. He specialized in litigation and appellate work and counseled private and public companies, as well as governmental, non-profit and individual clients. Professionally, A.J. is highly active in the Kentucky Bar Association Young lawyers section, and nationally in the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division where he was recognized in Hawaii as the 2006 Star of the Year (out of 140,000 plus members). A.J. was one of Greater Cincinnatiís top "Forty under 40" business leaders, the inaugural recipient of the Legacy Legend award and has been named a Rising Star by Ohio's Super Lawyer publication. A.J. generously gives his time to many Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati charities and community service organizations. Most recently, his service includes work as Chairman of the board for Vision 2015, Co-Chair of the Vision 2015 planning process, Executive Committee Member of Cincinnati's Shared Civic Agenda Initiative, President of LEGACY, Bridges for a Just Community Board Member, GiveBack Cincinnati Advisory Board Member, Thomas More College Foundation Board Executive Committee and Major Gifts Committee member, and fundraiser for numerous non-profit and charitable organizations, among other civic and philanthropic pursuits. AJ received a B.A. in Economics and History and an A.A. in Pre-Legal Studies from Thomas More College, and received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Kentucky and Ohio.
"I am very pleased to have these two experienced executives join the DECA team as we identify new areas of growth for the company," said Roger Griggs, DECA founder and CEO. "The addition of these two talented professionals will allow us to accelerate our development of new drugs for the consumer and prescription pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, we now have a stronger scientific, marketing, and legal core team which will enable us to more quickly assess new opportunities and expand our capabilities."
DECA recently entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Oculus Innovative Sciences. Under this agreement DECA licensed the Oculus Microcyn® Technology for use in an over-the-counter first responder "pen-like" applicator intended for use by police, fire, military, emergency medical personnel, healthcare providers, homeland security personnel and consumers. Microcyn Technology, a non-irritating, non-toxic, and alcohol-free oxychlorine compound, combined with a novel personal dispenser developed by DECA, will be used as an immediate response to minor cuts, minor burns, superficial abrasions and minor irritations of the skin. The new personal protection system will be marketed by DECA as MyClyns™.
DECA is a privately held pharmaceutical development organization dedicated to the creation of innovative healthcare technologies and products that offer therapeutic benefits for varying disease states. The company, founded by CEO Roger Griggs, is located in Union, Kentucky. DECA has acquired, developed, and licensed numerous products and platform technologies, several of which have led to the foundation of highly successful companies including Richwood Pharmaceuticals (merged with Shire Pharmaceuticals in 1997), and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals. The company's website is www.decausa.com.
Contact: Joel Ivers (859) 384-3600 x 104 jivers@decausa.com |