AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on acute and breakthrough pain, has appointed Adrian Adams, CEO and president of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, to its board of directors as chairman of the board.  

Prior to joining Auxilium in late 2011, Adams served as chairman and CEO of Neurologix. He has also served as president and CEO of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Sepracor and Kos Pharmaceuticals.  During his 30 years of experience, Adams also held general management and senior marketing positions at ICI (now part of AstraZeneca), SmithKline Beecham and Novartis.  He has extensive national and international experience and has been instrumental in launching major global brands in addition to driving successful corporate development activities encapsulating financing, product and company acquisitions, in-licensing and company M&A activities.  

Thomas Schreck, co-founder of AcelRx and board member, departed from AcelRx’s board on February 11, 2013.