Omeros, a Seattle, Wash.-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting inflammation, coagulopathies and disorders of the central nervous system, has appointed two new vice presidents: Cathy Melfi, Ph.D. as vice president, regulatory affairs and quality systems, and Albert Yu, M.D., as vice president, clinical development.

Melfi brings 17 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and 11 years of experience in academia, covering the fields of regulatory affairs and health economics and outcomes research. She has provided strategic and technical input into the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products across all phases of development. Melfi joins Omeros from Eli Lilly, where she held technical and leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility in global health outcomes and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Lilly, she held various faculty and staff positions at Indiana University.

Yu has over 20 years of clinical drug development experience, spanning small molecules to biologics and all phases of development. His background covers a wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory and infectious disease. Prior to joining Omeros, Yu served as vice president of clinical affairs and CMO of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences in 2011.  Before Calistoga, he served at ICOS as head of clinical affairs, where he led the early clinical development of Cialis. Yu will jointly oversee Omeros' multiple clinical-stage programs.