Company Profile Senior Management Team Board of Directors Contact

Douglas Abel, President and Chief Executive Officer

Douglas Abel was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2005. He previously served in the same roles at Tarpan Therapeutics, a closely-held company acquired by Manhattan Pharmaceuticals. Before joining Tarpan, Mr. Abel served as Vice President of the Dermatology Business Unit at Biogen Idec where he worked from August 2000 to November 2004. While at Biogen, he led the creation of the U.S. dermatology commercial operation, building the team from two to more than 100 employees to support the launch of AMEVIVE®. Prior to joining Biogen, Mr. Abel was with Allergan Pharmaceuticals from December 1987 to August 2000.  With Allergan he held a number of positions with his final role being Director of BOTOX® Marketing. Mr. Abel also serves on the Board of Directors of Artes Medical, Inc.  He received his AB in chemistry from Lafayette College and an MBA from Temple University.

 

Michael McGuinness, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Michael McGuinness joined Manhattan Pharmaceuticals in July 2006. He is a 30-year veteran of the financial and life science industries, including 17 years experience as chief financial officer. Mr. McGuinness joined Manhattan Pharmaceuticals from Vyteris Holdings (Nevada), Inc. (OTCBB: VYHN), a product-based drug delivery company, where he served as chief financial officer from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure there Mr. McGuinness played key roles in strategic planning, securing several key partnership deals, and overseeing financing transactions that raised more than $60 million in capital. He also led Vyteris' reverse merger transaction which resulted in the company becoming a publicly traded entity. From 1998 to 2001 Mr. McGuinness served as the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of EpiGenesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company, where he was a member of the negotiating team on two out-licensing agreements valued at $135 million. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of BlueStone Capital Partners, an investment bank and broker/dealer. Mr. McGuinness received a BBA in public accounting from Hofstra University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Mary C. Spellman, MD, Head of Dermatology and Drug Development

Mary C. Spellman has 15 years of experience working in the clinical dermatology and drug development field.  In addition to working with Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Spellman also leads an active pharmaceutical and medical device development and safety consulting practice.  Prior to joining Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, she served as Chief Medical Officer of Revance Therapeutics, Inc. where she was responsible for the development of topical, aesthetic and medical, dermatologic therapeutics.  Prior to Revance, she was Senior Director, Medical Research, Immunology at Biogen Idec, Inc. where she led all phases of global immunology clinical trials in indications including psoriasis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and Crohn’s disease among others.  Dr. Spellman also served as Vice President, Clinical Research, Dermatology at Connetics Corporation and as the Regional Scientific Director of the Department of Scientific Operations at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Dr. Spellman practiced dermatology for seven years and served in a number of capacities at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Medical Center including Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), and Director of Dermatology Clinical Research.  She was also an attending dermatology physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Diego.  Dr. Spellman is currently on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.  She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago.