Pursley to become chairman of Rx for Africa's business advisory board

NEW YORK William Pursley, a former executive of Genzyme Corp. and Osiris Therapeutics has agreed to become chairman for the new business advisory board of Rx for Africa.

The company, based in New Jersey, was formed in 2007 to invest in companies manufacturing generic pharmaceuticals in Sub-Saharan Africa. It includes a wholly-owned operating subsidiary that operates a factory, research and development center and offices at its campus outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Pursley has worked in the biotech industry for 25 years, including a stint on the Genentech marketing team that launched human growth hormone.

In his Rx for Africa position, Pursley will lead efforts to find United States and European partners who will use the company’s manufacturing facility in Ethiopia.

“Once the global recession lifts, I believe that Rx for Africa has the potential to dominate the Sub-Saharan region of Africa, which includes Ethiopia and several neighboring countries with aggregate populations in the hundreds of millions,” Pursley said. “I believe that I can assist Rx for Africa in the launching of its HIV medications and in helping to identify a continuously updated list of the most current medication regimens to pursue as potential new products.”

Pursley’s experience includes marketing drugs on the continent.

“We are excited about working with Mr. Pursley,” Rx for Africa chairman and CEO Mulugetta Bezzabeh said. “His background in marketing drugs for HIV-AIDS and other diseases that have a major impact on Africa will give us tremendous insight into our task ahead.”