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Dec 21, 2010

Pharmaceutical firm adds new general counsel

Kurt Hartman has taken on the 
role of general counsel at Optimer Pharmaceuticals

With responsibility 
for the development and execution 
of Optimer’s market access strategies for its lead product candidate, the 
antibiotic drug fidaxomicin.

Hartman brings more than 12 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with strong expertise and leadership experience in pharmaceutical product access, reimbursement, pricing and healthcare policy.

‘We are privileged to have Kurt Hartman join Optimer as we begin 
to build our commercial team for the potential launch of fidaxomicin,’ says Pedro Lichtinger, Optimer’s president and CEO, in announcing the 
appointment. ‘Kurt has a wealth of experience in contracting, pricing and access strategies, which will be invaluable to a commercial launch of fidaxomicin.’

Hartman comes to the company from Eisai, where he was executive director of value and access. He also headed up the company’s national field reimbursement team and was chairperson of the US pricing committee. Additionally, he led the development of best-in-class reimbursement support and patient assistance programs designed to ensure appropriate patient access to Eisai products.

Prior to Eisai, Hartman led Roche’s US patient reimbursement support and assistance team, where he was responsible for ensuring patient access to Roche’s product portfolio in addition to leading the development of access strategies for key pipeline products. In this role he developed and led three field-based reimbursement teams and oversaw the creation and implementation of critical patient assistance programs