Human Genome Sciences names senior VP; Avanir appoints R&D chief

USA-based Human Genome Sciences (Nasdaq: HSGI) says that Craig Parker has joined the company as senior vice president, strategy and corporate development. He will report directly to Thomas Watkins, president and chief executive of HGS, and will serve as a member of the company’s management committee.

Mr Parker was most recently CEO and co-founder of Vega Therapeutics, a biotechnology start-up focused on inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance. He was formerly senior vice president of corporate development and finance and chief financial officer of Proteolix, a venture-backed development stage biotechnology company that was acquired by Onyx Pharmaceuticals in 2009. Prior to Proteolix, he was president of DCD BioConsulting, a strategic and financial advisory firm to the biotechnology industry.

Mr Parker joins HGS at a time that the company, with partner GlaxoSmithKline, is rolling out its new drug Benlysta (belimumab), the first new therapy for lupus approved in over 50 year, which was cleared in the USA and Europe earlier this year (The Pharma Letters March 10 and July 15).