Star Biopharma Consulting

For more than 25 years, we have worked with national and international clients in the life sciences industry. We have led many research projects in multiple therapeutic areas, published in peer-reviewed journals, and developed tools with practical applications in healthcare delivery.

Our team advises clients on the best research approach for evidence generation including robust methodological consideration aligned with industry guidance for regulatory applications.

We look forward to hearing about your evidence needs and working together to ensure successful execution and communication. 

Setareh A. Williams, PhD CMPP

President & CEO

Setareh Williams is a highly accomplished pharmaceutical executive with over 25 years of U.S. and global experience in Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Medical Affairs, and Publications. She has a proven track record of strategic planning to deliver robust evidence supporting product launches and in-line brands across a variety of therapeutic areas, at both large companies and start-ups, and across joint-venture and alliance collaborations.

Setareh earned her PhD and Masters in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University and her BS in Biological Sciences and French Literature from the University of California at Los Angeles. Previously, Setareh worked at AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, and Radius Health. Setareh has published extensively in epidemiology, outcomes research, and comparative effectiveness using a variety of research methodologies and data sources, including surveys, claims, EMR, and integrated data. She has over fifty manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals.

Today, as the president and CEO of Star Biopharma Consulting, Setareh provides life sciences clientele with strategic consulting, planning, execution, and scientific communication of real-world observational studies, including primary data collection and secondary database studies. Outside of work, she is on the board of The Association of Yale Alumni in Public Health and a mentor to graduate school students in epidemiology. She is an avid outdoorswoman, enjoying hiking, rock climbing, skiing, biking, and running. She lives in the greater Philadelphia area.

Russell Becker

Head of Economic Modeling

Russell Becker brings over 25 years of HEOR consulting experience to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and diagnostic companies. He helps clients develop HEOR research plans targeted to meet the requirements of payer, provider, and HTA audiences, conducting studies such as economic models, observational studies, national patient surveys, cost-effectiveness analyses, and publication development. 

Russell has a strong, recognized capability in developing various health economics models, including budget impact and cost-effectiveness models, from design through final application and/or publication. He has over 70 peer-reviewed publications and presentations and has experience teaching and communicating HEOR concepts to drug/device developers, payers, providers, and academic audiences. His experience includes extensive therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, oncology, HIV/AIDS, pain management, urology, and mental health.

Russell founded Russell Becker Consulting in 2010, following his time as Director of HEOR for Dymaxium, Inc., where he led a group of project managers, analysts, programmers, and graphic artists in developing economic models and interfaces for models and other HEOR tools. Before joining Dymaxium, he worked as an HEOR consultant with IMS Consulting, Ovation Research Group (currently ICON), Parexel, and State and Federal Associates. For the past five years, Russell has been an adjunct faculty member in graduate-level economic modeling at the College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He has created learning modules for the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and lectured to local ISPOR chapters regarding economic modeling.

Russell earned his M.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Business from Pennsylvania State University. He has also lectured in economics at George Mason University.

David Curry

Head of Staffing and Recruitment

With 25 years of experience in the talent acquisition field, David Curry has built a reputation for delivering tailored, cost-effective solutions that meet the evolving needs of his clients. His expertise spans temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire placements, with a focus on building recruitment functions for both start-ups and established organizations.

David is the Founder and President of Radnor Consulting, a Philadelphia-based Talent Acquisition Consulting and Staffing company. His deep understanding of workforce trends, employment laws, and business performance drivers makes him both a tactical and strategic partner, and his approach emphasizes delivering outstanding value without compromising ethics.

David contributes extensively to professional and charitable communities. For 6 years he was an active volunteer career counselor and networking and job search advisor for the Women’s Resource Center in Wayne, PA. Additionally, he supports the Wharton Executive MBA program as a member of its advisory panel, offering career counseling and transition guidance to students. David has served on committees for the Philadelphia Society for People and Strategy (PSPS), contributing to programming and marketing initiatives.

In 2011, David was appointed as an Ambassador for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure, in the Philadelphia area. His community involvement also extends to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP).

A graduate of Temple University, David holds dual bachelor’s degrees in marketing and human resources.

Diane Petrone, MBA

Head of Market Access and Pricing

Diane Petrone is a market access expert with 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working for both small and large pharmaceutical organizations. She has launched 25+ drugs and, as a consultant on the Star Biopharma team, develops market access and pricing strategies for pharma and biotech clients. Diane is a biologist by training and holds an MBA from Villanova University. 

Outside of Star Biopharma Consulting, Diane is the founder of the Pharma Skills Lab and the Petrone Group, where she trains the next generation of market access professionals and helps manufacturers bring innovative medicines to the market with great access for patients. She’s an avid hiker and yogi but is, ironically, happiest when she can sit around with a book and her dog. She lives in West Chester, PA, with her husband/college sweetheart and three daughters.

Paul Stang, PhD

Consultant

Paul Stang, PhD, is the retired Vice President of Global Epidemiology at Janssen Research and Development, where he led a group of over 60 researchers supporting observational research across the Johnson & Johnson research enterprise. Before joining J&J, Dr. Stang was a Vice President at Cerner Corporation after they acquired Galt Associates, a healthcare consulting and informatics start-up, which he co-founded and supported as the Chief Scientific Officer.

Paul has held many leadership positions of increasing responsibility in outcomes and epidemiology groups at several companies and scientific collaborations and served as a research investigator for the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP), a public-private partnership with the FDA, academia, and industry researchers who designed and executed a series of investigations to objectively assess the performance, value, and impact of observational data in monitoring the safety and benefit of medications. Earlier in his career, he practiced for several years as a PA in Neurology and Neurosurgery.

Dr. Stang has published widely in epidemiology, health outcomes, productivity, and communications. He continues to serve as a reviewer for several journals and is a member of many research consortia, and governance and scientific advisory boards. Paul received his BA cum laude from the University of NC at Chapel Hill, Physician Assistant certification from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, MS in Health Sciences Research from SUNY-Stony Brook, and PhD in Public Health-Epidemiology from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. Paul was elected a Fellow in 2004 to the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and still retains an adjunct faculty appointment at UNC-CH.

Richard J. Weiss, MD

Head of Medical Affairs

Richard Weiss is an experienced medical professional and pharmaceutical executive with over 30 years in both clinical practice and biotech. Rich is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and has been a PI in 40 clinical trials in areas including Diabetes, Thyroid Cancer, Hypertension, Infectious Disease, and Rheumatology. Since the transition to biotech, Rich has led medical affairs teams (US and Global). He has participated in clinical development programs, including interactions with regulatory agencies in the US and Europe. Rich has worked in both small and large organizations, including start-up launches and conducting due diligence for potential new indications and asset absorptions.

Rich obtained his BA in Biology from the University of Delaware and his MD from Ross University School of Medicine. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Atlantic City Medical Center and an Endocrinology & Metabolism fellowship at the Medical College of Pennsylvania (now Drexel University School of Medicine). He has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Central Florida. Rich practiced clinical endocrinology for 24 years. He has worked in pharma with Sanofi/Genzyme, Radius Health, and Argenx. Rich has over 30 peer-reviewed published manuscripts and has delivered presentations at medical congresses.

With his combined background in clinical medicine and medical affairs leadership, Rich provides strategic insights into all aspects of medical affairs activities, including scientific communications, health economics and outcomes research, and supervision of field medical teams. He also supports clinical development, life-cycle management, and the development of externally sponsored research. Rich and his wife live in suburban Philadelphia.

Alethea Wieland

Head of Regulatory

Alethea Wieland is the founder of Clinical Research Strategies (“CRS”), a consulting firm and clinical CRO. With 35+ years of experience in clinical operations, regulatory strategy and submissions, policy reform, and corporate compliance, she is accustomed to working on a variety of projects in MedTech, biotech, and pharma. As a consultant of Star Biopharma, Alethea brings significant experience working with regulators, including on various RWD / RWE programs. Alethea earned her BA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Alethea is very active in mentoring her team and challenging them to refine their leadership skills in life sciences to follow in her footsteps, especially in regulatory policy and reform. She lives in Wexford, PA, with her husband and numerous furry pets on a large property that offers downtime to unwind and relax.