Takeda chairman Hasegawa out as JPMA vice president

Chutes and Ladders

Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Amirah Al Idrus (email | Twitter), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.

Takeda chairman Hasegawa out as JPMA vice president

JPMA
Yasuchika Hasegawa departed as VP.

Takeda chairman Yasuchika Hasegawa was removed from his vice presidential role in the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, FiercePharmaAsia reports, in response to a business improvement order for the company's exaggerated marketing of Blopress in Japan. Takeda remains a member of the lobby group. Hasegawa had not carried out any activities as a JPMA vice president since last April, a spokesman said, when Takeda first acknowledged the marketing issues. Story


Ranbaxy parts ways with India operations chief

Ranbaxy Laboratories
Rajeev Sibal was removed as India operations head.

Rajeev Sibal, Ranbaxy's former India operations head, has split with the company, the Economic Times reported this week. The move comes after Sun Pharma's purchase of the company and during the ongoing integration, which has led to the departure of 18 Ranbaxy executives while Sun works to cut about $250 million in costs. The newspaper reported that Sibal is expected to oversee India and emerging market operations at competitor Lupin. Story


Sanofi names Alexandra Rocca as SVP of communications

Sanofi
Alexandra Rocca
was named SVP of communications.

Sanofi ($SNY) has appointed Alexandra Rocca as its senior vice president of communications; she'll join the company Sept. 1. Rocca, a French citizen, began her career with a stint at the Printemps group from 1986 to 1990, then joined Air Liquide to head healthcare communications activities in France from 1990 to 2001. Between 2001 and 2010, Rocca served in communications leadership positions at Galeries Lafayette, Credit Agricole S.A. and LCL. Her most recent position was at the Lafarge Group, first as SVP of communications and then EVP of communications, public affairs and sustainable development. Release


Biotech

> Baxalta ($BXLT) added Dr. Karen Ferrante and Dr. Francois Nader to its board of directors. Release

> InDex Pharmaceuticals appointed Uli Hacksell and Jesper Wiklund to its board of directors. Release

> HemoShear Therapeutics added Robert Gould to its board of directors. Release

> Dr. Wilfried De Backer joins Biomedical Systems as a pulmonary consultant. Release

> Horizon Pharma ($HZNP) named Tina Ventura as vice president of investor relations. Release

> Cellectricon appointed Dr. Edwin Johnson, director of the Stockholm Brain Institute, as the first member of its scientific advisory board. Release

> Carbylan Therapeutics ($CBYL) named Prem Ramiya as vice president of pharmaceutical development & supply chain. Release

> Onconova Therapeutics ($ONTX) appointed James Marino to its board of directors. Release

> Nora Therapeutics added Joseph Turner to its board of directors. Release

> Evofem appointed Russell Barrans as vice president of sales and marketing, North America. Release

> Cellular Biomedicine Group ($CBMG) named Dr. Alan List as chair of its scientific advisory board. Release

> Dr. Shelonitda Rose joined Advaxis ($ADXS) as vice president of clinical development. Release

> Synergy Pharma ($SGYP) named Troy Hamilton as chief commercial officer. Release

> Serenus Biotherapeutics appointed Dr. Skhumbuzo Ngozwana as president. Release

> Dr. Diane Young joined GTx ($GTXI) as vice president and chief medical officer. Release

> Brickell Biotech named Dr. Patricia Walker as president and chief scientific officer. Release

> Aeglea Biotherapeutics added Sandy Mahatme and Russell Cox to its board of directors. Release

Darin Leigh joined Metabolon as its chief commercial officer. Release

Moerae Matrix appointed Dr. Bill Bradford as its chief medical officer. Release

OncoSec brought on Joann Lofgren as its vice president of market development. Release

Victoria Lewis joined Jaguar Animal Health ($JAGX) as its chief of clinical development. Release

Impax Labs' ($IPXL) founder and ex-CEO, Larry Hsu, stepped down from his board seat amid scandal accusations. Release

Med Tech

> Angle appointed Dr. Daniel Danila as scientific adviser. Release

> Precision Spine named Dr. Gilbert Aust and Jeffrey Kelly to its board of directors. Release

Diagnostics

> Cancer Genetics ($CGIX) appointed Dr. Rita Shaknovich as group medical director and vice president of hematopathology service. Release

> Dr. Alessandra Cesano joined NanoString ($NSTG) as chief medical officer. Release

> Pathway Genomics added Paul Sonnier to its strategic advisory board. Release

Drug Delivery

> ForSight VISION5 appointed Hector Casab as vice president of finance. Release