A Walk with Purpose

About the Author:

Michael D. Becker, president and founder of MDB Communications LLC, has over 20 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, C-level industry executive, pharmaceutical product developer, Wall Street securities analyst and registered financial advisor. He has authored original articles on medical, financial, communications, marketing, and regulatory topics relevant to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries and is widely quoted by the press. He is also a Stage IV cancer survivor.

Previously, Mr. Becker served as president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and member of the Board of Directors for several publicly-traded biotechnology companies, including commercial-stage Cytogen Corporation (acquired by EUSA Pharma). Mr. Becker held positions of increasing responsibility prior to being appointed President and CEO of Cytogen in 2002, including Vice President of Business Development, Industry Relations, Investor Relations and Chief Executive Officer of AxCell Biosciences, a subsidiary of Cytogen focused on signal transduction pathways. During his tenure at Cytogen, Mr. Becker raised in excess of $130 million in new capital through both public offerings and private placements and in-licensed Caphosol©, a topical oral agent and prescription medical device for the treatment of oral mucositis and xerostomia.

Prior to his biotechnology industry career, Mr. Becker spent 9 years in the financial services industry, which includes positions at Wayne Hummer Investments LLC, Kidder, Peabody & Co., Gruntal & Co., and Kemper Securities where he previously held the following securities licenses: Series 7 (Registered Representative), Series 16 (Securities Analyst), Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent) and Series 65 (Registered Investment Advisor). He was also the founder and Executive Editor of Beck on Biotech, a monthly biotechnology investment newsletter published from July 1998 through March 2001.

Mr. Becker plays an active leadership role as an advocate for the biotechnology industry. He is past Chairman and member of the board of trustees with BioNJ, which is New Jersey’s trade association for biotechnology companies, and is currently a member of BioNJ. He placed as a biotechnology/life sciences finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in both 2004 and 2005 and was listed in BusinessWeek’s “CEO’s 40 and Under” article in December 2006. Mr. Becker has co-authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications in the areas of cellular signaling and radiopharmaceutical drug development. He completed coursework in Political Science at DePaul University and received an Associate of Science Degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He is also an accomplished photographer.