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Management Team

Steven Nichtberger, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Nichtberger is a veteran of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with 15 years leading global organizations and overseeing successful product development, commercial launch and business development activities. As co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Tengion, Dr. Nichtberger has led the company since its inception in 2004. Since inception he has been a driving force in building the scientific and manufacturing infrastructure within Tengion capable of advancing multiple neo-organs and tissues from discovery through development and commercialization, built the world's first facility to grow human organs for surgeons to implant in patients, and advanced several key clinical programs from IND to late stage clinical trials.

Prior to co-founding Tengion, Dr. Nichtberger was a member of the senior management team at Merck, where he held a variety of positions including: leadership of the global marketing organization with responsibility for developing marketing strategy for all Merck brands globally; operational leadership with P&L responsibility for a $3.5 billion US product portfolio; and, leadership of the New Product Planning function. He also played an integral role in several corporate licensing, divestiture, and product acquisition deals. Previously, Dr. Nichtberger founded and developed a profitable, privately-held company that licenses intellectual property in the field of internet-based paperless couponing. He holds a BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, and an M.D. from the School of Medicine and Biosciences, SUNY at Buffalo. He is currently on the board of directors of Pennsylvania Bio and BioAdvance, the external advisory board of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and the board of the Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens.

 

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Don Bergmann, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations

Dr. Bergmann has over 20 years experience managing biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations. In his most recent general management role he was General Manager of the Biopharmaceuticals business unit for GlaxoSmithKline, Plc., where he oversaw a multi-national business operation with full P&L responsibilities. Previously, Dr. Bergmann held manufacturing management roles in the predecessor company, SmithKline Beecham, including the start-up and general management of its first commercial biopharmaceutical business unit. Prior to joining GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Bergmann held several management roles at Genentech, Inc., including the start-up and management of its first full-scale commercial manufacturing plant. During his career, Dr. Bergmann has served on committees for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Association, and co-chaired the joint Industry/FDA committee on streamlining the approval process for manufacturing changes for licensed biologicals. Dr. Bergmann holds a BS in Microbiology from Michigan State University, a Ph.D. in Virology/Cell Biology from Ohio State University, and completed Post Doctoral studies in the field of Molecular Biology of Retroviruses at the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute.

 

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Tim Bertram, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Science and Technology

Dr. Bertram has served as senior scientific executive at Pfizer, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, and Procter & Gamble Co; a faculty member at the University of Illinois; and a visiting scientist to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bertram has been a leadership-mentor to scientists in government, academics, and industry. His experience includes world-wide leadership of multidisciplinary scientific teams for the pharmaceutical industry, government and private foundations focusing on resolution of challenges in pharmaceutical productivity and defining industrial applications of advanced molecular, cellular and whole organism technologies for selecting optimal drug candidates and risk assessment. Organizational leadership activities have included Pharmaceutical R&D sites in both the US and Europe with responsibility for developing and setting Discovery and Development strategies. Most recently, Dr. Bertram was responsible for operational oversight of more than 425 people in disciplines of genomics, toxicology, comparative medicine, and business support groups to enable drug development and discovery through the application of molecular, analytical, cell biology, novel imaging and investigative approaches. His organizations have supported new medicine portfolios that included Gastrointestinal, CNS, Cancer, Respiratory, Infectious, Immunologic, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic diseases with the preparation of regulatory submissions for agencies in major markets around the world. Dr. Bertram holds active academic appointments and advisory positions at leading national and European educational institutions, the most recent of which is a member appointment to the newly-formed Industrial Advisory Committee of UCLA's Bioengineering Department. Dr. Bertram is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal, Tissue Engineering and the Journal, Regenerative Medicine. He has over 90 scientific publications, presentations and abstracts focusing on the cellular and molecular basis of diseases involving the respiratory, urogenital, and gastrointestinal organ systems. Dr. Bertram received a DVM and PhD from Iowa State University with post-doctoral studies in cell signaling pathways.

 

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George Landau
Vice President, Business Development

With over 15 years in the healthcare sector, Mr. Landau brings a wealth of experience in business strategy, acquisitions, licensing, research and development collaborations, and strategic partnerships. Mr. Landau comes to Tengion from Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson Company, where he facilitated the creation of their drug-device franchise and endovascular business unit. While at Cordis, he led the team that negotiated exclusive licenses for the CypherTM drug-eluting stent. Previously, Mr. Landau held positions of increasing responsibility in Business Development at Pfizer in their Hospital Products Group. He has led and supported numerous strategic initiatives as well as acquisitions and divestitures in the fields of surgery, interventional cardiology and radiology, urology, oncology, and pain management. Mr. Landau received his B.A. in Economics from Tulane University and received his M.B.A. from New York University.

 

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Drew Sansone, MS
Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs

Mr. Sansone brings over thirteen years of experience in Regulatory Affairs and Operations at both multinational pharmaceutical and US based biotechnology companies. Since joining Tengion in early 2006, he has led Regulatory Affairs for the Company. Prior to joining Tengion, Mr. Sansone led Regulatory Affairs and Operations at Vicuron Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for the successful filing of two New Drug Applications (NDAs), a major NDA amendment, and international regulatory activities, until the Company was acquired by Pfizer. Mr. Sansone also played a leadership role in the integration process after Vicuron was acquired. Previously, Mr. Sansone held roles of increasing responsibility in the Regulatory Affairs department at AstraZeneca, ultimately leading an organization of 75 employees. Mr. Sansone received a BA from Siena College and an MS in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance from the Temple University School of Pharmacy.

 

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Elyse Seltzer, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Vice President Clinical and Medical Affairs

Dr. Seltzer brings a record of successful clinical development experience from Centocor, a division of Johnson & Johnson, Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, and GlaxoSmithKline. Most recently she was a therapeutic area head in clinical development at Centocor. Prior to J&J, she was at Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, where she was the product team leader and clinical lead on the successful development program and regulatory filing for dalbavancin, a novel glycopeptide antibiotic. Previously, Dr. Seltzer held various positions of increasing responsibility at GlaxoSmithKline in the Clinical Development and Medical Affairs organizations. Prior to joining GSK, she was a practicing infectious disease physician. Dr. Seltzer graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in French Language and Culture prior to receiving her M.D. degree from New York University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the Yale University School of Medicine.

 

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Gary Sender
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Administration

Mr. Sender came to Tengion from ARAMARK where he was Vice President, Investor Relations since January 2003. Prior to ARAMARK, Mr. Sender was employed at Merck & Co., Inc. serving as Vice President and Controller for Merck's U.S. pharmaceuticals business. During his 15-year career with Merck & Co., Inc., he also served as Assistant Treasurer, Executive Director of Financial Evaluation and Analysis, Executive Director, Joint Venture Financial Management, Director of Investor Relations and Manager, Foreign Exchange Hedging. Prior to his work at Merck & Co., Inc., Mr. Sender held positions at AT&T and RCA Corporation. Mr. Sender earned his bachelor's degree from Boston University, and received his master's degree in Industrial Administration (MBA) from Carnegie-Mellon University. He currently serves as a Congress Committee Member of the Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress.

 

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Gary Arlen Smith, Esquire
Vice President and General Counsel

Mr. Smith came to Tengion from Enzon Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Vice President and General Counsel from August 2003 through March 2005. Prior to joining Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Smith was engaged in private law practice for 15 years and was a partner with the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from September 2000. Before that Mr. Smith was a partner with Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP and a partner with Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul, LLP. Mr. Smith's legal practice focused primarily on the life sciences industry, providing counsel regarding company and capital formation, corporate finance and securities, intellectual property licensing, commercial alliances and mergers and acquisitions. While in private practice, Mr. Smith was active in the venture capital community and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance. He was Co-Chair of the 2003 Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference. Mr. Smith received a B.A. in Chemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and received his law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Mr. Smith currently serves as a member of the Health and Science Desk Advisory Committee of public broadcasting station WHYY.

 

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Mark Stejbach
Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Planning

Mr. Stejbach joined Tengion in August 2008 from Merck & Co., where he most recently served as Vice President of Managed Care Marketing in Merck's United States Pharmaceutical Division. Mr. Stejbach started his pharmaceutical career at Merck in 1987, where he went on to lead marketing campaigns for VASOTEC and PROSCAR. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Stejbach worked for Biogen, Inc. and was responsible for the development and execution of the launch marketing plan for the company's highly successful first marketed product, AVONEX, for multiple sclerosis. Mr. Stejbach then rejoined Merck in 1997 and over the following 11 years held numerous senior leadership positions including Senior Director roles in market development, specialty sales, marketing, and investor relations. Mr. Stejbach earned his MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in mathematics from Virginia Tech. He was recently named a 2008 Emerging Pharma Leader by Pharmaceutical Executive magazine.