Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word—or the bad—from your shop to Angus Liu (email), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
Two industry savants launch Pandion Therapeutics
Pandion Therapeutics
Anthony Coyle signed on as CEO.
Pandion Therapeutics just emerged from stealth mode with a $58 million series A and two industry veterans at top spots. Anthony Coyle, formerly an SVP at Pfizer and global head of biologics at MedImmune, was named CEO, and Jo Viney, who used to head drug discovery and immunology research at Biogen, became CSO. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company focuses on inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It approaches those diseases by developing bispecific antibodies that act at the local site of disease, while avoiding a systemic immunosuppression characteristic of current treatments. FierceBiotech
Hikma names ex-Fresenius scientist as R&D chief
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Surendera Tyagi, Ph.D., was named CSO and global head of R&D.
For the past 12 months, Hikma’s stock has fallen more than 40% as its generic drug segment is suffering. The company sees research and innovation as one of the ways out, and it has tapped Surendera Tyagi, Ph.D., to drive that growth as its CSO. Tyagi joined from Fresenius Kabi, where he spent about nine years, expanded its cancer business and oversaw a U.S. R&D center. He has also previously held positions at companies including Dabur Pharma, Roche and Abbott. For the first year with Hikma, Tyagi will focus on the noninjectable business. FierceBiotech
Ipsen hires former Amgen oncology leader as head of North America
Ipsen
Richard Paulson will become EVP and CEO of North America.
Ipsen tapped Richard Paulson to oversee all areas supporting its North American business, a job just held by Cynthia Schwalm, who’s leaving for other opportunities. Paulson previously spent 10 years at Amgen, most recently as VP and GM of its oncology business unit. Before that, he was in different positions in general management, marketing and market access with Pfizer, and has also served with then GlaxoWellcome in Canada. Release
> GlaxoSmithKline named Filippo Lanzi as regional head of Asia Pacific. He came to GSK through a joint venture with Novartis OTC.
> After taking Forma Therapeutics to clinical stage as its R&D chief, John Hohneker is joining Anokion Therapeutics as president and CEO. FierceBiotech
> Zurich-based Inositec hired former Roche and Novartis staffer Frits van Alphen, M.D., as its CMO, as it prepares to move its lead vascular calcification candidate into the clinic. FierceBiotech
> After bringing on Mark Rothera as its CEO, 2016 Fierce 15 company Orchard Therapeutics named Frank Thomas, formerly with AMAG Pharmaceuticals, to the newly created role of CFO and CBO. Release
> WuXi NextCODE poached Becton Dickinson executive Louis Yuan, who has previously also served with Pfizer and Sanofi, as SVP and China GM. Release
> Singapore-based cancer specialist Aslan Pharmaceuticals lured Boehringer Ingelheim's head of specialty care for China, Stephen Doyle, to serve as its head of China operations. Release
> Karl Deonanan, most recently CFO of IQVIA’s Research and Development Solutions segment, jumped ship to Synteract as CFO. Release
> Joseph Sullivan, who recently served with Merck & Co. and helped the launch of Gardasil in the U.S., was hired by vaccine and immuno-oncology firm Immunovaccine to the newly created role of SVP of business development. Release
> Mammalian cell line expert Selexis named Alberto Garotti CFO. He has about 30 years of experience leading the financial operations of many international companies, including Unilever and Coty. Release
> Swedish biotech Alligator Bioscience, which develops antibody-based cancer immunotherapies, appointed Anu Balendran, Ph.D., VP of business development. Release
> Immuno-oncology firm Trillium Therapeutics has started the search for a new CMO as Eric Sievers, M.D., has transitioned to an adviser role. The company also announced three additions to its leadership team. Release
> Clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy developer Immatics named Thomas Ulmer as CFO. Release
> Glythera, which develops antibody-drug conjugates, named former ImmunoGen executive Robert Lutz as CSO. Release
> Synpromics, a leader in gene control, appointed Sarah Haecker Meeks, Ph.D., as VP of business development and established its new U.S. subsidiary. Release