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Interview with Paul Sekhri, CEO, Cerimon
By Sterling-Hoffman Life Sciences Journal
The architect of Novartis' Disease Area Strategy and an
advisor to over 8 biopharma companies, Paul Sekhri knows what
makes a successful pharmaceutical company. His own company,
Cerimon, is bringing innovative therapeutics to patients with
significant unmet medical needs. Paul chats with
Sterling-Hoffman Life Sciences about new therapeutic areas and
the biopharma industry.
Sterling-Hoffman Life Sciences Journal (SHLSJ): What inspired you to join this industry as a
career?
Paul Sekhri (PS): I left med school with the dream that by entering
the Biotech/Pharma industry I might be able to help hundreds of
thousands of patients rather than just a few thousand.
SHLSJ: What is your favorite sport?
PS: While I have participated in many types of
sports, I keep returning to my first love, running.
SHLSJ: How do you maintain a balance between your
professional and personal life?
PS: This is a definitely hard to do. I actually
schedule ‘personal time’ – be it going for a run, a weekend away
with family and friends, or even a simple one-on-one dinner.
SHLSJ: Who is your greatest source of inspiration in
the Life Sciences Industry? And in your life?
PS: In the Life Sciences industry my greatest source
of inspiration is Fred Frank, Vice Chairman of Lehman Brothers.
He is a daily source of inspiration.
In my life, I would have to say my father. He taught me how to
remain calm and balanced despite the day-to-day stresses of
business.
SHLSJ: Which segment within the Life Sciences Industry
do you see as a growing prospect in the coming years?
PS: I see personalized medicine and all areas that
treat diseases associated with aging and over-eating as growing
areas.
SHLSJ: What changes have you noticed in yourself from
when you joined the company to today?
PS: I went from working as a Senior Manager in a
pharmaceutical company to being a first time CEO. Nothing can
prepare you properly for really running your own company.
SHLSJ: What are some of the challenges Cerimon faces
when trying to bring pharmaceuticals that have been approved in
other markets to the North American market? What have been some
of the big wins for Cerimon in this arena?
PS: Certainly, regulatory challenges are the biggest
issue. The USFDA has its own set of distinct guidelines and
regulations. The biggest win for us is on the safety side. We
know that our drugs are safe as they have been in hundreds of
thousands of patients already.
SHLSJ: What do you look for in an executive team?
PS: Intelligence, ability to challenge me, integrity,
a proactive approach to their job. An ability to exceed in their
respective roles. Most importantly, they have to be someone I
really like.
SHLSJ: Where do you think you have outsmarted your
competitors?
PS: Our development expertise and experience is
second to none. We also have unusually high business development
horsepower for a small company.
SHLSJ: Where would you rate the industry as compared to
others in terms of growth?
PS: The BioPharma industry is a big risk/big reward play.
Period.
SHLSJ: What kind of people can make the best CEOs in this
industry?
PS: People who can be creative, innovative and flexible.
People who can see the forest for the trees. People who truly
care about the team and the individual.
SHLSJ: Tell me about your core initiatives right now – what
are some of the focus areas for 2008?
PS: 2008 is a big data year for us. We are also focused on
bring in another value added asset into the company.
SHLSJ: How do you hire the best people? What are the top 3
things you look for when hiring?
PS: Find the smartest and least arrogant people you can, and
let them do their job.
1. Highly intelligent and experienced.
2. Highly motivated.
3. Humble – they know what they don’t know.
SHLSJ: Is finding Life Sciences professionals a challenge?
PS: It is definitely difficult to find the best people right
now. There is much more demand than supply.
SHLSJ: What do you think is the ideal style of leadership?
PS:
- Communicate the big picture, but get involved in the details
when necessary.
- Make clear, crisp decisions.
- Be firm, but polite.
- Earn respect.
- Honestly care for people. You cannot fake this.
Paul Sekhri is President and CEO of Cerimon Pharmaceuticals. Prior to founding Cerimon, Paul worked for ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, the Sprout Group and Novartis. At Novartis, he was responsible for the creation of Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ disease area strategy. Paul is currently a member of the Board of Directors for ARYx Therapeutics, APT Pharmaceuticals, the Cancer Research Institute and the International Health Organization in Boston. He held senior management positions at biotechnology firms, including Millipore Corporation, and has also held managerial positions in healthcare marketing at Zymark Corporation and Genex Corporation. Paul received his BS in Molecular Biology and his MS in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For article feedback contact Paul at
psekhri@cerimon.com
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