ROCKVILLE, MD (January 18, 2005) — The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has announced that Susan S. de Mars, J.D., has joined USP as its new senior vice president and general counsel. She will replace Joseph G. Valentino, J.D., who retired in December after 35 years at USP.
De Mars brings nearly 10 years of experience in the pharmacy benefit management industry to the USP management team. According to USP, she is familiar with the delivery and applications of prescription drugs and understands the challenges that exist in ensuring that drugs are manufactured, prescribed and utilized appropriately. De Mars said USP’s critical role in ensuring the safe and proper use of medications through standards setting and other activities was a critical reason for her interest in the organization.
“Susan’s background and experience will be a great asset to USP in the coming years,” said Dr. Roger L. Williams, executive vice president and chief executive officer of USP. “Our key focus areas of product quality, health care delivery and patient safety, and drug information will benefit from the expertise Susan brings to USP.”
Before coming to USP, de Mars was a partner at the law firm Reed Smith LLP in Washington, DC. Her practice included regulatory and legislative counseling and advocacy, fraud and abuse issues, legal compliance, and other matters on behalf of pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacies, and other health care clients.
Prior to Reed Smith, de Mars served as senior vice president, government affairs and general counsel of AdvancePCS, where she was responsible for all legal, regulatory and compliance matters involving the company. In that role, she focused on issues such as the Medicare drug benefit, the development of compliance guidance for the pharmaceutical industry, reimportation, and state licensing and regulation, and interacted with numerous state and federal legislators and regulatory agencies.
During her tenure at AdvancePCS and in previous roles at PCS Health Systems, de Mars was involved in various aspects of the pharmacy benefit management business and worked with health plans as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies on a variety of prescription drug issues.
De Mars is a 1985 cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School.
