March 30, 2022
Dear SAAMnow® members,
Re: Update on activities of Scientists Advancing Affordable Medicines (SAAMnow®)
SAAMnow® was founded by five members: Sid Bhoopathy, Chuck Bon, John Capicchioni, Charlie DiLiberti and me, and incorporated in 2018 as a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization. Its purpose is to provide a dedicated platform for scientists to share research that facilitates the development of high-quality, affordable medicines, thereby improving their accessibility to patients.
Since 2018, we have serviced the scientific needs of our stakeholders by organizing (or co-organizing) ten events on diverse scientific disciplines related to 505(j) (generic) and 505(b)(2) drug development for ANDA and NDA submissions to FDA: six webinars, three in-person workshops, and one virtual workshop. More were planned, but the pandemic caused significant delays and the need for significant retooling of our operations. We are back on track, and are currently organizing a 3-day virtual workshop on Challenges and Strategies for Relative Bioavailability Studies on Drug Products Involving Endogenous Substances, to be held April 26-28, 2022. Please visit our website (https://saamnow.com) to register for this important workshop, which for members is only $75.
We have had some recent changes in the Board of Trustees and Corporate Officers. After four years of exemplary leadership, Sid Bhoopathy has resigned from his position as a Trustee and President of the Corporation, and I have accepted the duties of President effective March 4, 2022. I thank Dr. Bhoopathy for his outstanding service and dedication to SAAMnow®. Charlie DiLiberti will remain as Treasurer of the Corporation and Chairperson of the Board and John Capicchioni will continue to serve as Secretary of both the Board and of the Corporation. Chuck Bon is now a Corporate Officer in the role of Vice President of Scientific Affairs (Biostatistics) and he will continue to serve on the Board as a Trustee. I am pleased to welcome Keith Webber, PhD to the Board as a new Trustee and Corporate Officer in the role of Vice President of Scientific Affairs (Biosimilars). Dr. Webber has more than 30 years of combined industry, U.S. FDA and NIH experience and held several senior-level FDA positions in both CBER and CDER, where he was Acting Director of the Office of Generic Drugs. He brings a wealth of scientific expertise to SAAMnow® in the areas of biological chemistry, molecular biology, and biosimilars.
Presently there are more than 200 SAAMnow® members. As COVID-19 has precluded in-person workshops and conferences since 2020, the Board has elected to lower the annual membership fee from $100 to $50 and to extend all current memberships to 2023. All members will be invited to join our new members-only group in LinkedIn.
As SAAMnow® grows, it aspires to diversify the venues and media through which it continues to foster the development of affordable medicines, for example, by branching out to provide additional conferences, workshops, webinars, newsletters, web materials and training sessions, including a return to in-person events when feasible. Similarly, as SAAMnow® grows, it expects to be able to expand its focus from a US-centric one toward a global one. As your new President, I will strive to lead the Corporation to meet these goals with your valued input.
Sincerely,
Keith Gallicano, PhD
President