PharmaSys to set up a hub in Idaho – firm helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies maintain their FDA certifications

A firm that helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies maintain their FDA certifications has established a presence in the Treasure Valley.

Phillip Martin, who has worked at Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard Co. here, has been named vice president for the western United States and Asia Pacific region for PharmaSys http://www.pharma-sys.com
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Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040703/NEWS0202/407030305/1029/NEWS02

PharmaSys helps firms through compliance procedures and provides independent auditing and validation of compliance systems.

The Treasure Valley and Idaho have few companies that could be considered biotechnology, but the state last month joined the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a worldwide group known as BIO.

Philip Syrdal, president of the new Idaho Biosciences Association Inc., said just the presence of PharmaSys is important to growing a biosciences industry in the state.

"Today, if anyone is doing business here now, they have to go out of state to get this type of service," said Syrdal. "It’s a big deal that PharmaSys is here, even if it’s just a one-person office. He’s going to add ideas and offer that perspective and be a catalyst to growing our industry."

PharmaSys is based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, considered a hub for biosciences firms. The firm has other regional offices in Boulder, Colo., and Cherry Hill, N.J.

Martin said he could have relocated to the San Francisco area, which has a strong biotechnology industry, but preferred to remain in Eagle and convinced PharmaSys executives that Idaho was a smart place to be.

"Idaho is really an ideal place for me to be," said Martin, adding that his job requires him to travel 50 percent of the time. "They did the analysis on the cost of living here and the access to other areas and saw it made sense."

Martin, 45, was most recently director of international corporate affairs at Micron and also served as Asia Pacific business manager for Hewlett-Packard Co.