FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to step down

Chutes and Ladders

Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Michael Gibney (email | Twitter) or Amirah Al Idrus (email | Twitter), and we will feature it here at the end of each week.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to step down

FDA
Margaret Hamburg announced her resignation.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced her resignation this week, effective at the end of March. Hamburg has held the agency's top spot for nearly 6 years and will leave behind a legacy of working closely with the industries she regulates. Under Hamburg's watch, FDA instituted programs intended to speed up the drug review and approval process; she saw the agency approve a 20-year record of 51 novel therapies in 2014. "I feel so fortunate to have worked at an organization as remarkable and productive as the FDA," Hamburg wrote to colleagues. "The expertise, dedication and integrity of our people and the unique nature and scope of FDA's role make this Agency truly special." Last week, Hamburg appointed Robert Califf to serve as the agency's deputy commissioner, a move some saw as an attempt to line up a successor. Before serving as FDA commissioner, Hamburg was the head of the New York City Health Department. Hamburg's announcement | Story


Phillip Frost parts ways with Teva

Teva
Phillip Frost resigned.

Effective Feb. 4, Phillip Frost resigned from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' ($TEVA) board of directors. Frost served as the company's chairman from March 2010 to December 2014, as vice chairman from January 2006 and as chairman and CEO of IVAX from 1987 until 2006, when it was acquired by Teva. Yitzhak Peterburg, new Teva chairman, said Frost has made significant contributions since joining the board in 2006. "He has been deeply influential in Teva's growth and we have benefited greatly from his experience and knowledge. We wish him continued success in his distinguished career." Frost congratulated Peterburg on his chairmanship role and said that Teva is "poised to lead in the global pharmaceutical industry." Frost is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Sinai Medical Center and the University of Miami. He serves in executive and board roles for a number of other life sciences companies. Release


Biotech

Salix ($SLXP) promoted William Forbes to be its president, medical, R&D and chief development officer. Release

Marathon Pharmaceuticals named Greg Aronin its vice president of government affairs. Release

Epizyme ($EPZM) appointed Andrew Singer as its chief financial officer. Release

David Sullivan joined ANI Pharmaceuticals as its VP of quality operations. Release

Lycera named Paul Sekhri its president and CEO. Release

> Rigontech appoints Christian Schetter as CEO. Release

> Kite Pharma ($KITE) appoints Salah Kivlighn as vice president of marketing and Anthony Polverino as vice president of research. Release

> Rexahn Pharma ($RNN) announces the appointment of Dr. Ely Benaim as chief medical officer. Release

> Dr. Gerard Sanacora joins VistaGen Therapeutics' clinical and scientific advisory board. Release

> Batu Biologics names Dr. Santosh Kesari to its scientific advisory board. Release

Pharma

> Concert Pharmaceuticals ($CNCE) appoints James Cassella as chief development officer. Release

> AmerisourceBergen ($ABC) promoted Robert Mauch to executive vice president and president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. David Neu, previously president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, will take on the new position of executive vice president of retail strategy and president of good neighbor pharmacy. Release

> AFFiRiS appoints Arne von Bonin to the executive board as Walter Schmidt and Frank Mattner resign from the executive board to join the supervisory board. Release

Medical Devices

> InVivo Therapeutics ($NVIV) names Mark Perrin chairman of the board. Release

CRO

> INC Research ($INCR) adds David Norton to its board of directors. Release

Diagnostics

> Roka Bioscience ($ROKA) names Mary Duseau as senior vice president and chief commercial officer. Release

Animal Health

> Zoetis ($ZTS) names Pershing Square's William Doyle to its board of directors. Release