Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which includes Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceuticals as members, said Tuesday that John Castellani will become the drug lobby’s president and chief executive, effective Sept. 1.
Castellani, who replaces the retiring Billy Tauzin, comes to PhRMA after nearly a decade as president and CEO of Business Roundtable, an association of corporate executives. Castellani joins the drug lobby in the wake of the passage of health care reform, which will bring 32 million uninsured Americans medical coverage. PhRMA was a key early supporter of President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress as they enacted comprehensive health reform four months ago.
In Castellani, PhRMA is getting “extensive experience in business, public affairs and government relations,” the group said in a statement. “As head of the Business Roundtable, Mr. Castellani has worked along side the nation’s leading CEOs and with members of Congress and Administration officials to drive economic growth and create opportunities for American workers and business.”
Before his duties at Business Roundtable, Castellani held leadership roles at Tenneco Inc., National Association of Manufacturers and TRW Inc.
