Bad timing in bioworld
The worst kept secret in bioworld and on Beacon Hill: Janice T. Bourque, who was the first employee of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, didn't exactly decide to call it quits after a 12-year run, but was dumped in a clash with the lobbying group's outgoing chairwoman, Cynthia A. Fisher.
The departure -- which Bourque and Fisher a month ago characterized as amicable -- comes at a difficult time for the state's biotech community. Just this week a key legislative committee gave initial approval to a bill, fiercely opposed by drug companies, that would make it easier for Massachusetts residents to buy cheap drugs from Canada. Said one angry drug company executive: "We're dealing with a personality clash at a time when the industry is on fire."
Bourque, 47, who originally said she would stay during the transition but has since left, could not be reached for comment yesterday. Fisher, chief executive of BioMed 20/20 Technologies Inc. in Auburndale, said only "we are moving forward, staying the course. . . . I am not going to comment on the details of Janice's transition."
Several of those familiar with the decision to replace Bourque said it was initiated by Fisher with the agreement of the incoming chairwoman, Una Ryan, chief executive of Avant Immunotherapeutics in Needham. (Ryan didn't return a call.) Among the goals: To bring in a heavy hitter who would command greater influence in top state and federal circles. "Advocacy groups are for advocacy, and they have to have political muscle," said James C. Mullen, chief executive of Biogen Idec.
The search for a new leader is certain to be complicated by the long-time split in the biotech council between the big companies, which provide the lion's share of the financing, and the many smaller companies, which make up most of the membership. The big companies tend to focus on big-picture issues like drug reimportation and restrictions on drug payments by Medicaid and Medicare. Smaller companies, on the other hand, are more interested in tax incentives for start-ups and services such as networking and education provided through the council.
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Neighborhood news
With the Bank of America acquisition of FleetBoston Financial about to close, the jockeying for board seats from the Fleet side is almost complete. Sure things: Fleet chief executive Chad Gifford and president Eugene McQuade. Here are my best bets to fill the seven seats: Thomas May, chief executive of NStar; Thomas Ryan, chief executive of CVS; John Collins, chief executive of the Collins Group; Francene Rodgers, chief executive of WFD Inc.; and Gary Countryman, former chairman of Liberty Mutual.
Dean Richlin, Attorney General Tom Reilly's first deputy for five years, has been named a partner at Foley Hoag, the Boston law firm. While most Massachusetts taxpayers have probably never heard of Richlin, they owe him a huge debt: Richlin spent the last couple of years of his life defending the Commonwealth against Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels and another law firm that couldn't accept that they had been paid handsomely for their good works in suing the tobacco companies. Richlin and his team may have saved the Commonwealth billions over the life of the settlement. By the way, deadline for an appeal just passed.
The International Boston Seafood Show, the top grossing event for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, this week wound up a long run at the Hynes Convention Center. The show, which drew 24,000 people this year, will move next year to the new convention center in South Boston, and is expected to grow 15 percent the first year after years of no growth in the tight confines of the Hynes.
Steve Bailey is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at bailey@globe.com or at 617-929-2902.
