Key Leaders

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Glenn Pierce, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Global Medical Affairs

Dr. Pierce joined Biogen Idec’s hemophilia therapeutic area in 2009, from Bayer Healthcare, Bayer Schering Pharma where he was Scientific Head, U.S. Research Center and Vice President, Applied Research Hematology. He has more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology research and development, from the bench to the bedside in small, large, public and private biotech/biopharma firms, including Avigen, Selective Genetics, and Amgen. He is the co-author of over 150 scientific papers, has more than 9 U.S. patents, and is a member of numerous medical and scientific groups including the WFH, NHF, ISTH, and ASH. Dr. Pierce served on the Blood Products Advisory Committee at the Food and Drug Administration and served on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, the Board of Directors and was President of the Board of the National Hemophilia Foundation. Dr. Pierce also served on the Committee on Blood Safety and Availability at the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Pierce received an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology, both from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and did his postgraduate training at Washington University in St. Louis.

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Remy Sukhija

Vice President, US Hemophilia Business

Mr. Sukhija joined the Biogen Idec hemophilia therapeutic area in 2010, with responsibility for building and leading the commercial team. Before joining Biogen Idec Hemophilia, Remy was with Pfizer where he held brand leadership roles in the therapeutic areas of hemophilia and inflammation. Remy brought with him extensive experience in hemophilia, as he launched BeneFix-R in Europe and was responsible for prelaunch commercial development of ReFacto AF/Xyntha. The earlier part of Remy's career was dedicated to sales and marketing roles at GSK in the oncology, anti-viral, CNS, and anti-infective therapeutic areas. Over the last 18 years, Remy has held commercial leadership roles in the U.S. and Europe primarily focused on biologic products that deliver novel healthcare solutions to people living with rare diseases.

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Alvin Luk, Ph.D., C.C.R.A.

Senior Director, Global Clinical Affairs

Dr. Luk joined Biogen Idec’s hemophilia therapeutic area in 2009, from Bayer Healthcare, Bayer Schering Pharma where he was Deputy Director, Global Clinical Program & Resource Management, with specific emphasis on hemophilia. He has more than 15 years of distinguished success in global clinical development and global clinical operations at a few firms including Avigen and Amgen (formerly Tularik). He is the co-author of 19 scientific papers, has 3 U.S. patents pending, a member of numerous medical and scientific groups including the WFH, NHF, ISTH, and ASH, and recipient of numerous special recognition awards. Dr. Luk received his B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Business Administration in Marketing and an M.S. in Cell Development & Physiology degrees, all from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco.

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Robert T. Peters, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Molecular and Cell Biology

Dr. Peters joined Biogen Idec’s hemophilia therapeutic area, formerly Syntonix Pharmaceuticals in 2000, and has held a number of leadership roles in Molecular and Cell Biology. Specifically, he has been a leader for the company’s Factor IX program since its inception, and more recently for the Factor VIII program as well. Dr. Peters is a co-inventor of the monomeric Fc fusion technology that is being applied to the Factor VIII and IX programs. Dr Peters’ experience ranges across biotechnology, primarily focusing on the creation of novel Fc fusion proteins and characterizing their activity. He is the co-author of a number of scientific papers and co-inventor of 3 U.S. patents. Dr. Peters received a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences/College of Engineering at Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University.

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Jessica (Jess) Swann

Director of Marketing and Community Relations

Ms. Swann, who joined Biogen Idec’s hemophilia therapeutic area in 2009 as Associate Director of Product and Market Development, has been privileged to work in the hemophilia community throughout her career. She was most recently Area Business Manager within the U.S. hemophilia sales and marketing franchise at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, Ms. Swann was Medical Science Liaison and Associate Director of Corporate Communications/Investor Relations at Avigen, a biotechnology company which explored gene therapy as a possible cure for hemophilia. Ms. Swann began her career as Executive Director of the Hemophilia Association of San Diego County, a chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF). During this time, she also served as President of the NHF Chapter Staff Organization (CSO) and President of the Agency Executives Committee at the United Way/Combined Health Agencies of San Diego County. Over the past 12 years, Ms. Swann has served as a trusted coach, mentor and active volunteer, helping countless local, national and international organizations to expand fund-raising profitability, build organizational capacity and develop powerful community programming. Ms. Swann earned her B.A. in Spanish from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and her M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

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