S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a weekly rundown of recent executive changes at pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies.
* Novo Nordisk A/S said Chairman Göran Ando, and CFO Jesper Brandgaard are stepping down. Ando decided not to seek re-election at the company's annual general meeting and Helge Lund has been recommended by the board to replace him. Brandgaard will leave on Feb. 15 and will be replaced by the company's current senior vice president of corporate finance Karsten Munk Knudsen. Brandgaard will remain with Novo as executive vice president responsible for biopharma and legal affairs.
* Astellas Pharma Inc. appointed Kenji Yasukawa president and CEO, effective April 1. He replaces Yoshihiko Hatanaka, who will become chairman of the board. Yasukawa is currently executive vice president of the Japanese pharmaceutical company.
* Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. appointed Camille Bedrosian chief medical officer and executive vice president. Bedrosian was most recently chief medical officer and senior vice president at Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
* Ole Larsen will leave Bavarian Nordic A/S as executive vice president and CFO to pursue new opportunities. Larsen, who joined the company in 2008, will continue in his current capacity until a replacement is found.
* Minesh Bhosle resigned as CFO of Lasa Supergenerics Ltd.
* Voyager Therapeutics Inc. said its founder Steven Paul will step down as the president and CEO to become executive science adviser. Paul will continue to serve the company as a board member.
* Intec Pharma Ltd. appointed R. Michael Gendreau chief medical officer. Gendreau was previously chief medical officer of Cypress Bioscience Inc.
* Seres Therapeutics Inc. CFO Eric Shaff will additionally serve as the company's COO. Shaff has served the biotechnology company as CFO, executive vice president and treasurer since November 2014.
* Immunicum AB said Lise-Lotte Hallbäck will step down as CFO of the company to pursue other interests. Hallbäck, who will remain with the company for a six-month period, will be replaced by Michaela Gertz. Gertz was previously CFO at PledPharma AB.
* Verde Science Inc. accepted the resignation of Ronald Loudoun as CEO, president, CFO, secretary and treasurer. The company appointed James Eduardo de Jesus Beeny CEO, president, CFO, secretary, treasurer, and director.
* Itamar Borochov stepped down as CEO and a board member of Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company's shareholders elected current COO and director Eyal Barad to the position of CEO.
* Dova Pharmaceuticals Inc. tapped Mark Hahn to replace Doug Blankenship as the pharmaceutical company's CFO. Hahn is the former CFO of Cempra Inc. which was acquired by Melinta Therapeutics in November 2017.
* Liu Bangmin stepped down as the CEO of Lansen Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd. Lansen is identifying a suitable replacement for Bangmin.
* Damian Finio will join Teligent Inc. as CFO on Feb. 5. Finio, who is the CFO of Virtus Pharmaceuticals Inc., succeeds Jenniffer Collins, who is leaving Teligent to pursue other opportunities.
* Essa Pharma Inc. Chief Medical Officer Frank Perabo is stepping down to pursue other opportunities. Perabo will remain with the company in an advisory capacity and as a member of its medical advisory committee.