BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwire - Dec 4, 2012) - Noble Financial Capital Markets (Noble) announced today that it has established a scientific advisory board (SAB). Jules Musing, a Large Pharma veteran who will chair the Board, is excited about the developmental prospects for the SAB. "Establishment of this Board represents a bold strategic initiative for Noble," said Musing. "Not only are innovations in the Healthcare sector moving forward at a blistering speed, the regulatory and scientific process has become exceedingly complex and it takes this kind of commitment to establish credibility with the various constituents," he said.

According to Noble's President, Nico P. Pronk, the SAB is a logical extension of the services provided to its investment banking, merchant banking, and corporate advisory clients. "These are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in cutting edge academic and clinical research, as well as Big Pharma business development, licensing, M&A, IP and R&D pipeline strategy," said Pronk. "We are honored to partner with them, and believe that their breadth of experience and network will be of great value to our clients and the Noble healthcare team."

Noble's Scientific Board of Advisors is comprised of the following professionals:

Kapil Dhingra, M.D.
Dr. Kapil Dhingra was formerly Vice President and the Head of the Oncology Disease Biology Leadership Team with Hoffman-La Roche. He is an experienced oncologist, drug developer and pharmaceutical executive with a proven track record in academic research, patient care and drug development from initiation through phase IV. Prior to joining the industry, he had a successful academic career at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Micromet and Biovex. Presently, he serves on the Boards of Algeta, Exosome Diagnostics and YM Biosciences and is an advisor to a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Victor Hartmann, M.D.
Dr. Victor Hartmann was formerly the head of Corporate and Strategic Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [ VRTX ]), head of the Business Development and Licensing and head of Global Project Management at Novartis Pharma AG, head of Clinical Research and Development at Sandoz Pharmaceutical Corporation and head of Medical Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Hartmann is currently a consultant to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies advising them on business development transactions, strategic planning and process reengineering relevant to establishing alliances.

Robert Karr, M.D.
Dr. Karr formerly served as President of Idera Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [ IDRA ]) and continues to serve on the Board. He has held progressively senior positions, primarily in strategic roles for Pfizer and Warner-Lambert. Dr. Karr also served as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine. Since obtaining his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1975, Dr. Karr has extensive experience across the drug discovery and development process (discovery, pre-clinical, and clinical), as well as experience in fundraising and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.

Michael Keller, J.D.
Mr. Keller is a partner with the law firm Roetzel & Andress. Throughout his 20-plus legal career, Mr. Keller has focused on patent prosecution, counseling and licensing of therapeutic, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and medical device products. He has negotiated complex product acquisition agreements with companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Glaxo Wellcome, P&G and Pfizer, and has evaluated more than 600 product acquisition candidates.

Jules A. Musing, Chairman
Mr. Musing is the former Global Head of Biotechnology Licensing and Business Development and has been responsible for global Drug Licensing at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: [ JNJ ]). In that position he negotiated and signed several multi-million dollar deals with medium and large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on a worldwide basis. He has more than 36 years' experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and has been President and Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Companies in the US and Europe, President of Ares Serono in the US and Executive Vice President for Ares Serono companies in North and Latin America. Mr. Musing has been on the Board of Johnson & Johnson Companies in Germany, France, Italy and the UK, and has been a Member of the Management Board of Ortho Biotech, (a J&J Biotechnology Company) in the US and Europe. He has been a member of the Board of several companies and presently serves on the Board of Delphi Digital, Inc., and is an advisor to a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Staf Van Reet, Ph.D.
Dr. Van Reet is a former executive at Johnson & Johnson who lead corporate venturing activities in Europe and was a member of the J&J Pharma Group Operating Committee. He has been responsible for all worldwide R&D activities of the Janssen Group of Companies as President of the Janssen Research Foundation and has been Managing Director of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. and Janssen Biotech. Dr. Van Reet is an accomplished Belgian scientist and businessman, who is currently the Managing Director of Viziphar Biosciences and on the Boards of several companies including, Actogenix, Okapi Sciences, Octoplus, Thrombogenix, Biocartis and Therasolve.

Noble Financial Capital Markets, established in 1984, is an equity research-driven, investment banking / corporate advisory boutique with concentration in the healthcare, technology, media, telecommunications and business services sectors.