News this week from BIA, Tolera and Alexar – People on the move
BIA (BioIndustry Association) has drafted Harren Jhoti and Will West onto its board of directors.
Jhoti, who co-founded Astex Pharmacueuticals – where he now serves as president – has also worked for GSK and Oxford University.West is currently CEO of CellCentric.
Tim Edwards, BIA chairman, said: “As a result of these appointments, I believe our board continues to broaden its outlook and experience, and I look forward to working with them and the BIA team to ensure the UK remains a world-leading location for the life sciences.”
Tolera Therapeutics has named Linda Hogan its new VP of business development.
Previously, Hogan was assistant professor of pharmacy practice and director of drug information services for the University of Kansas (KU) School of Pharmacy and Kansas University Medical Center.
"I am excited to join Tolera Therapeutics and look forward to assisting with strategic and transactional activities at a key time in the company's history.,” she said. “It is a privilege to work with a group focused on bringing targeted and safer therapies to transplant patients as well as those suffering from other immunological diseases.”
Axelar AB, has appointed Carl Harald Janson as CEO. He takes on the role in addition to his current position as CEO of KDev Oncology.
Both Axelar and KDev are part of the Karolinska Development group.
Axelar chairman Göran Pettersson said: “His broad experience in pharmaceutical development will be of great benefit to the company.”
Johan Harmenberg, who has been CEO of Axelar since 2007, will stauy with the firm as chief medical officer.
Cytos Biotechnology has hired Christian Itin its CEO.
He will also take over from Thomas Hecht as chairman of the board. He joins the firm from Micromet, where he was president and CEO.
Of his new position, he said: " The company is well capitalized by a strong group of new international investors and focused on executing a key clinical Phase 2b study with CYT003, a first in class novel biologic for the treatment of patients with allergic asthma. This is an exciting time to join Cytos, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the team building it into a premier biopharmaceutical company."
MISSION Therapeutics has taken on Michael Moore as executive chairman as well as Fritz Frickel as non-executive director.
A non-executive director of several other firms including including PsiOxus Therapeutics, Moore was most recently CEO of Piramed.
Frickel is currently an independent advisor to venture capital firms, biotech start-ups and universities
On behalf of the investor syndicate, Sofinnova partners’ Graziano Seghezzi said: “Their combined commercial, drug translational and managerial experience will complement our existing capabilities and provide valuable links with the pharma and venture capital industries with which they have both enjoyed highly productive relationships”.
