James N. Class, PhD
Dr. James N. Class is the Assistant Vice President of International Affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the main trade association for the research-based pharmaceutical industry in the United States. Currently, Dr. Class manages PhRMA’s trade policy in Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey in addition to handling a variety of intellectual property issues including biosimilars, anti-counterfeiting and regulatory data protection. Prior to 2007, Dr. Class worked as a liaison between anti-counterfeiting groups and was the Executive Director for the United States’ division of the Partnership for Safe Medicines.
In 2005, Dr. Class worked to coordinate establishing the first direct-to-consumer e-mail alert service on counterfeit drugs, which has since been integrated into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Counterfeit Alert Network. In addition, he founded a news update on counterfeit drugs, which is sent out to the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), local law enforcement agencies, industry and other communities. Currently, Dr. Class participates in the Interpol Intellectual Property Crime Action Group and the World Health Organization’s IMPACT Enforcement Working Group.
Dr. Class is an alumnus of Georgetown University where he received his PhD with honors in 2004.
Thomas T. Kubic
Thomas T. Kubic is the President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), a non-profit association dedicated to protecting the public health by insuring the distribution of pharmaceuticals that are safe and effective. Mr. Kubic currently serves on the World Health Organization’s IMPACT Enforcement Working Group, the Interpol Intellectual Property Crime Action Group, and in an advisory capacity to the Permanent Forum Against International Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting. He is the Treasurer for the Partnership for Safe Medicines. Additionally, he has provided testimony before senior government officials around the world concerning the international nature of counterfeiting and its devastating impact.
Composed of the security directors from 26 pharmaceutical manufacturers with business operations in more than 160 countries, PSI shares information on the counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals and initiates enforcement actions through the appropriate authorities. Under Mr. Kubic’s leadership, PSI was completely reorganized to emphasize information sharing and private-public sector cooperation. Major advances included the development of the PSI Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy and a unique, internationally recognized counterfeit medicines reporting system, the Counterfeit Incident System.
Prior to joining PSI, Mr. Kubic acquired substantial national and international investigative experience during his 30-year career a federal law enforcement executive for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As a FBI Deputy Assistant Director, his innovative programs in both the Laboratory Division and Criminal Investigative Division were recognized throughout the law enforcement community.
Marvin D. Shepherd, PhD
Dr. Marv Shepherd is the Director of the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Studies and Chairman of the Pharmacy Administration Division at the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Pharmacy. He also serves as the President of the Partnership for Safe Medicines.
Among his many research interests, Dr. Shepherd examines the policies related to drug importation and re-importation—especially from Mexico—the use of drug anti-counterfeiting strategies, and techniques for monitoring prescription drug diversion. His research and expertise on drug importation and drug counterfeiting has been featured on CNN News, NPR Radio: First Edition, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Time Magazine, Prevention Magazine, US News and World Report, New York Times, USAToday, Washington Post, plus many other national newspapers, magazines, and television and radio news broadcasts.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Michigan Technological University, Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Ferris State University, Master of Science from the University of Rhode Island, and PhD from Purdue University.
Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD
Dr. Bryan A. Liang is Executive Director and E. Donald Shapiro Distinguished Professor of Health Law, Institute of Health Law Studies, California Western School of Law; Co-Director and Adjunct Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, San Diego Center for Patient Safety, University of California San Diego School of Medicine; Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health, Global Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University; and Adjunct Professor of Aviation, Western Michigan University College of Aviation. He also serves as the Vice President for the Partnership for Safe Medicines.
Dr. Liang's research and advocacy focus is patient safety and access to care. He has published and spoken widely on the topic of safety and vulnerability of the drug supply, with more than 300 publications and presentations in domestic and international public and private forums. He received his Bachelor of Science from MIT; PhD from the University of Chicago; MD from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons; and JD from Harvard Law School.
