New Therapeutic Area Leaders Extend PPD’s Drug Development Capabilities

Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC (PPD) is adding significant therapeutic expertise in cardiovascular disease, critical care, endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes to further broaden its global product development portfolio. Darell Heiselman, D.O., will lead cardiovascular and critical care and David Klein, M.D., Ph.D., will oversee endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes. Their extensive product development and commercialization experience will bolster the team of therapeutic area professionals PPD has assembled to help its clients capitalize on their important drug development programs.

“PPD’s global team of scientific, medical and strategic experts provides our clients with expertise that helps reduce the time and cost associated with bringing medicines to market,” said Rob Dow, M.B.CH.B., F.R.C.P.E., F.F.P.M., who oversees PPD’s therapeutic areas in his role as the company’s chief medical officer. “In their new roles, Darell and David will help develop cross-functional, integrated product development plans and assist with the design of clinical trials to provide therapeutic, protocol and site development expertise for our clients and their products.”

Darell Heiselman, D.O., vice president of global product development, brings significant expertise in clinical research and internal medicine to PPD, with a focus on cardiovascular disease and critical care. During his 23 years of practice he developed a Critical Care Center of Excellence and performed more than 60 clinical trials in critical care, cardiology, nutritional support and stroke. Prior to joining PPD, he spent 11 years at Eli Lilly and Company as a clinical research physician. While there, Dr. Heiselman built strong site relationships and increased enrollment as the medical lead for multiple cross-functional teams in a variety of disease areas including sepsis, sickle cell, cystic fibrosis and acute coronary syndrome.

Dr. Heiselman is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and critical care medicine. He earned his medical degree from Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at Akron General Medical Center and a critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Heiselman has received numerous accolades for his achievements, including “Who’s Who” of Medicine and Healthcare and America’s Top Physicians, and he twice was named Teacher of the Year at Akron General Medical Center. Academically, he maintains his full professorships at Northeast Ohio Medical University and Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Heiselman has written or co-authored more than 100 publications, abstracts and book chapters, and has delivered more than 300 medical presentations.

David Klein, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of global product development, joins PPD with notable experience managing diabetes and endocrine clinical trials, as well as those in the therapeutic areas of pediatrics, rare diseases, obesity, lipid metabolism, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and celiac disease. He has led teams through all phases of trials, first with Medpace for several years as medical director, then with Mankind Corp. as senior director of clinical development. Dr. Klein spent 22 years as tenured associate professor in pediatrics for the division of endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Minnesota, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. In that capacity, he participated in individual clinical research, National Institutes of Health-sponsored trials (The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, TrialNet, and the National Growth and Health Study), as well as pharmaceutical investigations in diabetes and his fields of interest.

Dr. Klein is board-certified in pediatrics, with subspecialty board certification in pediatric endocrinology. Among his medical and clinical trial expertise, Dr. Klein’s professional affiliations include the Endocrine Society, the Society of Pediatric Research and the American Diabetes Association. He earned his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University in New York. He completed a residency and fellowship at the University of Minnesota, where he also earned a doctorate in biochemistry. Dr. Klein has written or co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, abstracts and book chapters.