Biotech and pharmaceutical veteran Dr. Michael Krupp joins initiative

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, June 3, 2008 – Indiana is taking the next big step to connect its drug development and manufacturing strengths to other biotechnology discovery centers, through a groundbreaking collaborative effort of the BioCrossroadsLINX initiative. Today, the organization establishes a continuing presence in the San Diego region, announcing that biotech and pharmaceutical veteran Dr. Michael Krupp has joined LINX as Special Consultant – San Diego Region. Dr. Krupp brings more than 20 years of industry experience at both biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including 10 years at Chugai Pharma and 12 years at Pfizer, primarily in the areas of product development, licensing, business development and strategic marketing.

Dr. Krupp will be housed in the La Jolla offices of CONNECT, the San Diego region’s nationally renowned organization of businesses and universities working together for nearly 25 years to build talent, funding and opportunity for “new economy” companies in biotechnology and telecommunications. Most recently, Dr. Krupp has consulted with companies on business formation and licensing issues and serves as a mentor for CONNECT’s well-known Springboard program, which helps biotech entrepreneurs in San Diego organize new businesses. Krupp has also worked with San Diego area Technology Transfer groups to find ways to commercialize technologies derived from academic research, and has taught in the drug commercialization courses in the Pharmacy Doctorate program at the University of Southern California.

“Having Michael on the ground in San Diego making connections and fostering collaborations for Indiana’s academic institutions and contract service providers cements BioCrossroadsLINX’s commitment to advance our strong biopharma development sector. Mike has experienced first-hand the shift in the industry’s business model and understands how Indiana’s concentration of sophisticated development and manufacturing services is unique within the biotech industry,” said David Johnson, President and CEO, BioCrossroads. “His efforts and expertise will bring our strengths to the attention of the San Diego region and give both Indiana and San Diego a lot of common ground for building a stronger U.S. biotechnology sector by working together.”

Dr. Krupp will initially focus on establishing unique partnership opportunities between San Diego and Indiana’s research universities and connecting academic and business leaders in San Diego with those in Indiana’s life sciences sector.

“The BioCrossroadsLINX collaboration strategy is unique and has the potential to help address the challenges of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for both regions — Indiana and the San Diego area,” said Dr. Krupp. “One of the unique attributes of this initiative is that it encourages academic and workforce development partnerships to prepare Indiana’s workforce and serve the growing needs of the evolving biotechnology sector. It’s a creative opportunity, and I look forward to helping to realize the vision behind it.”

Dr. Krupp earned his B.S. in chemistry from Hobart College and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. His postdoctoral research was done at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

About BioCrossroadsLINX

BioCrossroadsLINX is a non-profit organization, established by BioCrossroads, Indiana’s initiative to grow the life sciences, which will advance Indiana’s strengths in drug development and manufacturing through educational and workforce development programs and regional collaborations. In addition, BioCrossroadsLINX will analyze, organize and publicize Indiana’s research, industry and workforce strengths in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing.