WMU News

Keystone series features biotech start-up executives

Oct. 12, 2003

KALAMAZOO -- Executives from two biotech startup companies will speak about building their businesses at a presentation Friday, Oct. 24, at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business.

Phil Long, CEO of NephRX, and Dr. Jay Goodwin, founder of ADMETRx, will present "Building New Companies in Kalamazoo's Southwest Michigan Innovation Center" as part of the Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Series. The presentation, which includes a continental breakfast, will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Room 2150 of WMU's Schneider Hall. The free Haworth College of Business program is sponsored by Keystone Community Bank. Parking will be available in the Fetzer Center parking lot. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the business dean's office at (269) 387-5050.

Long, the former president of Biggs|Gilmore Communications and former chair of the Haworth College of Business Council, took the helm at NephRX this past summer. The company is dedicated to the discovery and development of therapeutic products for the treatment of kidney failure, kidney disease and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

A longtime employee of the Upjohn Company and its successors--Pharmacia and Upjohn, Pharmacia and now Pfizer--Goodwin formed ADMETRx this past summer together with his colleague Phil Burton. ADMETRx is a pre-clinical profiling contract research organization.

As part of the 2003-04 Keystone series, business leaders from around West Michigan are slated to discuss the triumphs and challenges of finding success in this area, and how they have grown and prospered despite tough economic times.

Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu


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