Genvec

ALSO NOTED: Immunogen licenses antibody; GenVec amends trial plans; analyst bullish on biotech; and much more...

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Immunogen has licensed the exclusive right to develop an integrin-targeting antibody developed by Centocor. Centocor stands to gain $30 million in milestone payments. Release

> Following discussions with the FDA, GenVec says it will amend its Phase II/III pancreatic cancer clinical trials with its drug TNFerade in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The primary efficacy endpoint will now be measured at overall survival rather than 12-month survival. Release

> Lazard analyst Joel Sendek is talking up the biotech sector, suggesting that quite a few of the public drug developers are trading at a discount. Report

> 2007 Fierce 15 company QuatRx Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from a pivotal Phase II study of Ophena (ospemifene) to treat postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy, a common condition associated with menopause. Release

> OSI Pharmaceuticals plans to offer $150 million in convertible senior notes. Report

> Galapagos said it has entered into a new, two-year oncology target discovery collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica. Report

> Doe the pharmaceutical industry's ties to the American Psychiatric Association determine the official list of mental illnesses? Report

> What's a pharma CEO with high cholesterol to do? Take his company's statin, of course. But Novartis chief Daniel Vasella (photo) eschews Lescol in favor of... Pfizer's Lipitor. Report

And Finally... You've read our trends and predictions for the biotech industry. Now take a look back at the pharmaceutical industry in 2007 and find out what to expect in 2008. Report

Investors cheer positive data on GenVec cancer drug

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:01:35 -0500

An initial review of data from a mid/late stage trial of GenVec's TNFerade for pancreatic cancer demonstrates that it may exceed its goal for improving survival. That news sent GenVec's stock soaring 42 percent in pre-market activity. Analysts were particularly impressed that positive data could accelerate an FDA approval for the therapy, which targets one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

An analysis of the data covering 51 patients followed for up to 18 months demonstrated an increase of overall survival of 42.5 percent when comparing TNFerade combined with a standard therapy against the standard therapy alone.

- here's the release for more information on the trial

Related Articles:
GenVec gets OK to resume gene therapy trials. Report
GenVec gains approval to expand TNFerade trial. Report

C&L: Kish new president at RHEI

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:01:32 -0400

RHEI Pharmaceuticals, which is focused on introducing approved and late clinical-stage proprietary drugs from the U.S. into China, announced today that Timothy M. Kish has joined the company as president and CFO.

Charles P. Slacik has resigned as CFO of Watson Pharmaceuticals to become senior vice president and chief financial officer of Beckman Coulter.

Robert J. Darretta is retiring as chief financial officer and vice chairman of the board in early 2007 after 38 years at the company.

Cardax Pharmaceuticals has appointed Fredric Pashkow, MD as executive vice president and chief medical officer.

Transave has hired Renu Gupta, M.D. as executive vice president of development and chief medical officer.

SuperGen announced that chief operating officer Edward Jacobs will leave the company at year-end.

Pharmos Corporation has named S. Colin Neill as senior vice president, chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer.

GenVec has hired Mark O. Thornton, MD, MPH, PhD as senior vice president, clinical development.

VioQuest Pharmaceuticals has named Lawrence Akinsanmi, M.D., Ph.D., to the role of vice president of clinical operations and regulatory affairs.

Array BioPharma has appointed April H. Teitelbaum, MD, MS, FACP, to the newly created position of vice president of clinical development--oncology.

Diatos SA has named Dr. Jamal Gasmi chief medical officer and Dr. James Cowburn as chief sales and marketing officer.

BioQuest LLC announced that Karen Skillen has joined the firm as managing director of its biopharmaceutical practice.

Penwest Pharmaceuticals announced that Amy O'Donnell, M.D. has joined the company as senior director, clinical development.

The life sciences venture firm Alta Partners announced that Alison de Bord has been promoted to director.

Progenitor Cell Therapy announced that Robert Hamm and Professor K.K. Jain have both agreed to join its board of managers.

The appointment of Maria Borelius as the Minister of Trade for Sweden has led to her resignation from the board of Active Biotech.

Joseph P. Cooper has joined Bioenvision's board of directors.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals has appointed Gary Lyons, an existing board member, to the audit committee.

Stem Cell Sciences has named David A. Dodd a non-executive director.

Affymax has named Daniel K. Spiegelman to its board of directors.

NovaVision named John F. Sasen, Sr. to its board of directors.

Peter O'Callaghan, senior vice president at QLT, and Dr. Simon Pimstone, CEO at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, were elected to BC Biotech's board of directors.

NanoBio has named Ronald M. Cresswell, Ph.D., Hon. D. Sc., F.R.S.E., to its board of directors.

ALSO NOTED: CV drops ACEON promotion; Live from the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference;and much more...

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:01:30 -0400

> CV Therapeutics is bowing out of a co-promotion deal with Solvay Pharmaceuticals for marketing ACEON. CV says there are no financial obligations in the pact and that they will wrap up their involvement over the next few weeks. "We are excited to focus our promotional efforts on Ranexa, as we continue to see growing interest in the cardiology community," said Louis G. Lange, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of CV Therapeutics. Release

> Live from the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference. Article

> The European Medicines Agency has recommended MediGene's EndoTAG-1 therapy for pancreatic cancer for orphan drug status. Report

> Bellicum Pharmaceuticals has licensed Ariad Pharmaceuticals' Argent cell-signaling regulating technology in exchange for an equity stake. Report

> Allergy Therapeutics says its mid-stage trial for a ragweed vaccine was a success. Report

> Genentech recorded a 58 percent increase in quarterly profits as sales of Lucentis soared. Report

> GSK is asking the FDA to approve the use of Advair Diskus for COPD. Report

> Adherex Technologies announced that GSK's option to license ADH-1 has expired and that it has regained full rights to the cancer compound. Release

> Alta Partners has rounded up $500 million for its eighth venture fund, one of the largest capital pools ever raised exclusively for healthcare. Report

> GenVec announced that it will receive up to $3.5 million in new funding to support the development and manufacture of novel adenovector-based HIV vaccines under its multi-year collaboration with the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Release

> Aero Pharmaceuticals has acquired the entire line of Baker Cummins OTC dermatology products as well as U.S. rights to additional dermatology products from IVAX Laboratories. Release

And Finally…A new study in JAMA shows that immune system ailments such as psoriasis and RA significantly increase the risk of heart disease. Article

C&L: Momenta taps Wheeler for top post

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Momenta Pharmaceuticals has tapped Craig Wheeler, the former president of Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, to be its next CEO. Alan Crane, who's stepping down from the post, will stay on the board.

Fresh from raising $60 million in new venture funds, Prestwick Pharmaceuticals has named George F. Horner III president and CEO.

Howard D. Goldstein has accepted the top position at Arcxis Biotechnologies, signaling the company's move into commercial development of its technologies for rapid, diagnostic gene and protein identification.

The Supervisory Board of Epigenomics and CEO and founder Alexander Olek have mutually agreed to end his term as CEO. Olek will continue to act as an advisor to Epigenomics.

Chiltern International has appointed Glenn Kerkhof as CEO.

4-Antibody has named Sijmen de Vries MD, MBA as its new CEO.

Avantogen Oncology has named Angela Bronow Davanzo CFO.

Novavax has named Jeffrey Church, who left GenVec, vice president, CFO and treasurer.

Celera Genomics Group has appointed Joel Jung as vice president of finance.

Renato Fuchs has been named senior vice president, manufacturing and technical operations for Altus Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Peter Hnik has been named chief medical officer of iCo Therapeutics.

Seaside Therapeutics has appointed Timothy D. Ocain, Ph.D., to the position of senior vice president, research & development.

Omeros Corp. has hired J. Greg Perkins, Ph.D., as vice president, regulatory affairs.

Caliper Life Sciences has appointed Dr. Peter Lassota as the divisional vice president of oncology.

Joachim Schupp has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president of medical affairs for ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals.

Samir Roy, Ph.D., has joined New River Pharmaceuticals as vice president, formulation and manufacturing.

Novo Nordisk has promoted Camille Lee to vice president of diabetes brand marketing.

Amazon Biotech has hired Rohit Phansalkar to serve as business and financial advisor.

Ambrilia Biopharma has named Luc Tanguay to its board of directors.

Dr. Steve Toon has joined Simcyp's board as executive director.

Osteotech has named Robert W. Gunn to its board of directors.

Daniel S. Lynch was elected to serve as a director of US Oncology Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, US Oncology.

Dr. Rosemary Mazanet has joined the board of directors of Cellumen.

American Oriental Bioengineering has added Lawrence Wizel to its board of directors, where he will act as chairman of the audit committee.

Dr. Clem Persaud, a former fellow at the World Health Organization and microbiologist, has joined Medistem's medical advisory board.

VisEn Medical announced that Dr. Markus Rudin has joined its Scientific Advisory Board.

ALSO NOTED: Generic Plavix grabs big market share; Medarex to collaborate on antibodies; and much more...

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> The generic version of Plavix has already claimed slightly more than 60 percent of the total market for the drug and 74 percent of all new prescriptions. In court testimony yesterday a financial expert hired by Apotex says that if the generic drug maker loses its fight to continue selling the drug, it would cost the company $4 billion. Report

> Medarex and Germany's GenPat77 Pharmacogenetics will collaborate on developing new human antibody products. Report

> The popular acne drug Roaccutane, made by Roche, has been linked to high cholesterol levels and damage to the liver. Report

> GenVec announced plans for the first human therapeutic clinical trial involving the company's adenoviral-vector technology used in an HIV vaccine candidate. Release

> GlaxoSmithKline is developing a research project into gastrointestinal diseases in collaboration with Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in Ireland. Report

> Myriad Genetics has closed enrollment for its Phase III trial of the Alzheimer's drug Flurizan. Report

> Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has agreed to pay a schedule of milestones payments to ProMetic Life Sciences for the use of ProMetic's Mimetic Ligands technology in the manufacturing of selected plasma-derived hyperimmune products. Release

And Finally… Cases of potentially lethal M.R.S.A. continue to grow around the country. Article

C&L: Gonda tapped to run Aradigm

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Igor Gonda has been named president and CEO of Aradigm, replacing Bryan Lawlis, who also resigned from the board.

Impax Laboratories announced that CEO Barry Edwards resigned and will be replaced by President Larry Hsu on October 1.

Transport Pharmaceuticals announced that Dennis Goldberg, Ph.D., president and COO, has been appointed to CEO.

Denmark's LifeCycle Pharma has appointed Dr. Flemming 0rnskov as its new president and CEO.

MichBio has appointed Stephen T. Rapundalo, Ph.D., as its new executive director.

MedImmune has promoted Edward T. Mathers to executive vice president, corporate development and venture.

The UK's BioProgress--which has obtained something of a reputation for the spinning door at its executive office--announced that CFO Peter Keen has left the company after just a few weeks at the post.

GenVec announced today that Jeffrey W. Church, its CFO, treasurer and corporate secretary, has resigned to take another position.

Chemokine Therapeutics announced that David Karp, has resigned to pursue another business opportunity.

Guava Technologies has named Donald D. Huffman CFO.

Algeta ASA has named Johan Harmenberg, MD, PhD as chief medical officer and Michael Dornish, PhD as chief scientific officer.

Calando Pharmaceuticals has named Dr. Jeremy D. Heidel chief scientific officer and vice president of research and development.

Eric M. Nelson, Ph.D., was named as Tranzyme Pharma's vice president of business development & licensing.

SGX Pharmaceuticals has named Terence Rugg, M.D., as vice president, development and chief medical officer.

Archemix Corp. announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Schaub as vice president of pre-clinical discovery.

Altus Pharmaceuticals has named John M. Sorvillo, Ph.D. vice president of business development.

Cadence Pharmaceuticals has named James B. Breitmeyer, M.D., Ph.D. to the position of executive vice president, development and chief medical officer. The company also announced the appointment of Christopher J. Twomey to its board of directors.

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has appointed Rich Keffer corporate vice president, general counsel & secretary.

Solexa has appointed Dr. Frank Oaks as vice president, DNA sequencing services.

Schering-Plough Corporation named Trevor Juniper general manager, Schering-Plough China, for its pharmaceutical business, based in Shanghai.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals announced that chairman of the company's board of directors Robert W. O'Leary died Monday morning at the age of 62.

SingVax Pte has appointed Dr. John Brown as chairman of the board of directors.

IDM Pharma announced the appointment of Sylvie Gregoire, Pharm. D., as executive chair of the board of directors.

A.P. Pharma has named Arthur T. Taylor to its board of directors.

Dr. Rosemary Mazanet has been elected to Aksys' board of directors.

Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings has named George Horner III to its board of directors.

Arena Pharmaceuticals has named Christine A. White, M.D. to its board of directors.

Neuro-Hitech Affiliated has create a Scientific Advisory Board. They are: Dr. Paul Aisen, professor of neurology and medicine, vice chair of the department of neurology and director of the memory disorders program at Georgetown University School of Medicine; Dr. Robert M. Moriarty, chief science officer of OrgSyn Laboratory; and Dr. Dinesh Patel, chairman of the board and co-founder of the XEL Herbaceuticals.

Jules Harris, M.D. has been named to GlobeImmune's Scientific Advisory Board.

ALSO NOTED: Neurogen touts trial data; Connecticut approves stem cell guidelines; Avigen to raise $21.2 million; and much more.

Wed, 10 May 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Neurogen shares jumped on the news that mid-stage trial data demonstrated that patients taking its insomnia drug fell asleep 79 percent faster than those subjects taking a placebo. Report

> Connecticut has approved guidelines to start issuing grants in the state's $100 million program to support stem cell research. Report

> Avigen plans to raise $21.2 million in a private placement of shares. Report

> Looking to concentrate more of its resources on lead cancer drug candidate TNFerade, GenVec announced it would suspend enrollment on a Phase II trial of BioBypass for coronary artery disease. Report

> A group of public health agency scientists will meet in Atlanta today to discuss safety issues around the abortion pill RU-486. Article

> Investors have been bidding up the price of Chugai, Roche's Japanese subsidiary, in anticipation of quick regulatory approval of Avastin. Report (WSJ sub. req.)

> Prana Biotechnology says it will proceed with a Phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate for PBT2 in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Release

> Chutes & Ladders: Israel's Rosetta Genomics announced that Amir Avniel has been named president and CEO. Release

> Earlier this week, ImaRx announced it had acquired the blood clot dissolver Abbokinase. Report

And Finally… In yet another example of just how little we really understand H5N1, scientists say that wild birds did not spread the virus on their migratory journey to Africa or on their return. Article

ALSO NOTED: Cell Genesys arranges financing; GenVec expands TNFerade trial; Wisconsin to build flu research center;and much mor

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:00:50 -0500

> Cell Genesys of South San Francisco has arranged $75 million in financing from Kingsbridge Capital over the next three years. Report

> The FDA has given GenVec approval to expand a mid-stage trial of TNFerade for pancreatic cancer into a Phase II/III study. GenVec also announced that Kingsbridge Capital will provide $30 million in financing over three years. Report

> Wisconsin is devoting $9 million to a new research facility for pandemic flu viruses like bird flu. The 20,000 square-foot facility will be built in University Research Park in Madison. Report

> Pharmacopeia is expanding its collaboration deal with Neurocrine Biosciences. Report

> DuPont will cut 1,500 jobs and close facilities in Europe as part of its restructuring of its performance coatings division. Report

> Avant Immunotherapeutics has amended an agreement to accelerate a $40 million milestone payment. Release

> Nastech has entered into a multi-compound agreement with Novo Nordisk. Release

And Finally… As Sweden and Denmark were added to the list of countries confirming bird flu, HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt repeated warnings that the virus was likely to wind up on American shores in a matter of months. Article

C&L: Santi resigns top job at Kosan

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 19:01:32 -0500

Daniel V. Santi has resigned as CEO and chairman of Kosan Biosciences. Robert G. Johnson Jr., the company's executive vice president of development and chief medical officer, will serve as interim CEO.

OncoGenex Technologies has appointed Stephen Anderson as CFO and Tom Bailey as a member of the board of directors.

Douglas A. Hamilton has resigned as COO and CFO of Javelin Pharmaceuticals.

Antares Pharma has named Robert F. Apple senior vice president and CFO.

NanoBio has named David Peralta vice president and CFO.

Protein Polymer Technologies announced that president and COO Donald Kaplan, Ph.D., has elected to retire from his positions to pursue other opportunities.

Cylene Pharmaceuticals has named Larry D. Witte, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals announced that Stephen M. Gansler will join the company as senior vice president of human resources.

ImClone Systems has promoted Richard Crowley to senior vice president, biopharmaceutical operations.

PRA International has hired Dr. Cynthia Kirk as vice president, global regulatory affairs.

MIV Therapeutics has hired Vlad Budzynski MD, PhD, as senior scientist in drug research and application.

Anu Wallecha, Ph.D has joined the scientific development team of Advaxis.

GenVec has named Russell P. Wesdyk as vice president of business development and strategic planning.

James J. Carroll has joined Biovest International as general manager of the Biovest Advanced Instrumentation Division.

Nelson M. Simms has joined the board of directors for Aastrom Biosciences.

Blaine Pharmaceuticals has added David Paragamian to its business advisory board.

Industrial Biotechnology has appointed Gurinder Shahi, M.D., Ph.D., as its new chief technologist and chairman of its scientific advisory board.

OrthoLogic has elected William M. Wardell, M.D., Ph.D., to its board of directors.

John (Jack) L. Armstrong, Jr., CEO and president of Genaera, has been elected to its board of directors.

Chemokine Therapeutics elected Dr. Mohammad Azab to its board of directors.

Bradley Pharmaceuticals announced that Leonard S. Jacob, M.D., Ph.D., and William J. Murphy, CPA, have been elected to its board of directors.

ALSO NOTED: AmerisourceBergen buys Canadian wholesaler; AlgoRx touts Phase III pain study; Newron adds venture capital; and muc

Tue, 04 Oct 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Drug wholesale giant AmerisourceBergen said it has acquired Trent Drugs, Canada's largest drug wholesaler, for $83 million. Report

> AlgoRx said that a late-stage study of ALGRX 3268 successfully reduced the pain children experienced from needle pricks. Article

> Italy's Newron Pharmaceuticals has added €7 million to its second round of venture capital, which closed with a total of €30 million. Release

> GenVec has received $9.9 million in new funding for its work in HIV vaccine development. Release

And Finally… The death toll from a mysterious respiratory illness in a Toronto nursing home has hit 10, but health officials say that it appears that the outbreak has peaked. SARS, avian flu and other viruses have already been ruled out without being able to find the culprit. Article

ALSO NOTED: Ranbaxy gets marketing OK for HIV drug; VaxGen to sell an interest in Celltrion; Isotechnika touts PIII results; Al

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Ranbaxy Laboratories has received FDA approval to market a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's HIV drug Retrovir. Story

> Brisbane, Ca.-based VaxGen plans to raise $15 million through the sale of part of its interest in the South Korean company Celltrion. Story

> Isotechnika announced that its psoriasis treatment met all primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase III trial. Report

> Shares of Alkermes dropped this morning after the FDA announced a three-month delay in its decision on the alcoholism treatment Vivitrex. The biotech is partnered with Cephalon on the drug. Report

> The FDA has given fast-track status to Medicure's cardioprotective drug, MC-1. Report

> South San Francisco-based CoTherix has filed to sell 4.5 million shares of common stock. Release

> Shares of Gaithersburg, Md.-based GenVec slipped after the company announced plans to sell 7.3 million shares of stock. Story

> Increased competition has forced Alnylam to give up development of its experimental therapy for macular degeneration. Story

> Alexion of Cheshire, Conn. has completed enrollment for a Phase III trial of eculizumab in patients with the chronic orphan blood disorder Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. Release

And finally...California's attorney general wants to force companies to add labels that alert consumers to the use of a chemical used in French fries--acrylamide--that causes cancer in lab mice. Article

C&L: Ajay Bansal to manage new Nektar division

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 20:01:32 -0400

Nektar Therapeutics announced a newly-created Diabetes Group and appointed Ajay Bansal, currently the company's CFO, as general manager. The company is initiating a search for a new CFO to replace Bansal, who will serve as interim CFO until a replacement is found.

Cytel has hired John Hallinan as CFO. Hallinan was most recently CFO at Signet Laboratories.

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals has named Bob Gallahue, CPA, as CFO and Priscilla Harlan as vice president, corporate communications.

Thomas A. Davis, MD, has joined GenVec as its chief medical officer. Dr. Davis was formerly head, adult hematologic malignancies for the Cancer Therapeutics Evaluation Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and senior director, clinical sciences at Medarex.

Ian D. Malcolm has joined Exelixis to serve as vice president of strategic marketing. Malcolm joined Exelixis from Sanofi-Aventis where he most recently served as head of oncology new products and business opportunities.

M. Lynn Smiley, MD, has been named chief medical officer of Inspire Pharmaceuticals. She had been senior vice president of regulatory affairs, compliance, and drug safety at Trimeris.

David H. Persing, MD, PhD, will join Cepheid as executive vice president, chief medical and technical officer with responsibility for research and development. Dr. Persing most recently held the position of senior vice president and chief scientific officer at Corixa.

Fujirebio Diagnostics named Monte W. Wiltse as its new vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to joining FDI, Wiltse held several senior-level marketing management positions with Bayer Healthcare Diagnostics where he was responsible for molecular testing systems and the oncology immunoassay reagent product line.

Magellan Biosciences has named Darren Braccia the vice president of business development. Braccia comes to Magellan from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where he most recently served as associate director, business development.

Chembio Diagnostics has named Dr. James J. Koziarz to its newly formed advisory board.

David K. Stone, a member of Oscient Pharmaceuticals' board since 2001, will succeed David B. Singer as chairman of the board.

Applied NeuroSolutions, named Jay B. Langner, who has served as chairman of Montefiore Medical Center, to the company's board of directors, replacing Preston Tsao, who resigned for personal reasons.

Judith A. Hemberger, PhD, has been appointed to Renovis' board of directors.

Osteologix has appointed Bobby W. Sandage, Jr., PhD, to the company's board of directors.

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals has elected David J. Mazzo, PhD, to the company's board of directors.

Bioheart has elected David Gury, former chairman, founding CEO and president of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, to its board of directors.

Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories appointed John D. Crissman, MD, and Madhava Reddy as independent directors.

C&L: Dr. John Mendlein tapped to run Compound

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 20:01:32 -0400

Compound Therapeutics announced today that Dr. John Mendlein has been appointed CEO. Compound Therapeutics' founding CEO, Dr. Frank Lee, will continue at the company as chairman of the board, and Dr. L. Patrick Gage, former executive chairman, transitions to non-executive director. Dr. Mendlein had been chairman and CEO of Affinium Pharmaceuticals.

TransMolecular has named E. Michael Egan as CEO. Egan served most recently as senior vice president of commercial development for GenVec.

Symbollon Pharmaceuticals has promoted Paul C. Desjourdy to the position of CEO. Desjourdy has previously served as president, COO and CFO of the company.

Thomas Schreck has been named CEO of Iken Tissue Therapeutics. Schreck held various investment banking positions in the San Francisco Bay Area and London, including at Montgomery Securities and Manufacturers Hanover Limited.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals has split the roles of chairman and CEO, naming Peter Barrett, PhD, a board member since May 2003, as chairman. Alan Crane will remain president and CEO.

Kurt Gilson has resigned as Kinetics' CEO and a member of its board of directors, J. Gordon Beittenmiller, has been named the company's new CEO. Beittenmiller joined Kinetics earlier this year as president and CFO after serving over eight years at Comfort Systems USA.

Enzon Pharmaceuticals has promoted Craig Tooman to executive vice president finance and CFO. Tooman joined the company in January 2005 as executive vice president of strategic planning and corporate communications.

Helix BioPharma has named Frank Michalargias as CFO. Michalargias replaces Ken Cawkell, a member of the company's board, who has served as interim CEO since last summer.

NicOx announced that Dr. Ali Raza has been appointed head of research and development. Dr. Raza's most recent position was head of clinical development and regulatory affairs at Renovo.

Immtech International has hired Dolores Kapral for the newly-created position of director of clinical operations. Kapral had worked for Abbott Laboratories for 11 years, four of which were as a clinical project manager.

Edot.com announced that Krishna Menon joined the company's scientific advisory board and accepted the position of chief regulatory officer. Dr. Menon is a former employee of the year President's award winner at Eli Lilly.

Avera Pharmaceuticals has appointed Joao Siffert, MD, as vice president, clinical research and development. Dr. Siffert joins Avera from Pfizer, where he was employed as a medical director since 2002.

King Pharmaceuticals has appointed Eric J. Bruce as the company's corporate head, technical operations.

ArQule has named Dr. Ronald M. Lindsay to its board of directors.

Isolagen named Stephen J. Fanning, president and CEO of Thermage, to its board.

Sciona named Roy Whitfield to its board of directors and appointed him chairman of the company's science and business advisory board.

Inspire Pharmaceuticals elected Alan F. Holmer to its board.

Ciphergen Biosystems named James S. Burns, president and CEO of EntreMed, to its board.

MOCON has named Robert F. Gallagher to its board of directors.

ImmuneRegen BioSciences has named Moshe Arditi, MD, as senior advisor to its recently established Bioterrorism Preparedness Advisory Board.

GenVec gets OK to resume gene therapy trials

Tue, 24 May 2005 20:01:39 -0400

The FDA has given GenVec the green light to resume two clinical trials suspended for safety concerns. Last October GenVec's stock took a beating when it suspended research after a mid-stage trial of its TNFerade treatment -- a gene therapy drug for esophagus cancer -- was linked to an increase in blood clotting. Now GenVec says the FDA's concerns have been addressed and it can follow-up on patients in the trial. GenVec is also resuming enrollment for a clinical trial of TNFerade as a treatment for rectum cancer.

"Our clinical results to date with TNFerade in a variety of solid tumors, including pancreatic and rectal cancer, have been very encouraging and we look forward to expanding our efforts in rectal cancer," said Dr. Paul H. Fischer, president and CEO of GenVec.

- read this story from the AP for more on the move