Another former CEO from a big pharmaceutical firm has signed on tohelp lead a small biotechnology company as chairman of the board.

Irwin Lerner, who retired as chairman, president and CEO ofHoffmann-La Roche Inc. in 1992 after 12 years, was named Tuesdayas the chairman of Sequana Therapeutics Inc., a privately heldcompany in La Jolla, Calif.

"This is as significant an association with a genomics company asRoy Vagelos going to chair Regeneron," said Kevin Kinsella, whohas moved from acting to permanent CEO of Sequana.

Vagelos, former Merck & Co. chairman and CEO, joined strugglingRegeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., as chairman inJanuary. Among Wall Street analysts the move was seen not only as aboost for Regeneron, but also a recognition of the importance ofbiotechnology to the pharmaceutical industry.

Lerner, who lives in New Jersey and was attending a Sequana boardmeeting in La Jolla, told BioWorld Today he won't be chairing anyother companies and he intends to be actively involved with Sequana.

"I have a reputation as a hands-on type of person," Lerner said. "I'vebeen on the [Sequana] board for about a year, so I've gotten insidethe company and I know the dynamics. I have been very impressedwith the nature of the science."

Sequana, founded in 1993, is developing drugs and diagnostics basedon discovering the genetic causes of diseases such as Type IIdiabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and asthma.

Kinsella said he expects Lerner to be involved on a "week-to-week"basis, using his expertise for strategic positioning, corporatedevelopment and long-term management of Sequana.

"He has a tremendously seasoned perspective on the pharmaceuticalindustry," Kinsella said, "and he's convinced that genomics has toplay a major role in research and development for drug discovery."

Lerner was with Hoffman-La Roche, of Nutley, N.J., for more than30 years, serving as chairman and CEO from 1980 to 1992. Hoffman-La Roche is the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland-based RocheHoldings Ltd.

Sequana Tuesday also appointed Richard Darman, a former memberof President Bush's cabinet, to the board. Darman is managingdirector of The Carlyle Group, a Washington-based private merchantbank, and was director of the Office of Management and Budgetunder Bush from 1989 to 1993.n

-- Charles Craig Staff Writer

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.