In a dynamic week for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, CG Life, announced the appointment of David Ormesher as CEO. Ormesher, previously the lead independent director, will now oversee the agency’s strategic direction with former managing partners Erik Clausen and Steve Johnson focusing on the agency’s operational management.
The virtual healthcare sector saw a strategic move with iCliniq bringing on board Paige Dahlhausen, a veteran of Inspire, Sermo, and WebMD, as head of sales. Discovery Life Sciences welcomed Greg Herrema, ex-Thermo Fisher Scientific executive, as its new CEO, while Definitive Healthcare bolstered its leadership by naming Carrie Lazorchak as chief revenue officer, following her tenure at SimilarWeb and Nuance Communications.
In a significant leadership shuffle, Century Therapeutics appointed Brent Pfeiffenberger, Pharm.D., MBA, as CEO, and Actinium Pharmaceuticals secured Lynn Bodarky as chief business officer. Next Practices Group’s Ringer Sciences created a new role for David Armano as EVP of analytics AI strategy, and Acelyrin added Patricia Turney as chief technical operations officer.
Biogen’s board of directors will be strengthened by the addition of Monish Patolawala, 3M’s president and CFO, effective January 1, 2024. Caribou Biosciences also expanded its scientific advisory board with the appointment of Sundar Jagannath, MD, from The Tisch Cancer Institute.
Omega Therapeutics’ earnings report was notable for the appointment of Chris Schade as board chairman and the addition of Michelle C. Werner to the board. Meanwhile, 3M announced the departure of Jeff Lavers, group president of the Health Care Business Group, and Arbutus Biopharma revealed CEO William Collier’s retirement, with Michael J. McElhaugh stepping in as interim CEO.
MariMed’s financial leadership saw a change with the resignation of CFO Susan M. Villare and the appointment of CEO Jon Levine as interim CFO. Pfizer’s workforce adjustments included layoffs at a Michigan manufacturing site due to decreased demand for COVID-19 products. Arbutus also reduced its staff by 24%, and Pyxis Oncology announced a 40% headcount reduction as part of a cost-saving initiative. Lyell Immunopharma disclosed a 25% workforce reduction, and its chief medical officer’s departure.
In acquisition news, Abcam shareholders approved Danaher’s $5.7 billion acquisition proposal. Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical inked a $1.3 billion licensing deal with Novartis, and Acumen Pharmaceuticals partnered with Halozyme to develop a subcutaneous formulation of ACU193. Starton Therapeutics, however, canceled its SPAC deal, which would have taken it public.
Versiti expanded its portfolio by acquiring Pearl Pathways, and Real Chemistry announced its European expansion with a new office in Manchester, UK, complementing its existing London and Zurich hubs.
Bayer CEO Bill Anderson is contemplating a company split after a disappointing quarter, while Elon Musk teased Neuralink’s brain implant chip readiness in the coming years. Johnson & Johnson plans to seek FDA approval for clinical trials of its general surgery robot in the latter half of 2024.
The CDC reported a surge in syphilis cases among newborns. OrsoBio secured funding from Eli Lilly in a $60 million Series A round. Abbott’s program data indicated improvements in diabetes management and overall diet quality.
Zimmer Biomet adjusted its revenue growth forecast despite posting a profit, and the Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation launched Blackbird Laboratories with a $100 million fund to foster university-based startups in Baltimore. Arkansas announced a $50 million opioid settlement grant to establish the National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness.
Lexeo Therapeutics concluded a $100 million IPO, while Ventyx Biosciences terminated Phase 2 trials of VTX958. German Bionic introduced an exosuit designed to enhance healthcare professionals’ working conditions, and Elsevier released new scientific datasets to aid research and development.
