Kristin Brooks12.20.13
Steven Bernitz has been appointed senior vice president of corporate development at Synta Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Bernitz brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate strategy, business leadership and transactional experience in life sciences.
Mr. Bernitz joins the company from Extera Partners, a business development advisory firm, where he served as partner and head of the BioPharma Practice, leading numerous business development and strategy initiatives for development stage companies and their investors, in oncology, autoimmune and orphan diseases.
Prior to Extera, Mr. Bernitz was chief business officer at Concert Pharmaceuticals, and served as senior vice president, business and product development at Coley Pharmaceutical Group. Mr. Bernitz also was chief executive officer of Histogenics and Organogenesis, both cell therapy companies, and earlier in his career was with Merck Vaccines and McKinsey & Co.
“Steve has tremendous deal experience, as is clear from his track record, which will be valuable in realizing the potential of both our ganetespib and HDC programs,” said Safi Bahcall, president and chief executive officer, Synta. “His wealth of diverse business experiences and insights make him an excellent addition to our executive team, as we manage a growing pipeline and an increasing number of important strategic and operational choices.”
Mr. Bernitz joins the company from Extera Partners, a business development advisory firm, where he served as partner and head of the BioPharma Practice, leading numerous business development and strategy initiatives for development stage companies and their investors, in oncology, autoimmune and orphan diseases.
Prior to Extera, Mr. Bernitz was chief business officer at Concert Pharmaceuticals, and served as senior vice president, business and product development at Coley Pharmaceutical Group. Mr. Bernitz also was chief executive officer of Histogenics and Organogenesis, both cell therapy companies, and earlier in his career was with Merck Vaccines and McKinsey & Co.
“Steve has tremendous deal experience, as is clear from his track record, which will be valuable in realizing the potential of both our ganetespib and HDC programs,” said Safi Bahcall, president and chief executive officer, Synta. “His wealth of diverse business experiences and insights make him an excellent addition to our executive team, as we manage a growing pipeline and an increasing number of important strategic and operational choices.”