The CEO of Metabasis Therapeutics, Mark Erion, is leaving his post to join Merck as vice president and head of its worldwide franchise for obesity and diabetes. Metabasis has been struggling to garner enough cash to keep its doors open. Release
Merck, meanwhile, outlined its management structure for the company--post-Schering-Plough merger--and many of its top execs are keeping their titles. Release
Akela Pharma named Greg McKee to the position of president and chief executive officer and Robert Rieder to the position of chairman. Akela release
Denmark's LifeCycle Pharma said on Monday that a difference in management philosophies has triggered the departure of Jim New as president and CEO of the company. His role will be filled by chairman Paul Edick and deputy chairman Dr. Thomas Dyrberg until a new CEO is found to replace New. LifeCycle release
Dr. Robert Burns, the former CEO of Celldex Therapeutics, has been named CEO of Affitech. Dr. Alexander Duncan, previously SVP Biopharmaceuticals for AstraZeneca--Medimmune, also joins Affitech today as senior vice president of research and development. Release
Applied NeuroSolutions has named Craig S. Taylor, Ph.D. as its president, CEO and a member of its board of directors, replacing Ellen R. Hoffing, who announced her intent to remain as chairman and step down as president and CEO on August 6, 2009. Release
Scolr Pharma has named Stephen Turner as its new CEO and president. He replaces Dr. Bruce Morra. Release
Tethys Bioscience has promoted Chief Business Officer Michael Richey to president. Eric Book, M.D. has joined the company as chief medical officer. Release
iPierian has named Matthew J. Plunkett, Ph.D., as vice president and chief financial officer. Release
Two senior executives at Dyax will be taking on expanded roles. Ivana MagovÄević-Liebisch, appointed to the position of executive vice president of corporate development and general counsel, will also oversee business development and corporate compliance. In addition to directing the company's financial strategy and overseeing accounting and finance, George Migausky, will also oversee information technology and human resources. Release
Avid Bioservices has named Truc Le as chief operating officer and Christopher Eso as vice president of business operations. Release
Cytovance Biologics has hired Dr. Jeffrey Su as vice president of bioanalytical development. Release
Cerenis Therapeutics SA today announced the expansion of its team to include Tom Brya, J. Christopher Prue and Cynthia Sundell. Release
Vicki Gaddy, SPHR of Long Branch, NJ has been appointed director of workforce development for BioNJ. Release
PURE Bioscience announced the inaugural members of its newly formed Advisory Panel: Tom Ridge, first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania; Scott M. Russell, Ph.D., Professor of Poultry Processing and Products Microbiology, Poultry Science Department of the University of Georgia; and Tommy G. Thompson, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former four-term Governor of Wisconsin. Thompson recently stepped down from the PURE Board and joined the Advisory Panel. Release
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals announced that cancer researcher Bruce Chabner, M.D., will serve as a clinical advisor to the company on the design of clinical trials for the bavituximab cancer program. Release
Akebia Therapeutics announced that Victor Dzau, M.D. has been appointed to the company's board of directors. Release