Former FDA Chief Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach Appointed to the Board of Directors For BioTime and OncoCyte

In the last couple of years the former FDA Commish has also landed a couple of other board positions as well which I hope will keep him out of Gingrich’s think tank which is maybe where one may not want to be today.

Former FDA leader von Eschenbach Named to Viamet Board of Directors

Former FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach Finds a Home on the Board of HistoSonics

This of course comes at a time when Geron and Biotime are going to focus on oncology and have discontinued their stem cell research a few weeks ago as the money from investors with biotech are just not there. BD

Geron To Focus on Cancer Programs Discontinues Internal Development of Spinal Stem Cell Programs-66 Jobs Go Away–Biotech Gets Shot in the Foot With Funding While the Ridiculously Valued Chase for Social Algorithms Intensifies

ALAMEDA, Calif., Nov 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- BioTime, Inc. BTX -1.43% and BioTime's subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, today announced they have each appointed Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to their boards of directors.

Dr. von Eschenbach is the President of Samaritan Health Initiatives, Inc., a health care policy consultancy, and is an Adjunct Professor at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. From September of 2005 to January 2009, Dr. von Eschenbach served as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Under his leadership, the FDA instituted a systems-based global approach to the regulation of food and medical products, establishing for the first time a permanent FDA presence in 16 foreign locations. In addition, he accelerated the Critical Path Initiative designed to modernize the scientific methods by which FDA-regulated products are developed, evaluated and manufactured.

"Dr. von Eschenbach's experience both in the clinic and in our federal government will benefit us greatly as BioTime builds its business in the field of human embryonic stem cells and regenerative medicine," said Michael D. West, Ph.D., BioTime's CEO. "In addition, his background in oncology will be invaluable for our team at OncoCyte as we develop new cancer diagnostics and therapeutics based on novel findings in cell biology."