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Shanghai (July 24)—WuXi PharmaTech, a contract research organization, named Deepak Hegde vice-president of formulation development services. Before joining WuXi PharmaTech, Hegde was general manager of drug-delivery research laboratories at USV Ltd and also worked at Sandoz, the generic arm of Novartis.

Mississauga, ON, Canada (July 20)—Draxis Health Inc. named Jean-Pierre Robert president of Draxis Specialty Pharmaceuticals Inc. (DPS). Previously Robert was president of Draximage, the division of DSP that produces and markets its own radiopharmaceutical products. Robert will also have responsibility for Draxis Pharma, the contract-manufacturing division of DSP, which produces sterile and nonsterile products

In addition, Draxis created the Office of the President, which will include Martin Barkin, president and CEO of Draxis Health Inc., and Dan Brazier, chief operating officer. Within the Office of the President, Barkin and Brazier will retain their current responsibilities, and Robert, as president of DPS, will report to Brazier. John Durham left the company as president of Draxis Pharma, effective July 20.

Basel, Switzerland (July 19)—Roche reported that Severin Schwan, currently CEO of Roche Diagnostics, will succeed Franz B. Humer as chief executive of the Roche Group at the next annual shareholders' meeting on March 4, 2008. Humer will focus on his role as chairman of Roche Holdings. Severin Schwan's successor as CEO of Roche Diagnostics will be announced at a later date, according to the company.

San Diego, CA (July 17)—Althea Technologies, a provider of technologies and services for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, announced that Karen Daniels had become president of the company's bioservices division. Daniels joins Althea's management team as the company continues to expand capacity and capabilities, including commercial manufacturing operations.

Edmonton, AB, Canada (July 17)—Biomira appointed Gary Christianson to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Christianson has more than 20 years of operational expertise in areas such as technical development, the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, facilities design and management, and personnel development.

Copenhagen (July 13)—Anders Hedegaard will assume the position of president and chief executive of Bavarian Nordic on August 1. Peter Wulff, the current chief executive, will become executive vice-president of business development. Hedegaard is presently executive vice-president in charge of business operations and marketing at ALK-Abello (HØrsholm, Denmark).

New Brunswick, NJ (July 12)—Xechem International appointed Dr. Robert Swift, a member of its board of directors, to the role of chairman and chief executive officer–president on an interim basis. Swift replaces Dr. Ramesh Pandey, who will continue to serve on the board of directors. Pandey relinquishes responsibility for the company's day-to-day operations, but will play an advisory role with the company.

San Carlos, CA (July 11)—Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutic products for the treatment of celiac sprue, appointed Abhay Joshi, PhD, president and chief executive officer. Joshi will be based in the company's new facility in San Carlos. Most recently, Joshi served as executive vice-president and chief technical officer at CoTherix, Inc.

Houston, TX (July 9)—Pharm-Olam International Ltd. named Sean Alan F.X. Reade vice-president of global regulatory affairs. Reade has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including positions at PPD (Wilmington, NC) and UCB (Brussels). Pharm-Olam is a multinational, full-service contract research organization to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Victoria, BC, Canada (July 11)—Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp. appointed Dr. J. William Freytag chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), succeeding Richard Glickman, effective immediately. Glickman, one of Aspreva's founders and the company's first chairman and CEO, announced his planned departure from Aspreva in May 2007.

San Diego (July 10)—Cylene Pharmaceuticals added David M. Ryckman to its management team. Ryckman will serve as vice-president of manufacturing and pharmaceutical operations and will lead Cylene's scale-up and manufacturing operations. He has nearly 20 years of experience in developing formulation and process chemistries.

Parsippany, NJ (July 3)—NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. promoted François Nader to executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Nader will manage NPS's research and development, regulatory affairs, and commercial operations and will plan and implement the company's outsourcing business model. Nader previously served as senior vice-president of integrated healthcare markets and head of North American medical and regulatory affairs at Aventis Pharmaceuticals.