Former Pfizer Global R&D President John LaMattina Joins PureTech Ventures as Senior Partner; PureTech Announces Partner Promotions

BOSTON, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- PureTech Ventures today announced that John LaMattina, Ph.D., former President, Pfizer Global Research & Development and Executive Vice President, Pfizer, Inc., has joined the firm as a Senior Partner. PureTech also announced the expansion of the firm's operational leadership team with the promotions of Dr. Eric Elenko and Mr. Steve Muniz to Partner.

"John's breadth of expertise across all aspects of drug discovery and development coupled with his extensive network and practical approach to translating innovative ideas will be a valuable resource for PureTech," said Daphne Zohar, PureTech Founder and Managing Partner.

"The opportunity to work with world class scientists on cutting edge programs has always been my passion," says Dr. LaMattina. "I look forward to having stimulating interactions in an entrepreneurial atmosphere with my colleagues at PureTech and to building programs that can truly impact the future of medicine."

In addition to joining as a Senior Partner, Dr. LaMattina has been appointed to the PureTech Board of Directors. Dr. LaMattina joins other PureTech Senior Partners and Board members: Dr. Bennett Shapiro, (Chairman, former EVP Worldwide Basic and External Research, Merck); Dr. John Zabriskie (former CEO Pharmacia & Upjohn); Dr. Ronald Cape (Founder, Cetus); Dr. Frank Douglas (former Chief Scientific Officer, Aventis); Dr. Robert Langer (renowned MIT Professor); and Ms. Daphne Zohar (PureTech Founder and Managing Partner).

Dr. LaMattina is the former President, Pfizer Global Research and Development and Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc. During his 30 year career at Pfizer Inc., Dr. LaMattina held positions of increasing responsibility for Pfizer Central Research, including Vice President of US Discovery Operations in 1993, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Discovery Operations in 1998 and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development in 1999. During Dr. LaMattina's leadership tenure Pfizer discovered and/or developed a number of important new medicines including Tarceva, Chantix, Zoloft (PTSD), Selzentry and Lyrica along with a number of other medicines currently in late stage development for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and pain. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and U.S. patents. In addition, Dr. LaMattina is the author of "Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths About Pharma R&D."

Dr. LaMattina received the 1998 Boston College Alumni Award of Excellence in Science and the 2004 American Diabetes Association Award for Leadership and Commitment in the Fight Against Diabetes. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2007. During this same year he was the recipient of the Just One Break, Inc. Lifetime Achievement Award and the Legal Momentum Equal Opportunity Award. He will also be the recipient of the American Chemical Society's Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management in 2010. Dr. LaMattina serves on the Board of Directors of Human Genome Sciences and Neurogen and serves as Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee for Bilcare. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston College. Dr. LaMattina received a B.S. in Chemistry from Boston College in 1971, and received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1975. He then moved on to Princeton University as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor E. C. Taylor.

PureTech also announced the promotions of Dr. Eric Elenko and Mr. Steve Muniz to Partner. Dr. Elenko and Mr. Muniz will be joining Mr. David Steinberg as Partners on PureTech's operational leadership team.

Since joining PureTech in 2005 Dr. Elenko has been instrumental in the development of PureTech's portfolio companies and initiatives, including the founding of Solace Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gelesis, Inc., Karuna Inc., and Tal Medical. Through his role at PureTech, he has also been a valued mentor to entrepreneurs, serving as one of the founding mentors for the Kauffman Foundation's Entrepreneur Fellows Program. Prior to joining PureTech, Dr. Elenko was a consultant with McKinsey & Company where he advised senior executives of both Fortune 500 and specialty pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues such as product licensing, mergers and acquisitions, R&D strategy, and marketing. Dr. Elenko received his BA in Biology from Swarthmore College and his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, San Diego.

Since joining PureTech in 2007, Mr. Muniz has been responsible for all operational and legal aspects of the firm. Prior to joining PureTech, he was a Partner in the Corporate Department of Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge LLP, where he practiced law for 10 years. Mr. Muniz's practice at EAPD focused on the representation of life science venture funds as well as their portfolio companies in general corporate matters and in investment and liquidity transactions. Mr. Muniz has a BA in Economics and Accounting from The College of the Holy Cross and a JD from New England School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude.

About PureTech Ventures

PureTech Ventures (www.puretechventures.com) is a Boston-based venture firm specializing in creating innovative companies that will impact human health and wellbeing. PureTech leverages the knowledge, experience and networks of its Senior Partners and team of entrepreneurs to translate breakthrough research from top tier academic institutions into products that address critical unmet medical needs.