Columbia Laboratories, a US-based speciality pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for women's health, has appointed Dr Bridget Martell to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately.
The company says the appointment is an important step in Columbia's focus on advancing a proprietary drug programme. Its next product candidate, COL-1077, an extended release lidocaine gel for the treatment of gynaecological procedure related pain, is expected to advance into clinical trials this year. Columbia continues to receive product revenue and royalties from its initial commercial product, Crinone, a vaginal progesterone gel used in fertility treatment.
Dr Martell brings more than 15 years' experience in clinical development, medical affairs and academia to Columbia, including expertise in establishing regulatory strategy for clinical programmes and creating submission readiness packages. She has overseen the product development activities of numerous pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma and several business units within Pfizer Worldwide's biopharmaceutical business.
Most recently, Dr Martell was the Founder and Managing Director of BAM Consultants, which provides clinical development and medical affairs consultancy services to a broad array of speciality pharmaceutical companies.