When it comes to creating and executing development and growth strategies, whether short- or long-term, it is essential to receive objective, seasoned advice and assistance. This is true regardless of the experience level of the firm. Yet, it is remarkable how often this dictum is ignored. Fred Cohen, M.D. a distinguished pharmaceutical industry veteran, set out to create a specialized consulting firm based on highly relevant experience: substance over style; depth over breadth.
Fred is proud of his clinical and scientific-research training and medical credentials, but he knows from experience that proficient skills in areas like clinical reasoning, the scientific method, observation, and data analysis are not nearly enough for successful drug development and marketing. Fred has focused his career in industry honing complementary skills: communication with diverse audiences, negotiation, creative problem-solving, modeling and simulation, trend forecasting, etc. Combined with his broad knowledge of drug R&D, regulation, licensing and marketing, these complementary skills make Fred and his colleagues valuable advisors to industry executives at every level.
In 2007 and 2008, Fred added to his skillset with a full-time stint as Vice President of Clinical Strategy for Fast Track Systems, a provider of clinical benchmarking data for budgeting and contracting and a leading-edge developer of eClinical software. Fred was hired to help Fast Track prioritize and focus its eClinical development and marketing efforts with an eye towards an eventual acquisition. The company performed superlatively during Fred's tenure and was acquired by Medidata Solutions Worldwide in March 2008 at an attractive valuation.
Prior to forming PGS in 2004, Fred held positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, most recently as Senior Director, Drug Development. In his role as Strategic Development Leader for the emerging endocrine and metabolic franchise, Fred led the cross-functional group charged with devising overarching strategy for J&J’s drug development and strategic marketing in this area. In addition to his role as SDL, Fred was global clinical leader for endocrinology and metabolism.
Prior to J&J, Fred held drug and strategic development positions at Eli Lilly and Company under the tutelage of Will Dere, M.D., currently International Chief Medical Officer at Amgen. Fred was responsible for strategy development and evaluation of licensing opportunities in the biotechnology and proteins group and explored novel technologies to improve early-phase drug development efficiency and effectiveness across the portfolio. He was also medical leader for a protein therapeutic. Prior to these roles, Fred was a key member of the Evista Product Team, responsible for preparing and presenting study results to the FDA, its advisory committee and the EMEA's human medicines committee. He also served on the Forteo Product Team, leading safety assessments in preparation for successful global registrations.
During his tenure at Lilly and J&J, Fred was directly involved in internal development or in-depth evaluation of licensing candidates in numerous therapeutic areas, encompassing much of internal medicine and gynecology. More recently, Fred's consulting experience has spanned most other areas of internal medicine.
Fred has been ABIM-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition. He received his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University, completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University Medical Center and a clinical/research fellowship in Endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health. He is a member of numerous professional and industry organizations. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the center of the pharma corridor, with his wife and two children.