BNET Industries

Market Cap:$45.3M
Last Fiscal Year Sales:$7.1M
  • Public
  • US
Dow Jones Description

Avigen is a biopharmaceutical company that has focused on identifying and developing differentiated products to treat patients with serious disorders. Our strategy was to conceive or acquire and develop opportunities that represent a positive return to Avigens stockholders. Our current potential product is AV411, a glial attenuator, for neuropathic pain and opioid withdrawal and methamphetamine addiction. Prior to October 2008, we had been developing a product candidate, AV650, for the treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. In that month, we announced that top-line data from a Phase 2b clinical trial of AV650 did not achieve statistical significance on its primary endpoint or most secondary endpoints. There were no safety issues. We believe that the trial was adequately powered and all statistical parameters were in line with expectations. Based on these results, we terminated the AV650 program and initiated a restructuring to immediately reduce our expenses and preserve our remaining financial resources in order to evaluate other strategic opportunities. The restructuring included a significant staff reduction and closure of portions of our leased facilities in November 2008. In December 2008, we completed a sale of our early-stage AV513 program for $7.1 million to Baxter Healthcare Corporation. We also expanded our efforts to monetize our AV411 program for neuropathic pain and addiction. ...

Chief Executive Officer, President
Andrew A. Sauter
Number of Employees 12
Contact Information

1301 Harbor Bay Pkwy

Alameda, California 94502-6541

www.avigen.com

(510) 748-7150

NAICS Code In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing: 325413

Recent Events

  • Latest Deals and Data

    8/28/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • MediciNova and Avigen Enter Into Definitive Agreement for Business Combination

    8/21/09 - Joint Venture / Alliance - View Story

  • Avigen Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

    8/10/09 - Financial Announcement - View Story

  • MediciNova, Inc.

    6/27/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

News & Analysis

avigen inc. - All News and Analysis

Decision Makers

Name (plus bio) Position
Andrew A. Sauter Chief Executive Officer, President
Kenneth G. Chahine Chief Executive Officer
Christina Thomson Chief Compliance Officer
Michael Coffee Chief Business Officer
Glenn Pierce Vice President, Res
Kirk Johnson Vice President, Preclinical Development
William Johnson Kirk Vice President, Research & Development
Drew Jones Senior Director, Clinical Affairs
Janice Linver Director, HR
John K.A. Prendergast Lead Director
Lisa Needham Assoc Director, Investor Relations & Corp Communications
Richard Wallace Director of the Company
Michael Hensley Head, Regulatory Affairs
Daniel Vapnek Director
Philip J. Whitcome Director

Board of Directors

Name (plus bio) Position
Zola P. Horovitz Chairman
Jan K Ohrstrom Board of Directors
John Wallace Richard Board of Directors
Stephen G Dilly Board of Directors
Yuichi Iwaki Board of Directors

Andrew A. Sauter is Chief Financial Officer and Acting President and CEO. Mr. Sauter was appointed Chief Financial Officer in February 2008, after having served as Vice President, Finance since January 2006. Mr. Sauter joined Avigen as Controller in November 1999. Mr. Sauter oversees the financial reporting obligations of Avigen and its information technology needs. From 1992 to 1999, Mr. Sauter worked for BankAmerica Corporation in a variety of positions, including most recently as a Vice President in the Capital Markets Finance organization. From 1989 to 1992, he worked for Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Sauter is a certified public accountant and holds a B.A. degree in economics from Claremont McKenna College.

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, President Current
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Finance Current
Avigen, Inc. Controller Current
Avigen, Inc. CFO Former
Ernst & Young Former
BankAmerica Corporation Former
Claremont McKenna College B.A. Degree In Economics Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Current
Avigen, Inc. President Current
University of Utah College of Law Adjunct Professor Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Business Development and Intellectual Property Former
Avigen, Inc. Executive Officer Former
University of Utah JD Former
University of Michigan PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology Former

Christina Thomson, J.D., joined Avigen in February 2000 and was appointed Vice President, Corporate Counsel in June 2004. She has also served as our Chief Compliance Officer since March 2004 and Corporate Secretary since January 2005. Ms. Thomson is a registered patent attorney, and has managed significant growth in Avigen's patent portfolio over the last five years. Ms. Thomson also oversees the company's litigation and administrative patent proceedings, as well as contract administration. Prior to joining Avigen, Ms. Thomson worked as a patent attorney with the law firm Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP in Newport Beach, California, as a patent agent with Madson & Metcalf, P.C. in Salt Lake City, Utah, and as a scientist for Myriad Genetic Laboratories. Ms. Thomson holds a J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law and an M.S. in biology from the University of Utah.

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Chief Compliance Officer Current
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Corporate Counsel Current
Avigen, Inc. Corporate Counsel Current
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear Llp Patent Attorney Former
California Inc Patent Attorney Former
University of Utah College of Law J.D. Former
University of Utah J.D. Former
University of Utah M.S. In Biology Former

Mr. Michael Coffee joined Adamas Pharmaceuticals in 2009. He brings more than 30 years sales, marketing and senior management experience working with emerging as well as large pharmaceutical companies. Prior to Adamas he served as Chief Business Officer for Avigen, Inc. He co-founded the Alekta Group, LLC to provide a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical development consulting services. Mr. Coffee also held positions as President and Chief Operating Officer of Amarin Corporation plc and Amarin Pharmaceuticals Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer of Elan Pharmaceuticals, and President and Chief Operating Officer of Athena Neurosciences, Inc. Mr. Coffee was Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Miles Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. division of Bayer AG, and Vice President of Sales for USV Laboratories. He began his career with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Coffee received a BS in Biology from Siena College.

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Chief Business Officer Current
Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing Current
Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. President Former
Amarin Corporation Plc President Former
Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Former
Amarin Corporation Plc Chief Operating Officer Former
Amarin Corporation Plc Officer Former
Avigen, Inc. officer Former
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Former
Siena College BS In Biology Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Res Current

Kirk W. Johnson, Ph.D., is vice president, research and development. Prior to joining Avigen in early 2004, he was senior director, pharmacology and preclinical development and a member of the executive management team of Genesoft Pharmaceuticals. From 1991 through 2001, Dr. Johnson was employed in both protein and small molecule therapeutic R&D at Chiron Corporation and eventually served as director, pharmacology and preclinical research. Dr. Johnson was involved in creating IND-enabling programs and contributing to successful IND and NDA filings at Chiron and Genesoft. Aside from general pharmacology and other preclinical development responsibilities, he has led research and clinical development projects for diverse indications including neuropathic pain, hemophilia, antibacterials, diabetes, obesity, acute inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Johnson earned a BS in toxicology from the University of California, Davis, and a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the Medical College of Virginia. He did postdoctoral fellowships studying the mechanism of action of IL-2 from 1986 to1989 with Dr. Kendall Smith at Dartmouth and from 1990 to 1991 with Dr. Marian Koshland at the University of California, Berkeley. He has published nearly 50 manuscripts and four U.S. patents.

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Preclinical Development Current
Chiron director, pharmacology Former
Medical College of Virginia PhD In Pharmacology and Toxicology Former
University of California, Davis Bs In Toxicology Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Research & Development Current

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Senior Director, Clinical Affairs Current

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Director, HR Current
Avigen, Inc. Director, HR Former

John Prendergast, Executive Chairman and CEO, is a biopharmaceutical executive who has been involved in the financing and corporate development of early to mid-stage biotechnology companies over the past 15 years. He is a co-inventor of Antyra's Phenogenix and Proteome Panning? technology modules. He is a co-founder and currently serves on the boards of Avigen Inc., Palatin Technologies and Avax Technologies. From 1991-1996, Dr. Prendergast was Managing Director of the Castle Group, a New York-based merchant bank where he was responsible for the identification and evaluation of products and technologies for the formation and development of a range of venture start-ups. He is currently the President of SummerCloud Bay Inc., a consulting practice specializing in these activities.

Organization Position Status
Antyra, Inc. Executive Chairman and CEO Current
Palatin Technologies Inc. Co-Founder Current
Avigen, Inc. Lead Director Current
Palatin Technologies Inc. Director, Chairman of The Board of Directors Current
AVAX Technologies, Inc. Chairman of the Board and Director Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Sierra Hotel Productions, LLC Board of Directors Current
Ingenex Corporation Board of Directors Current
Evolution Benefits, Inc. CEO Former
Health Net, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Former
Evolution Benefits, Inc. President Former
Health Net, Inc. President Former
HCA Inc. Vice President for Development Former
Alegent Health Vice President of Consumer Driven Health Former
University Corp. Ph.D. Former
University of New South Wales Ph.D. Former
University of Lowell B.S. in Electrical Engineering Former
Harvard University Administration and Management Former
Ingenex Corporation member Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Assoc Director, Investor Relations & Corp Communications Current
Avigen, Inc. Assoc Director, Investor Relations & Corp Communications Former

Richard Wallace, BCom (Hons), joined as a director of the Company in March 2006. Richard is Senior Vice President of Global Commercial Strategy at GlaxoSmithKline and a member of their Research and Development Executive, Commercial Operations Committee and Product Management Board. Since joining GSK in 1992, Richard has performed a number of roles from Vice President Commercial (Canadian Pharmaceuticals), Vice President US Business Development, and Vice President Sales & Marketing (US Oncology and HIV). Richard has over the past 6 years in R&D led Global Clinical Development and Product Strategy roles in Neurosciences, expanding to all therapeutic areas of the GSK portfolio. Richard's experience prior to joining GSK includes 8 years with Bristol Myers Squibb and 7 years at Johnson & Johnson in assignments spanning marketing, sales, manufacturing and general management. Richard received BCom and BCom.Honors degrees from Rhodes University, South Africa.

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Director of the Company Current
ImmunoGen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Clinical Data Inc. Board of Directors Current
Healthcare Education Services Ltd Board of Directors Current
Product Management and Co Board of Directors Current
Bridgehead International Ltd Board of Directors Current
Adenosine Therapeutics, LLC Board of Directors Current
GlaxoSmithKline Plc Senior Vice President, Research and Development Former
US Oncology, Inc. Vice President Sales & Marketing Former
Rhodes University Degrees Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Head, Regulatory Affairs Current

Organization Position Status
Sage Healthcare, Ltd. Current
Phyton, Inc. Chairman Current
GenVec, Inc. Chairman Current
Immunicon Corporation Chair Current
Genaera Corporation Chairman Current
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Director, Chairman of The Board Current
Xintria Pharmaceutical Corporation Member of Dov Pharmaceuticals Board of Directors Current
Palatin Technologies Inc. Board of Directors Current
Avigen, Inc. Director Current
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Director Current
NitroMed, Inc. Director Current
International Fight League, Inc. Director Current
DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Director Current
Immunicon Corporation Director Current
NitroMed, Inc. Committee Member Current
Avigen, Inc. Vice President, Business Development Former
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Vice President, Business Development and Planning Former
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Associate Director Former
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Liaison Former
Phyton, Inc. Director Former
Princeton University Board of Directors Former
GenVec, Inc. Director Former
University of Pittsburgh Ph.D. In Pharmacology Former
University of Pittsburgh M.S. In Pharmacology Former
University of Pittsburgh B.S. In Pharmacy Former

Daniel Vapnek, PhD, is currently an adjunct professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has played an influential role in biotechnology in both academics and industry. For 16 years, Dr. Vapnek was the head of research at Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company. He joined Amgen in 1981 as the director of research when the company had 36 employees, and rose to senior vice president of research by 1988. When he retired in 1997, the company had more than 5,000 employees worldwide and revenues of $2.4 billion. While at Amgen, Dr. Vapnek worked closely with Philip Whitcome, PhD, Amgen's former director of strategic planning and also one of its first employees. Prior to joining Amgen, Dr. Vapnek held a number of positions at the University of Georgia and the Yale University School of Medicine. He was awarded both his BS (1963) and PhD (1968) by the University of Miami in Florida.

Organization Position Status
University of California, Santa Barbara Adjunct Professor Current
University of California Adjunct Professor Current
Avigen, Inc. Director Current
MediciNova, Inc. Member of the Board of Directors Current
Amgen Inc. Senior Vice President of Research Former
Amgen Inc. Director of Research Former
The University of Georgia Professor of Molecular and Population Genetics Former
Amgen Inc. Head of Research Former
Yale University School of Medicine Former
University of California, Santa Barbara Ph.D Former
University of Miami Ph.D. (1968) Former
University of Miami B.S. In Zoology Former

Organization Position Status
Profibrix President Current
Profibrix Chief Operating Officer Current
MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. Chief Clinical Officer Current
MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. Executive Vice President Current
ZymoGenetics, Inc. Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Novo Nordisk, Inc. Head of Strategic Marketing Former
University of Copenhagen M.D. Former

Organization Position Status
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Dr. Whitcome served as Chief Executive Officer at Proteolix from the company's funding in December 2003 to December 2005. He had been the Chairman of the Board at Avigen since 1995 and was a Director at BioArray Solutions, NeuroMolecular Pharmaceuticals, and Agenesys, privately held biotechnology companies. Prior to this, he was President and CEO of Neurogen Corporation, from its founding in 1988 to 1993. From 1981 to 1988, Dr. Whitcome was at Amgen Inc., where he served as Director of Strategic Planning. Prior to joining Amgen, he served as Manager of Corporate Development for Medical Products at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and held research and marketing management positions with the Diagnostics Division of Abbott Laboratories. Dr. Whitcome received a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California at Los Angeles, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Physics from Providence College.

Organization Position Status
Proteolix Founder Current
Agensys, Inc. Current
Avigen, Inc. Director Current
The Rothberg Institute for Childhood Diseases Board of Directors Current
Neurogen Corporation Chief Executive Officer Former
Proteolix Chief Executive Officer Former
Neurogen Corporation President Former
Amgen Inc. Director of Strategic Planning Former
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Manager Former
Abbott Laboratories Former
Neuromolecular Pharmaceuticals Chairman of the Board of Avigen Former
Bioarray Solutions Ltd Chairman Former
Nucycle Therapy, Inc. Chairman of The Board of Directors Former
Avigen, Inc. Chairman of the Board Former
Bioarray Solutions Ltd Director Former
Neuromolecular Pharmaceuticals Director Former
University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. In Molecular Biology Former
Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania M.B.A. Former
University of Pennsylvania M.B.A. Former
Providence College B.S. In Physics Former

Organization Position Status
Great Spirit Ventures, LLC Board of Directors Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
University of London Ph.D. In Cardiac Physiology Former

Dr. Iwaki holds three professorships at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in the Departments of Urology, Surgery and Pathology and has been Director of the Transplantation Immunology and Immunogenetic Laboratory since 1992. He is also a visiting professor at the Nihon University School of Medicine, Kyushu University and the Tokyo Women's Medical School in Japan. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Dr. Iwaki held professorships at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the Departments of Surgery and Pathology from 1989 through 1991. He received both his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Sapporo Medical School in Sapporo, Japan. Dr. Iwaki is the author of 200 peer-reviewed publications and more than 40 books. He has been advising pharmaceutical companies and venture capital funds regarding research and investment strategies for over 20 years and is a board member of several biotechnology companies.

Organization Position Status
MediciNova, Inc. Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Founder Current
Two River Group Holdings, LLC Director, Usc Transplantation Immunology & Immunogenetics Laboratory Current
Two River Group Holdings, LLC Board of Directors Current
Avigen, Inc. Board of Directors Current
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Faculty Former
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Former

Executive News

  • Amylin picks ex-Novartis exec as chairman

    FierceBiotech - 8/26/09 - View Story

  • Adamas Pharmaceuticals Expands Management Team; Names Michael D. Coffee and Amy K....

    Reuters - 8/25/09 - View Story

  • Adamas Pharmaceuticals Expands Management Team; Names Michael D. Coffee and Amy K. Patick to...

    Forbes.com - 8/25/09 - View Story

  • Adamas Pharmaceuticals Expands Management Team; Names Michael D. Coffee and Amy K. Patick to Executive Positions

    PR Newswire - 8/25/09 - View Story

  • MediciNova buys Avigen in $37M deal

    FierceBiotech - 8/21/09 - View Story

  • MediciNova and Avigen Enter Into Definitive Agreement for Business Combination

    Street Insider - 8/21/09 - View Story

  • MediciNova Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

    Street Insider - 8/14/09 - View Story

  • Avigen Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

    TradingMarkets - 8/10/09 - View Story

  • Avigen Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

    Street Insider - 8/10/09 - View Story

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     AVGN $1.52 +0.02 (1.33% )
Average Volume 115,179
Shares Outstanding 29.84M
Market Cap 45.4M
Year High 1.64
Year Low 0.4911
Earnings Per Share -0.36
P/E Ratio -4.22
Dividend N/A
Yield N/A
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