News from Transcept, Allegro and Sucampo – People on the move
Transcept Pharmaceuticals has named Leone Patterson its new VP and CFO.
Previously, she was VP and corporate controller at Net App, a publically held storage firm.
In her new role, she will take responsibility for the company’s finances. She succeeds Thomas Soloway, who was promoted to the role of executive VP and chief operating officer.
Glenn Oclassen, president and CEO, said: "She is an important addition to our executive team and we look forward to her contributions as Transcept pursues its goal to become a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the field of neuroscience."
Jennerex has hired Laurent Fischer as CEO to replace the interim Ken Newport.
He joins the firm from Ocera Therapeutics, where he was CEO and co-founder.
In his new role he will help to advance the biopharma’s lead candidate Traverse – for patients with advanced primary liver cancer who have failed sorafenib therapy – through late phase trials.
"I am very pleased to join Jennerex at this critical time in the company's evolution,” he said. “I look forward to building off the company's significant progress made over the past year for its lead product candidate, JX-594, which is in Phase 2b for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.”
Newport will go back to his role as a member of the board.
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals has taken on Silvia Taylor as senior VP of investor relations, public relations and corporate communications.
She joins the team after working in public and media relations for big names like MedImmune and Pfizer.
Ryuji Ueno, CEO, said: “She will build upon the corporate awareness campaign we started earlier this month to increase awareness of Sucampo and our proprietary prostone technology.”
Lawrence Mehren has become president and CEO of Accelr8 Technology Corporation.
Previously head of global business of Ventana Medical Systems and Roche Tissue Diagnostics, managing its four business units, he will now advance the development of the company’s tech.
“I am excited to be joining Accelr8 at such a pivotal time,” he said. “The company has created a unique solution to a tremendous unmet need. I look forward to advancing the development and commercialization of this transformational technology.”
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has expanded its management team with three new appointments.
Oved Amitay will become VP and, head of commercial, Akshay Vaishnaw is executive VP and chief medical officer, and Jared Gollob is now VP of clinical research.
“Our people and their passion remain key to the success of Alnylam. Accordingly, I am pleased to announce these appointments and promotions, which expand and strengthen our management team as we advance our pipeline of RNAi therapeutics through clinic trials and toward the market,” said John Maraganore, CEO.
Allegro Diagnostics has formed a new clinical and scientific advisory board.
The members include Professor of medicine and director of the Pulmonary Center at the Boston University School of Medicine Jerome Brody, professor of medicine at Tufts School of Medicine Armin Ernst, Scott Ferguson who is associate professor for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Gerard Silvestri, a professor of the division of pulmonary and critical care at the Medical University of South Carolina, professor in health care entrepreneurship Alexander Graham Bell, and Anil Vachani who is assistant professor of medicine, pulmonary, allergy and critical care division at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
“Our advisory board is comprised of some of the most respected and prolific clinicians, researchers and pioneers in the fields of pulmonary medicine, lung cancer and cancer diagnostics,” said Michael Webb, president and CEO of Allegro.
“These individuals will play a central role in advising Allegro on its research and development efforts.”
