Purdue Pharma hires proven deal maker as SVP licensing and business development

STAMFORD, Conn. — Purdue Pharma on Monday announced that Alan Butcher has joined the company as SVP licensing and business development. Butcher will have responsibility for all of Purdue's efforts to acquire or in-license commercial, near-commercial, and development-stage products that would benefit from the company's patient-focused commercial capabilities.

 

"We're bringing aboard a proven leader," said Purdue president and CEO Mark Timney. "Alan brings valuable new skills and experience to Purdue at a time when business development is a core strategic focus for our firm."

 

Butcher is an experienced pharmaceutical executive, with multiple high-value deals completed throughout his career. Since 2012, he has been VP business development at Shire Pharmaceuticals. Butcher completed Shire's first ophthalmic product acquisition through the purchase of SARcode Bioscience and he supported, or led, several other transactions including the acquisition of NPS.

 

Prior to joining Shire, Butcher was VP and general manager of implant drug delivery for Endo Pharmaceuticals. In that role, he was responsible for developing business strategy, P&L management and the development of product candidates and alternative technologies. He joined Endo as VP business and corporate development in 2007, with responsibility for corporate development, as well as acquisition strategy, analysis and execution.

 

From 2002 to 2007, Butcher was director of worldwide business development transactions at GlaxoSmithKline, where he managed the valuation, negotiation and execution of intellectual property and product licensing deals. He had entered the business development function at Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2000 after holding several positions as a research scientist.

 

Butcher holds a Bachelor's of Science in Clinical Microbiology and a Master's of Science in Biology with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Genetics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He also is a graduate of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management.