Blanche & Irwin Lerner

Irwin Lerner (BS'51, MBA'58), the former chair, president, and CEO of Hoffmann-La Roche, is a highly regarded industry pioneer. He led industry reforms that streamlined Federal Drug Administration (FDA) drug approvals; oversaw passage of the Prescription Drug User Fee legislation, which expedited the approval process by increasing resources available to the FDA; and is credited with originating the concept of copromotion, whereby two companies join forces to market a drug. Mr. Lerner attributes much of his success to the support of his wife, Blanche, for whom the center is also named.