Reaxa has made its first senior appointment since it was spun-out from Avecia in June, placing Dr Michael Pitts in the newly-created position of project leader. Previously a chemistry team leader at Stylacats and a synthetic chemist with Zeneca, he will now lead the application of microwave technology in the development of new Reaxa catalyst technologies and products.
Lab21, a UK-based pharmacogenetics specialist founded in April 2005, has made Stephen Matthews the new head of its Pharmaceutical and Biotech Business Development team. 'Stephen is a skilled manager with extensive experience in scientific and technical markets,' said Dr Stan Tyms, scientific operations director.
Sameena Begum has joined RSSL Pharma as a new business development manager. She has just completed her MBA at Lancaster University, and has 12 years' experience in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.
Neurotech, a biotechnology company specialising in the development of therapeutics for chronic retinal diseases, has named Ted Danse as its new president and ceo. Danse, who will be based at the company's US headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has more than 20 years' experience in the ophthalmic industry, and has previously served as president and ceo of ISTA Pharmaceuticals.
The Environment Agency has made Professor Michael Depledge its first chief scientific advisor. He has been its head of science for the last three years,
Dr Lance K. Gordon, president and ceo of VaxGen, has been appointed to the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) in the US. The committe consists of 15 members, all of whom are appointed to four-year terms by the director of the National Vaccine Program Office in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences.
Detlef Rethage has been named president of Avecia Biotechnology, and will head the company's DNA Medicines business, based in Massachusetts, US. He joins from Ricerca Biosciences, where he was most recently executive vice president of operations, and has 16 years' experience in Degussa fine chemicals and healthcare contract manufacturing in Italy, Germany and the US.
Dr Georg Roessling has joined the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) as senior vice pesident of PDA Europe, effective 1 January 2006. Roessling will be based in Berlin, Germany.