Barr Pharmaceuticals CEO Elected GPhA Chairman

Wendy K. Bodine, Assistant Editor

Published Online: Saturday, April 1, 2006

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The Generic Pharmaceuticals
Association (GPhA) has announced
the election of Bruce L.
Downey, chairman and chief executive
officer (CEO) of Barr Generic Pharmaceutical
Inc (Woodcliff Lake, NJ), as chairman
of its Board of Directors for 2006-
2007. He succeeds Heather Bresch,
senior vice president of strategic corporate
development for Mylan
Laboratories Inc, after serving as vicechairman
last year. Downey has been
an active member of GPhA, as well as
its prior organizations, for many years
and has already served several terms
on the board's Executive Committee.

"We are pleased to welcome Mr.
Downey as our new chairman," said
Kathleen Jaeger, GPhA president and
CEO. "He has been an outspoken advocate
for the generic industry and a
leader in efforts to make generic biopharmaceuticals
a reality in the United
States. Downey's extensive industry
knowledge and experience will helpus
in our efforts to lead America into a
healthy future."

Downey has testified before the
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
(subcommittee on health) on
behalf of GPhA and its member companies.
He also has represented Barr and
GPhA before both the House and the
Senate and often appears before the
financial press on CNBC and Bloomberg
Media. Prior to becoming involved in
the generic pharmaceutical industry,
Downey practiced law in the area of
civil litigation, where he represented
corporate clients on a broad range of
issues before federal and state courts
and agencies of the federal government.

Downey became a member of the
Board of Directors of Barr Pharmaceuticals
in January 1993 and was elected
chairman of the board and CEO of
the company in February 1994. From
January 1993 to December 1999, he also
served as president of the company.
From 1981 to 1993, Downey was a partner
in the law