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NEW YORK — The general counsel at Walgreen Co. and a onetime health services and specialty pharmacy executive at the drug chain have been named to the boards of health care-related companies.
Unigene Laboratories Inc., which focuses on the design, delivery, manufacture and development of peptide-based therapeutics, on Wednesday said that Thomas Sabatino has been appointed to its board of directors.
Sabatino is currently executive vice president and general counsel at Walgreens. He joined the pharmacy chain in September 2011 after having held general counsel roles at United Airlines Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., Baxter International Inc. and American Medical International Inc.
"His extensive industry experience and impressive track record — specifically, his knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape for pharmaceutical companies — will be invaluable as Unigene continues to execute against its business transformation," Unigene chairman Richard Levy said in a statement. "Tom brings a wealth of contacts, knowledge and insight that will strengthen our board and be instrumental in guiding the business through market-leading clinical developments of orally delivered, peptide-based therapeutics."
Commented Sabatino, "Unigene has emerged as the leading oral peptide delivery company with validated technology platforms. I am extremely impressed with the management team’s progress thus far. The team’s unwavering commitment to the solid execution of their strategy has resulted in tangible results over the past year as well as set the stage for multiple events that will continue to transform the company. I look forward to playing an active role in establishing Unigene as the pre-eminent oral peptide delivery company."
Also on Wednesday, SoloHealth said that Stanley Blaylock, former president of Walgreens Health Services and a senior vice president at the drug chain, has joined SoloHealth’s board. The company noted that the announcement comes as it readies prepares for a national rollout of its next-generation, consumer health screening kiosk, the SoloHealth Station, in 2012.
"We are excited and honored that such a respected figure in the health care community has agreed to join the SoloHealth board, especially as we ready ourselves for what promises to be a fast-growing and pivotal next 12 to 18 months for the company," stated Bart Foster, founder and chief executive officer of SoloHealth. "Stan brings unparalleled finance, entrepreneurial, and health care knowledge to SoloHealth and will provide invaluable counsel during this exciting time of growth as we roll out our new healthcare solution nationwide."
Blaylock started his career in health care investment banking, where he rose to the position of global co-head of health care investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He went on to co-found specialty pharmacy solutions company Medmark, where he served as executive vice president/chief financial officer and chief administrative officer until his promotion to president and CEO in 2005. When Walgreens acquired Medmark in 2006, Blaylock joined the drug chain and later became a Walgreens senior vice president and president of Walgreens Health Services.
SoloHealth noted that during his approximately four years at Walgreens, Blaylock successfully integrated Medmark, driving Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy to the No. 3 player in the industry. He was responsible for enhancing more than 7,100 community-based pharmacies and managing approximately 7,000 Walgreens employees, with profit-and-loss responsibility for about $4 billion in revenue.
Currenlty, Blaylock currently serves on the board of NovaSom Inc., a provider of home sleep testing services for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as on the board of MTS Medication Technologies, a global provider of medication adherence packaging systems.
