This feature highlights changes in clinical research companies’ personnel.

Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics has named Robin Taylor as the company’s first chief commercial officer. Taylor spent the past seven months as the franchise head for immune-oncology at AstraZeneca. Prior to his stint with AstraZeneca, Taylor led the cancer immunotherapy franchise at Genentech.

Eisai

Luca Dezzani has been appointed as vice president, U.S. medical affairs, of Esai’s Oncology Business Group. He will also oversee Eisai’s health economics and outcomes research, medical science liaison and medical information and education teams. Dezzani previously held senior medical roles in Europe and the U.S. at Novartis Oncology.

Locana

Locana, Inc., a start-up gene therapy company, has named Jeffrey Ostrove as CEO. Ostrove was formerly the chief executive officer of AbVitro and Ceregene.

Protalix BioTherapeutics

Dror Bashan has been selected to be the new president and chief executive officer at Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. Bashan previously held a number of senior positions at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., most recently as Teva’s senior vice president of global business development.

Arcutis

Arcutis, Inc., a privately held immuno-dermatology drug development company, has named John W. Smither as chief financial officer. Prior to this appointment, Smither held CFO positions with Sienna Biopharmaceuticals and Kite Pharma.

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., has announced that David Apelian will step down as the company’s chief operating officer and executive medical officer, effective June 14, to become the chief executive officer at a private biotech company. Eiger plans to announce a new senior executive medical lead in the near future.

CSL Behring

Paul McKenzie has been named as the new chief operating officer at CSL Behring, the drug and plasma unit of CSL Ltd. McKenzie was previously executive vice president of pharmaceutical operations and technology at Biogen.

Voyager Therapeutics

Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., has announced the retirement of Dinah Sah as chief scientific officer, to be replaced by Omar Khwaja, the current chief medical officer, in an expanded role that includes head of research and development.

Arch Oncology

Kirk Christoffersen has been named chief business officer at California-based Arch Oncology. Christoffersen was previously head of corporate and business development at Compugen.

RedHill Biopharma

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. has named Rob Jackson as vice president of marketing, Robert Gilkin as vice president of market access and Steven Thomasian as vice president of supply chain. Jackson most recently served as the national director of market access for the surgical business unit at Bioventus. Gilkin was previously vice president of market access at Synergy Pharmaceuticals. Thomasian most recently held the position of president of supply chain at Kala Pharmaceuticals.

Akrevia Therapeutics

Akrevia Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of René Russo as chief executive officer. Russo most recently served as president and chief executive officer of Arsanis, Inc.