André Pernet, Ph.D. André G. Pernet, Ph.D. was born in Paris on January 16, 1945. He joined Abbott Laboratories in Canada in 1973 as a research chemist after obtaining degrees in management, chemical engineering, and a doctorate in chemistry. He served in several research management positions after joining Abbott’s pharmaceutical products division in Chicago in 1980.  He was named divisional vice president of anti-infective research and development in the same division in 1989.  In June 1992, Pernet was promoted to divisional vice president to head the worldwide development of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Pernet was elected corporate officer and vice president, pharmaceutical products research and development in 1994, heading an organization of 2700 scientists with an annual budget responsibility of $600 million. During his tenure he developed drugs in the areas of schizophrenia, manic depression, analgesia, epilepsy, prostate hypertrophy, anti-infective, and stroke. Among his accomplishments is the worldwide development of the antibiotic Biaxin (clarithromycin) the sales of which peaked at $1.2 billion. He spearheaded the AIDS research at Abbott and developed Norvir, one of the three breakthrough protease inhibitors which together reduced mortality in AIDS patients by 74%, and he also initiated the discovery and development of Kaletra, now a major therapeutic tool in HIV treatment.  In February 1999, Pernet’s team was awarded the Prix Galien International, which is considered the highest distinction for medical and scientific contribution. Between 2000 and mid-2002 Dr. Pernet served as Chairman & CEO of Genset, a European genomic company which was successfully sold to Serono. Dr. Pernet is currently chairman of CURx Pharma and serving on the Board of Directors of Kaleidos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Quark Biotech (privately held).  In recent years, he was also on the Boards of Celeris Corporation, Synsorb, Advanced Pharma and Genescape, and on the Scientific Board of Pathogenesis. BACK