Anika Therapeutics (NSDQ:ANIK) last week named medtech veteran Joseph Darling as president, taking over the role from CEO Charles Sherwood. The chief exec plans to stay in the corner office as he transitions the role of president to Darling.
Previously, Darling worked as an executive in privately-held orthopedic companies. He has also held senior level executive roles at ConMed Corp. and Smith & Nephew.
“Anika is at the cusp of a transformation. We are ushering in the next decade of growth through the build-out of a direct commercialization capability, a steady march of global expansion, and a pipeline that includes multiple potential blockbuster products,” Sherwood said in prepared remarks. “With his established track record overseeing global sales and marketing efforts at leading medical device companies, Darling is uniquely suited to help drive continued growth and spearhead Anika’s direct commercialization initiative. The company’s leadership team and our board are excited for Mr. Darling to bring his deep expertise to the table during this exciting period.”
Darling began his career at Abbott Laboratories and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, before moving to Baxter Healthcare as its VP of marketing & health systems.
“Dr. Sherwood and his leadership team have built Anika into an innovative, high growth, profitable, and global orthopedic company with a diversified portfolio that includes differentiated, market-leading therapeutic products and an emerging orthopedic medicine pipeline with tremendous potential,” Darling said. “I’m excited to join Anika during, what I believe to be, a pivotal moment in its 25-year history. My extensive commercial operations background in the orthopedic sector will prove to be integral to executing the company’s long-term growth strategy.”
Also last week, shares in Bedford, Mass.-based Anika after the orthopedics medicine company topped EPS estimates on Wall Street by 32¢ with its second quarter results.
Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute adds to board
The Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute said last week that Jim Spavins has joined its advisory board.
Previously, he worked as senior VP of Pfizer’s global pharma therapeutics pharmaceutical sciences branch before launching his own consulting business, Spavins Consulting.
“I look forward to working with the CADDI Board to help rapidly advance innovative drug delivery solutions to patients,” Spavins said in prepared remarks. “There has never been a more exciting time to leverage astonishing scientific advances in disease understanding with optimum delivery technology.”
“I’m very pleased to welcome Jim to the Institute,” Cornell Stamoran, founder of the Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute and Catalent‘s (NYSE:CTLT) VP of strategy, added. “He brings us a wealth of scientific and leadership experience, front line exposure to translational drug delivery, and a strong passion to enhance patient focus during drug development.”
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Merrimack names new chief business exec
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:MACK) last week expanded its executive team, adding Thomas Needham, Jr., as chief business officer.
“Tom is an extraordinary addition to our team, bringing extensive expertise in creating value through business development, strategic partnerships and licensing agreements,” president & CEO Dr. Richard Peters said in prepared remarks. “His experience and direction will hone the Merrimack corporate strategy across our entire product portfolio, from our three clinical assets to our promising preclinical pipeline.”
“I am thrilled to be joining Merrimack at a time of sharpened focus and exciting progress,” Needham added. “This is a unique opportunity to join a seasoned biotech company with strong leadership and a deep pipeline. I look forward to working closely with the talented Merrimack team to move these programs forward and create value for patients and shareholders.”
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AcelRx appoints CFO
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ACRX) said this month that it appointed Raffi Asadorian as chief financial officer, effective August 16.
Most recently, Asadorian served as CFO for Amyris. He also has worked as the chief financial exec at the privately-owned medical diagnostics company, Unilabs.
“I am thrilled to have Raffi join our team. He is an accomplished financial executive who has held leadership roles in large multinational, specialty pharmaceutical and life sciences companies,” CEO Vince Angotti said in prepared remarks. “His global financial and business leadership expertise along with significant transactional experience will be a valuable addition to AcelRx as we evolve into a commercial stage company.”
“This is an exciting time to join AcelRx, especially with multiple upcoming milestones in the US and EU that have the potential to transform the company,” Asadorian added. “It is clear that the company has an experienced management team and a robust portfolio of late stage assets. I look forward to contributing to this dynamic organization and its growth. ”
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Oramed names new VP of medical affairs
Oramed Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ORMP) said this month that it named Dr. Simon Bruce as VP of medical affiars.
Previously, Bruce served as chief medical officer of Adocia Inc., collaborating with Eli Lilly on developing an ultra-rapid insulin.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Bruce on board at this pivotal time for Oramed as we prepare for the initiation of a Phase III trial for our oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801,” CEO Nadav Kidron said in prepared remarks. “Dr. Bruce will be tasked with leading all of our clinical development programs, with the specific near-term focus on bringing our oral insulin (ORMD-0801) through regulatory approval and into commercialization.”
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