News from Vertex, Pfizer and Prolong – People on the move

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has drafted Jeffrey Leiden in as president and CEO.

A member of Vertex’s board since 2009, Leiden will take the reins from Matthew Emmens in February 2012.

Emmens will remain as executive chairman until May, before retiring to a non-executive role on the board of directors.

Of the news, Leiden said: “It will be a privilege to lead Vertex at this exciting time and to further build the organization as we prepare for the global launch of our second new therapy, advance our diverse pipeline and build value for shareholders in the years ahead.”

Pfizer’s current president and CEO Ian Read will also take on the role of chairman of the board. Read takes over from George Lorch, who will now take the title of lead independent director.

“Over the past year, Ian has clearly demonstrated the leadership and vision necessary to drive Pfizer's strategies and achieve the company's objectives in the continued challenging industry and macroeconomic environment,” said Lorch.

Also new to Pfizer’s board is Marc Tessier-Lavigne, and Helen Hobbs.Tessier-Lavigne previously served as executive VP of research, and CSO at Genentech. He recently became the tenth president of The Rockefeller University.

Hobbs, an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, is also a professor of internal medicine and molecular genetics at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center.

Tom Flachmeyer has become a project manager for Prolong Pharmaceuticals’ upcoming oxygen therapeutic product Sanguinate.

Flachmeyer previously directed the construction of the world's largest biotech plant to date - Wyeth's Grange Castle facility in Dublin, Ireland.

In his new role he will be in charge of expanding the firm’s current cGMP production facility for clinical development in sickle cell patients.

"Tom's international experience in designing high quality, large scale bio-manufacturing facilities to FDA approved status, is unparalleled in the industry," said Glenn Kazo, Prolong's President.

Fate Therapeutics has appointed William Rastetter as chairman and interim CEO.

The former Idec CEO is in place for the company’s development of ProHema - double-umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplants in adult patients with hematologic malignancies who have undergone reduced-intensity conditioning therapy.

"Fate's lead therapeutic, ProHema, has already demonstrated potential benefit to patients that are stricken with life-threatening hematologic malignancies and are in need of hematopoietic reconstitution. I am excited to shepherd ProHema's further clinical development and its access to patients," said Rastetter.

Interleukin Genetics has named Lynn Doucette-Stamm VP of development.

Doucette-Stamm – who most recently, she served as VP of business development at Agencourt Bioscience – will supervise the operational activities of the business’ on-going clinical studies and development of genetic tests.

Kenneth Kornman, CSO at Interleukin Genetics said: “Lynn's breadth of experience in the genomics field and her proven track record of managing product development teams, partner relationships and overseeing profitable commercial business units will play an essential role in Interleukin Genetics' continued growth.”