News from Thermo Fisher, Stemline and ImmunoCellular – People on the move
Cephalon CEO Kevin Buchi has joined Stemline Therapeutics’ board of directors.
The firm says the move was in preparation of its pipeline novel oncology therapies coming to market over the next few years.
Of his new role, Buchi said: "The management team has done an outstanding job building out a clinical stage pipeline in an innovative area of oncology. I look forward to working with them as they advance these programs into late stage development and potentially into the marketplace."
Thermo Fisher has elected Martin Harris to its board of directors as well as its nominating and governance committee.
He is currently chairman and chief information officer of the information technology division of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Harris also serves on manufacturing and distribution firm Invacare Corporation’s board.
Jim Manzi, chairman of Thermo Fisher’s board, said: “Given his extensive healthcare and information technology expertise, as well as his strong track record of innovation, he will provide unique and valuable perspective to Thermo Fisher as we continue to execute our strategy for long-term growth.”
ImmunoCellular Therapeutics has named Richard Chin as a new board member.
In his new role, Chin will become the chairman of the compensation committee and a member of the audit committee.
He currently also serves on the adjunct faculty at the University of California (UCL), and is on the board at Genmedica Therapeutics.
ImmunoCellular chairman John Yu said: “Richard’s extensive experience in drug development will be valuable as the Company advances its Phase II clinical trial of ICT-107 (a dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting multiple tumor associated antigens for glioblastoma)”.
Avanir Pharmaceuticals has appointed Rohan Palekar as senior VP and CMO.
A 16-year Johnson & Johnson (J&J) veteran, prior to joining the firm Palekar was CMO for Medivation.
In his new role he will take charge of all commercial activities.
Keith Katkin, president and CEO of Avanir said: "Rohan has an outstanding track record of success in biopharmaceutical sales and marketing. He will be pivotal to the continued commercial success of Avanir."
Former equity research analyst David Moskowitz has become the new CFO at Unigene Laboratories.
He will also serve as a member of the firm’s executive leadership team, and will head financial and capital market activities. His appointment marks the first time Unigene has had a CFO.
President and CEO of Unigene, Ashleigh Palmer, said: “In executing Unigene's turnaround strategy, we recognized the appointment of a chief financial officer would be a critical step in accelerating the next phase of our growth and addressing the priority challenge for Unigene in 2012, our substantial debt.”
Of the company’s financial woes, Moskowitz added: “Moving forward, our priorities are clear. It is now up to us as a team to leverage this tremendous progress, address the debt and restructure our balance sheet, unlock the enormous growth potential and shareholder value that resides within Unigene, and fulfill the promise of what I believe to be one of the most compelling companies in the pharmaceutical industry."
TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals has hired Glenn Begley senior VP of research and development (R&D).
Begley was previously the vice president and global head of hematology and oncology research at Amgen.
In his new role he will oversee translational studies to support birinapant, the fim’s lead Smac mimetic drug candidate in Phase 2 clinical development.
