Neopharm

C&L: Osprey taps Jack Anthony as CEO

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:59:52 -0400

Osprey Pharmaceuticals has appointed Jack M. Anthony as CEO. Dr. Philip Coggins, who previously held the position of CEO, will continue as president and assume the new role of chief science officer.

Titan Pharmaceuticals named Marc Rubin as CEO and president. Founder and former CEO Louis Bucalo will continue as chairman.

Dr. Randall Yatscoff is retiring from his position as president and CEO of Isotechnika.

Morria Biopharmaceuticals has appointed Rosemary Mazanet M.D., Ph.D. as its interim CEO.

Dyadic International fired its CEO, Mark Emalfarb, following an investigation into financial improprieties.

Christopher Henney has been named chairman of the board of startup CG Therapeutics. He'll be particularly engaged in attracting venture capital to the company.

Galea Life Sciences announced that it has appointed Paul Zuromski as president.

Neopharm announced the appointment of Dr. Shahid Ali to executive vice president, research and development.

Panacos Pharmaceuticals Executive Vice President and CFO Peyton Marshall resigned in order to pursue other opportunities and outside personal interests.

The CFO of Celsion is stepping down. Anthony P. Deasey will be replaced by Controller Paul Susie, who will become interim chief accounting officer.

F-star has named Dr. Geert Mudde as chief scientific officer.

Cardio3 BioSciences has named of Vinciane Gaussin, Ph.D., as its chief scientific officer.

Shire announced that Sylvie Gregoire has been appointed president of its Human Genetic Therapies business.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Robert S. Fishman, MD, FCCP has joined the company as vice president, medical affairs.

Niels Borgstein, M.D., has joined Acceleron as vice president, medical research.

Med BioGene has named Melanie M. Mahtani, Ph.D. as executive advisor, commercial development.

Gen-Probe announced that John C. Martin, Ph.D., president and CEO of Gilead Sciences, has been elected to its board of directors.

GenVec reported the departure of Harold Werner from the company's board of directors.

Ceapro has named Gilles Gagnon to its board.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals has named Michael P. Tarnok to its board of directors.

BioVex has appointed Dr. Leonard Post to its board of directors.

Pharmacyclics has named Robert W. Duggan to its board of directors.

ImaRx Therapeutics has named Richard Love as chairman succeeding Richard Otto, who will remain on the board.

Opexa Therapeutics has named Dawn McGuire, M.D., to its clinical advisory board for multiple sclerosis.

Editor's Corner

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

Here's wishing everyone had a happy holiday break.

While we were away for our customary leave, we spotted some notable headlines. Telik scored the biggest news of the past week, reporting that its cancer therapy failed three late-stage drug trials. Analysts were also shaking their heads over the time it took Telik to release data. The company's stock plunged 70 percent. AstraZeneca plans to continue development of AZD3480 (TC-1734) in Alzheimer's disease and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, news that cheered Targacept, which receives a $20 million milestone payment for the advancement. CombiMatrix is splitting from its parent company, Acacia Research. Lupin and Cornerstone BioPharma ended a drug development deal for an anti-infective. Oscient restructured its licensing deal for Factive, spurring a 21 percent increase in its stock value. And NeoPharm, which recently announced that its lead drug failed a late-stage study, cut 14 jobs in a restructuring. - John Carroll

Editor's Corner

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 19:01:39 -0500

The launch of FierceBiotech's website--FierceBiotech.com--has met with a considerable amount of success. Of all of the FierceMarkets sites, FierceBiotech has been garnering some of the highest numbers of web visitors. We're usually right at or near the top of the list. My hat goes off to the Web development team, but of course readers have helped out with suggestions along the way. I'd like to get more feedback on the channels we list on the site where readers can look up industry-specific news. We're adding economic development and oncology to the list, but any other suggestions would be welcome. In the meantime, if you haven't been to the website, try it out soon. It's a great place for research on the field and will be there in case your report doesn't arrive in your inbox as usual. The same holds true for FierceBioResearcher, which focuses on the research and development side of the business.

On another note: Anyone looking for examples of the kind of high stakes biotechnology plays with need look no farther than the top two news items today. Both Nuvelo and NeoPharm saw their shares go into a meltdown this morning after disappointing Phase III results. Critics of the drug development process might consider the heavy losses associated with trial failures before heaping more abuse on a system that can also hand out huge rewards to the winners of this industry. For every blockbuster that hits the market, there's a lineup of companies that had to deal with some significant travails along the way. - John Carroll

NeoPharm investors exact revenge on trial failure

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 19:01:37 -0500

NeoPharm was also dealing with the ugly aftermath of its own trial failure this morning. Its stock plunged more than 70 percent after the company announced that its experimental therapy for malignant tumors of the central nervous system had failed a Phase III trial, failing to prove more effective than an existing therapy. Officials will also ponder the fate of cintredekin besudotox with regulators and researchers.

"Top-line data suggests that cintredekin besudotox, while comparable, was not statistically superior to Gliadel," said Guillermo Herrera, Neopharm's president and CEO. "We will continue to work with our Scientific Advisory Board and the FDA to determine the best path forward."

- see this press release on the trial
- here's the AP report on the data

Related Articles:
Analysts turn bullish on Neopharm's IL-13. Report
NeoPharm announces job cuts in restructuring. Report

Analysts turn bullish on Neopharm's IL-13

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:01:34 -0400

Shares of Neopharm have been swelling in recent months as the biotech draws closer to gathering the final data in its late-stage trial of its brain tumor shrinking therapy IL-13 (cintredekin besudotox). An independent committee has recommended that the trial continue until 215 of the 300 volunteers in it die, a figure that could be reached in three months. Following that point, Neopharm will determine when it will file for FDA approval. If it wins approval, Neopharm indicates that it will use its sales force of 40 people to commercialize the therapy at top centers.

- check out the article from The Chicago Tribune on Neopharm

Related Article:
NeoPharm announces job cuts in restructuring. Report

C&L: Doyle picked as new Syntaxin CEO

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Syntaxin has named Patrick James Doyle CEO. Doyle joins Syntaxin from Metabolex, California, where he held the post of chief corporate development.

Cipher Pharmaceuticals has promoted its president, Larry Andrews, to CEO. He replaces, John Mull, who will stay on as chairman.

MGI PHARMA has named Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., Eric P. Loukas, Esq., and William F. Spengler to executive vice president and appointed Loukas as COO.

BioSyntech has named Francois Michaud C.A., C.M.A., as CFO and Richard Lacombe Ph.D., M.B.A., as vice-president clinical affairs.

Neopharm named Ronald Pauli as CFO, effective Sept. 1. He replaces Lawrence Kenyon.

Celator Pharmaceuticals has named Arthur C. Louie, M.D., as chief medical officer.

Callisto Pharmaceuticals has named Robert C. Shepard, M.D., F.A.C.P. as its chief medical officer.

NSP advises that Vincenzo Guerrieri and Marc Greenberger have resigned as directors of NSP. Henry Evans had resigned as secretary of NSP and executive vice-president of Naturale Science Pharma Inc. NSPI did not renew the consulting agreement for Philip Antunes, COO, which terminated July 31, 2006.

Inspire Pharmaceuticals has hired two new vice presidents: Bart J. Dunn as vice president, business development and Raymond W. Hines as vice president, associate general counsel.

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals has hired Theresa Hope-Reese as vice president of human resources.

John Friedman has stepped down from the board of directors of Acorda Therapeutics.

Icagen has appointed Adeoye Y. Olukotun, M.D., MPH, FACC to its board of directors.

Dr. Gerald Batist, the director of the McGill Center for Translational Research in Cancer based at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, has joined Chemokine Therapeutics' clinical advisory board.

C&L: Jones to retire from Digene

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:01:32 -0400

In a move that caught most observers by surprise, Digene CEO and founder Evan Jones said he plans to retire after 16 years at the helm. Digene is profitable and has been developing a test that identifies the virus that causes cervical cancer. His successor will be recruited from outside the company.

Isolagen has named Nicholas Teti CEO and chairman. Susan Ciallella, who will stay on as president, acted as interim CEO after Frank DeLape resigned.

Penwest Pharmaceuticals has named Jennifer L. Good, the company's current president and COO, to the position of CEO and a member of the board of directors.

Michael J. McKelvey has been named president and CEO at eResearch Technology.

MicroIslet announced that Dr. James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D, who was appointed interim president and CEO of MicroIslet in January, has been named president and CEO.

Enzo Biochem has named Carl W. Balezentis, Ph.D. to the newly-created position of president of Enzo Life Sciences.

NeoPharm announced that Lawrence A. Kenyon has tendered his resignation as the company's executive vice president, CFO and corporate secretary.

NexMed announced that Vivian Liu, the company's executive vice president, has also been appointed to serve as its COO.

Carsten Boess has joined Insulet Corporation as CFO.

Cardiome Pharma has named Curtis Sikorsky, CA to the position of CFO.

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has appointed Jordan I. Siegel as the company's senior vice president, finance, CFO and treasurer.

Russ Austin is being promoted to senior vice president, general counsel, and board secretary at Battelle.

Laura Brege has been appointed executive vice president and chief business officer of Onyx Pharmaceuticals.

Proprius Pharmaceuticals has named David W. Anderson, Ph.D. as its new chief scientific officer.

Sidney Mazel, Ph.D. has joined the management team of MedImmune as senior vice president, product planning and portfolio management.

Altus Pharmaceuticals has named Burkhard Blank, M.D. as senior vice president medicine, regulatory affairs and project management.

Novavax has appointed Mariann Caprino vice president of corporate communications and investor relations.

Cubist Pharmaceuticals has appointed Sylvie Gregoire, Pharm. D., to its board of directors.

VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals has named Jerome A. Halperin, recently retired from the Food & Drug Law Institute as president and CEO, to its board of directors.

John Macomber has been named to the board of directors of Stem Cell Innovations.

QLT has appointed Dr. Ian John Massey to its board of directors.

Kosan Biosciences has elected Kevan Clemens, Ph.D., to its board of directors.

BioSyntech has elected Dr. Joyce Tsang to its board of directors.

Aspreva Pharmaceuticals has named William Hunter, MD, MSc to its board.

William R. Mattson, Jr. has been elected to Oscient Pharmaceuticals' board of directors.

C&L: Tedford resigns early from Patheon

Tue, 09 May 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Contract drug manufacturer Patheon has announced that Robert Tedford has turned in his resignation 10 months ahead of schedule. Patheon chairman Peter Green, president and CEO Nick DiPietro, and CFO and executive vice-president Douglas Ludwig have formed the "office of the chief executive."

Raven biotechnologies has named George F. Schreiner, M.D., Ph.D., as CEO and director.

Drug marketing company PDI has named Michael Marquand as its new CEO, replacing interim CEO Larry Ellberger.

Calypte Biomedical announced that Roger I. Gale, chairman of the board since November 2004, has been appointed president and CEO.

Epix Pharmaceuticals announced that Michael Astrue has resigned as interim CEO.

BioPheresis Technologies has named Bernhard R. M. Ehmer, MD, chief CEO.

ImpactRx announced that CEO and President Nancy Lurker will be leaving the company to take a new job.

Immtech Pharmaceuticals announced the retirement of T. Stephen Thompson, president and member of its board of directors.

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals announced that Michael J. Puntoriero has joined the company as senior vice president of finance and, effective May 15, 2006, will be appointed CFO.

NeoPharm announced the resignation of Imran Ahmad as executive vice president and chief scientific officer.

Pharmacopeia CFO Michio Soga is resigning to pursue other opportunities.

Ambrx announced the appointment of Hazel M. Aker as senior vice president of operations and business affairs.

Biovail Corporation has named Dr. Peter Silverstone senior vice-president, medical and scientific affairs.

David J. Tyler has joined ChondroGene as director, product development and quality assurance.

Pro-Pharmaceuticals has retained James T. Gourzis, M.D., Ph.D., on a consulting basis to provide clinical management and strategic development of its Europe-based Phase III colorectal cancer trial.

Neose Technologies has elected L. Patrick Gage, Ph.D. as non-executive chairman of the board.

Avecia has announced a new three-man board for its parent, Avecia Holdings. They are: CEO & Director Adrian Buckmaster; CFO Duncan McLellan; and Executive Director Dr. Kevin Cox.

INNOVIVE Pharmaceuticals has elected Neil Herskowitz to its board of directors.

Dr. Brian Adger has been appointed as chairman of De Novo Pharmaceuticals' new Scientific Advisory Board, together with Dr. John Dixon and Dr. Peter Warne.

Othera Pharmaceuticals has elected Katherine Crothall, Ph.D. and Bruce A. Peacock to its board of directors.

NeoPharm announces job cuts in restructuring

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 20:01:35 -0400

NeoPharm of Waukegan, IL announced late Friday that it was cutting about a quarter of its workforce in a wider effort to reduce expenses by $7 million a year. NeoPharm also said it was concentrating its workers in its headquarters and reprioritizing "the NeoLipid development program to reflect the changing market landscape and regulatory requirements." Just last week NeoPharm had touted the survival data of a study of its experimental drug for reducing the size of brain tumors. At least one analyst, however, wasn't overly impressed by the results. NeoPharm expects the drug to go to the FDA for a decision later this year.

- here's the release on the restructuring
- read the report from the Chicago Tribune on the company's drug prospects

ALSO NOTED: FDA wants new NeoPharm trial; GSK may bid for Pfizer's OTC unit; and much more...

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 19:00:50 -0500

> NeoPharm says the FDA has requested that it undertake a new clinical trial to support its application for approval of a new formulation of the cancer drug liposomal paclitaxel. Report

> The Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia has found a new antibody for inflammatory diseases and that Novo Nordisk had agreed to provide up to $100 million to take it through clinical trials. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline is signaling its interest in bidding for Pfizer's OTC unit. Report

> Pfizer has filed suit against Teva and Sandoz over a generic form of the antibiotic Zithromax. Article

> Merck claims that Mark Lanier, the attorney who won a $253 million Vioxx settlement, had been courting prominent cardiologist Eric Topol--one of Merck's chief critics--as a paid consultant. Article

> Doctors report that pregnant mothers taking antidepressants are more likely to give birth to a child suffering from a rare breathing disorder. Report

> Insert Therapeutics of Pasadena, CA has filed an IND to begin a Phase I trial of a new compound to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors. Release

> Samaritan Pharmaceuticals has announced a $40 million common stock purchase deal. Release

> Shares of GTC Biotherapeutics took a dive, but company officials say they don't know why. Report

And Finally… Despite intense criticism that too many drug plans are creating confusion about the new Medicare drug benefit, Medicare chief Mark McClellan says he has no intention of reducing the number of plans in play. Article

C&L: Herrera named NeoPharm CEO

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:01:32 -0500

NeoPharm named Guillermo A. Herrera as president and CEO. Herrera spent 24 years at Abbott Laboratories and most recently served as senior vice president, international operations and president of Abbott International.

N. Anthony Coles, M.D., M.P.H., has been appointed as president and COO of NPS Pharmaceuticals. He had been senior vice president, commercial operations for Vertex.

Talecris Biotherapeutics has made three top appointments: Alberto Martinez, M.D., has assumed the position of president and CEO; John Hanson has assumed the position of CFO, and Mel Asbury has been named senior vice president of human resources.

Encysive Pharmaceuticals has named Gordon H. Busenbark CFO. Busenbark joins Encysive from Baxter Healthcare.

Adolor has hired Thomas Hess, CPA, as vice president, finance and CFO. Hess had been corporate controller at Vicuron Pharmaceuticals.

Metabolex hired Paul Quinlan as general counsel. He joins Metabolex from Maxygen, where he served as chief corporate securities counsel.

Neurocrine Biosciences has appointed Chris O'Brien, M.D., senior vice president of clinical development. Dr. O'Brien most recently held positions at Elan Pharmaceuticals and Prestwick Pharmaceuticals.

Clinical Data appointed two new key members of the company's senior management team: Carol Reed, M.D., as senior vice president and chief medical officer; and John A. Schultz as senior vice president, corporate development.

Timothy Moses has resigned as an officer and director of Nova Biogenetics.

Athenagen announced that co-founder (Ken) M. Kengatharan, Ph.D., joined the company in a full-time capacity as vice president, pre-clinical R&D.

GlaxoSmithKline made three senior appointments to lead its UK-based clinical-imaging and experimental-medicine research programs: Paul Matthews has been appointed vice president, imaging; Ed Bullmore has been appointed vice president, experimental medicine; Marc Laruelle has been appointed vice president for clinical molecular imaging.

Bentley Pharmaceuticals hired Fred Feldman, Ph.D., as vice president of research and development.

Ramkumar Mandalam, Ph.D., has joined Cellerant Therapeutics as vice president of pharmaceutical operations. Dr. Mandalam was formerly executive director of product development for Geron.

Lawrence R. Moreau has been elected to the board of directors of Sequenom.

HistoRx named Dr. Ronald M. Lindsay, Ph.D., former chief scientific officer and vice president of research and development at diaDexus, to its board of directors.

Admiral William J. Crowe has retired from the board of directors of Emergent Biosolutions.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics named John N. Lilly to its board of directors.

SGX Pharmaceuticals has elected Karin Eastham to the company's board of directors.

ALSO NOTED: Roche, Protein Design expand collaboration; Mesalamine studies hit endpoints; Wyeth wins fen-phen judgments; and mu

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 19:00:50 -0500

> Roche and Protein Design are expanding their collaboration on daclizumab, with Roche paying $10 million up front. Report

> Two Phase III clinical studies of an advanced formulation of high-strength mesalamine, SPD476, being developed by Shire met their primary endpoints. Release

> Wyeth has won a favorable judgment in three lawsuits regarding fen-phen. Report

> Chutes & Ladders: NeoPharm has chosen Guillermo A. Herrera, formerly with Abbott Laboratories, as its new CEO. Report

> Schering-Plough is seeking Japanese approval for Temodal as a therapy for malignant glioma. Release

> American Pharmaceutical Partners and American BioScience have published Phase I data for Abraxane as a therapy for patients with advanced cancer. Release

> Human Genome Sciences has released safety and tolerability results from a Phase II study of HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Release

And Finally... Canadian researchers say that ginseng can play a small but significant role in reducing the number and severity of colds suffered. Article

ALSO NOTED: Altana acquires dermatology business; BioDelivery prices shares; NeoPharm touts new version of cancer drug; and muc

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Altana of Melville, New York, has acquired the prescription dermatology business of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. Report

> BioDelivery Sciences International has priced an offering of 4.4 million shares at $2 each. Release

> NeoPharm said a reformulated version of its paclitaxel cancer drug demonstrated fewer side effects. Story

> Shareholders of InKine and Salix Pharmaceuticals have endorsed the merger of the two companies. Release

> Progenics Pharmaceuticals of Scottsdale, Arizona, has hit its target enrollment for a second Phase III trial of methylnaltrexone for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced medical illness. Release

> InSite Vision has completed enrollment in a Phase III trial of AzaSite for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Release

And Finally… The governor of California terminated a bill that would have set up a Web site steering people to lower-cost Canadian, British and Irish medicine. In his veto, Schwarzenegger said he was worried that it was illegal, fraught with liability and dangerous for consumers. Article

ALSO NOTED: FDA to take interim NeoPharm data; Caraco wins tentative drug OK; Aspirin works against colon cancer; and much more

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> NeoPharm says that the FDA will accept interim efficacy data for a late-stage trial of its experimental brain cancer treatment. NeoPharm says it expects full enrollment in the trial by the end of the year. Story

> Caraco Pharmaceutical has won tentative FDA approval for a generic version of Sanofi Aventis' Ambien. Report

> Caraco also announced FDA approval for a new strength of clozapine. Release

> Researchers say that the long-term use of aspirin lowers the risk of colon cancer, but only at the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Story

> The FDA has approved the use of Solvay's Aceon for patients with stable coronary artery disease. Report

> A federal judge has ruled that a group of generic drug makers did not infringe on Pfizer's patent for Neurontin -- an anti-convulsant -- by making a low-cost knockoff. Article

And Finally… In a report sure to cheer obesity drug developers, residents in 49 states got fatter in recent years, with Alabama's deep-fried culture leading the way. Article