News from SPBT, Viamet and Virobay – People on the move
The Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers (SPBT) has appointed Carol Wells as president of the board.
Wells has been a member of the board since 2004, and has served as VP since 2006.
In her new role she will take charge of the overall strategic direction and educational services of SPBT on behalf of more than 1,000 professional members.
Wells – who is also currently senior director of commercial training and development for Roche Group – said: “The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and as trainers we play an increasingly critical role in helping our companies navigate this time of change and complexity.”
Marc Rudoltz has joined Viamet Pharmaceuticals in the firm’s newly created position of chief medical officer.
He joins the team from Novartis Oncology where he was senior global clinical leader.
In his new role, Rudoltz will oversee the development of the company's novel therapies for oncology and infectious disease, including fungal infection therapy VT-1161 and castration-refractory prostate cancer treatment VT-464.
Of his appointment, Robert Schotzinger, president and CEO of Viamet said: “He will play a critical role as we transition from a discovery-stage company to a product-focused company.”
Virobay has named David Karpf as the new chief medical officer.
At Virobay – a biotech with a portfolio of cathepsin protease inhibitors– Karpf will be responsible for all clinical, regulatory and medical affairs.
Previously, Karpf was chief medical officer and vice president, clinical affairs at Metabolex.
"David joins Virobay at an exciting time," said Robert Booth, Virobay president and CEO.
"With our lead programs in neuropathic pain, autoimmune disease and liver fibrosis and earlier-stage programs in cancer advancing, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the broad therapeutic potential of this important new class of drugs.”
Nipun Davar has become VP of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing for Threshold Pharmaceuticals.
Davar’s 16-year career includes senior leadership roles within Transcept Pharmaceuticals and ALZA Corporation.
At Threshold, he will oversee the formulation, development and manufacturing of TH-302, Threshold's Phase 3 clinical stage hypoxia-targeted cancer therapeutic.
Davar said: “The compound should be broadly applicable against a wide variety of tumors and one has few opportunities in life to be part of an effort as promising as this program.”
Presidio Pharmaceuticals has appointed Haffar Daniel Perez as its new president and CEO.
Perez, who co-founded Presidio in 2006, has led the company's management team over the past five years.
Prior to his work with Presidio, he was president and CEO of Berlex Biosciences.
He will work closely with the management team and investors to run R&D efforts on the company's novel small molecule programs for the therapy of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
