News from Spectrum, ProtAffin AG, Biogen Idec, and Prosonix – People on the move
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has added to its commercial operations with the appointment of Brian Holzer as executive director of brand management.
Holzer will head the hematology and oncology-focused biotech’s branding for its Fusilev and Zevalin drugs.
He will also take charge of the brand management for Apaziquone and Belinostat, both late-stage drugs in development.
Rajesh C. Shrotriya, Spectrum’s chairman, CEO and president, said: “We believe Dr. Holzer will be an immediate value-added member of the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals commercial organization.”
ProtAffin AG has named Mike Bartley Mike Bartley as chief development officer.
Before joining ProtAffin, Bartley spent 10 years at Pfizer, where he recently led early clinical-stage projects in respiratory diseases.
Jason Slingsby, CEO of ProtAffin said: “Mike’s experience gained at leading pharmaceutical companies significantly strengthens our preclinical and clinical development expertise.
“His background is ideally suited to bringing PA401, our IL-8 decoy product for neutrophilic lung diseases including COPD, into clinical development in 2012, marking our transition into a development-focused biotechnology company.”
Tony Kingsley has become Biogen Idec’s new executive VP, global commercial operations.
Kingsley moves to the position after serving as senior VP of US commercial operations since January 2010.
In his new role, he will take the helm of Biogen Idec's global commercial business strategies.
“I am confident Tony is the right person to build on the positive momentum in our global commercial business and prepare the organization for the potential launch of multiple products in the next several years,” said CEO George Scangos.
Prosonix has elected Ken Cunningham to its board of directors as a non-executive director and chair of its advisory board.
Cunningham, whose 20-year career has most recently focused on respiratory drug development and drug delivery, is also executive chairman of PolyTherics, as well as non-executive director of Xention.
He joins the emerging pharmaceutical company – who are developing a portfolio of enhanced respiratory medicines enabled by its novel proprietary particle engineering technology – shortly after it received $17.6m (£11.4m) from its fund raising efforts.
Of his new appointment, Cunningham said: “Prosonix has the unique approach of developing respiratory medicines based on ‘smart’ particles whose fundamental properties are designed for delivery, using simple inhalation devices, to the parts of the respiratory system where they can elicit the optimal clinical effect.
”I am very much looking forward to working with the company during this exciting phase of its growth.”
Mark G. Edwards has joined the board of directors at AcelRx Pharmaceuticals.
Edwards – who founded, and until 2010 was MD of Deloitte Recap – will also serve as the chairman of the audit committee for AxcelRx.
Of his new role he said: “AcelRx has developed an impressive pipeline of market-focused pain product candidates.
“I am convinced of the tremendous opportunity afforded by the AcelRx sufentanil NanoTab technology in treating both post-operative pain and other acute and breakthrough pain conditions."
Premier Research Group has hired Tilly Beazeley as senior director of business development for the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
Beazeley joins the team from her position as sales director at JBL, where she launched an award winning paediatric feeding tool in 60 countries.
Sebastien Duval, VP of European business development said: “Tilly brings valuable expertise and experience to the company and her ability to think ahead and create dynamic relationships with our customers will be a great asset as we invigorate our efforts to make us a premier service provider in the UK and Scandinavia.”
