ImmusanT, a privately-held biotech based in Cambridge, Mass., has named Patrick H. Griffin, MD, as chief medical officer and senior vice president of development.

Griffin, a board-certified physician in both internal medicine and gastroenterology, comes to ImmusanT from his most recent position as head of external innovation for Sanofi's immuno-inflammation therapeutic strategy unit. He has also held positions of increasing responsibility in clinical development at Forest Laboratories.

A former faculty member of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Griffin also held a private practice in internal medicine and gastroenterology in New York City before he moved to industry. He is also a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

"Patrick brings to ImmusanT exceptional expertise as a gastroenterologist, drug developer and evaluator of numerous drug candidates for immune and inflammatory diseases,” said Leslie Williams, president and CEO, ImmusanT.