WASHINGTON – The Howard University College of Pharmacy has announced a collaboration with BioMarin Pharmaceuticals to develop a two-year fellowship in regulatory affairs. The program is meant provide Howard students new opportunities to contribute to industry efforts to tackle rare genetic diseases while preparing them for industry careers.

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for serious and life-threatening rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company’s portfolio consists of seven commercialized products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates.

“The fellowship will be beneficial for students. Focusing on rare genetic diseases will be a great way to allow fellows to experience the intricate details of working with unique drug products, giving them a boost as they launch their pharmacy careers,” said College of Pharmacy Dean Toyin Tofade.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the fellowship program in partnership with BioMarin, which allows our students to sharpen their research and regulatory skills in a real-world industry setting,” said Dr. Earl Ettienne, director of graduate programs and industry partnerships in the College of Pharmacy. “Students in the program will gain valuable experiences that will prepare themselves to become future leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.”

“BioMarin is proud to work with Howard University to embark upon an exciting fellowship program in regulatory affairs that will provide an immersive experience that’s foundational for launching a successful biopharmaceutical career. This is an important part of our efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion at BioMarin and within our industry,” said Jean-Jacques Biemaimé, chairman and chief executive officer of BioMarin. “We are grateful to Howard University for collaborating with BioMarin to advance careers and increase diversity in this field.”

During the fellowship, students will gain on-the-job experience and participate in rotational assignments at Howard University and our requisite partners.

For more information on the BioMarin-College of Pharmacy program, contact Ettienne via email at earl.ettienne@howard.edu.

“I am looking forward to initiating the Howard University-BioMarin Regulatory Affairs Fellowship. We hope that this opportunity will provide robust exposure to recent PhD and PharmD graduates as they seek to cultivate valuable biopharmaceutical experience, including an end-to-end view of the drug development process,” said Brad Glasscock, PharmD, group vice president and head of global regulatory affairs at BioMarin. “Howard University’s excellent training will provide the academic foundation that is an integral building block of a successful career.”

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media contact: Sholnn Freeman; sholnn.freeman@howard.edu