Movers and Shakers

Agenix hires business advisor

Drug development company Agenix (ASX:AGX) has appointed former Pfizer business developer Dr Paul Resnick as a business advisor. Resnick will initially guide Agenix through the partnering and commercialisation process for its lead product, blood clot diagnostic tool Thromboview. He joins Agenix from Intellikine, where he was vice president of business development. At Pfizer, his title was senior director of worldwide business development.

AusBiotech names new board member

Dr Mark Harvey has been selected the newest member of the AusBiotech board. Harvey is a partner at major Australian VC company CM Capital Investments. He has over 20 years' experience in medical technology research and commercialisation. Harvey also sits on the boards of Sunshine Heart (ASX:SHC), Osprey Medical (ASX:OSP) and US-based Pathway Therapeutics.

Emma Whitelaw to head up La Trobe molecular institute

Molecular geneticist professor Emma Whitelaw will become the inaugural director of the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences. Whitelaw will assume the role early next year, when La Trobe University opens the $97.9 million institute. She will also take the titles of head of genetics of the school of molecular sciences, and director of research.

OBodies fills first science advisory board

New Zealand biotech OBodies Limited has named the six members that make up its new science advisory board. Appointees have been drawn from both the academic and the corporate sectors. Chairman professor Dick Bellamy recently retired as dean of science at the University of Auckland. He is joined by professor Margaret Brimble, Dr Peter Senter, Dr Mark Barker, Dr Wayne Patrick and Dr Peter Bradley.

Mesoblast recruits board member from partner Teva

Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast has announced the immediate appointment of Dr Ben-Zion Weiner as a non-executive director. Weiner is special advisor to the CEO at Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mesoblast's key partner. He has been head of Teva's global R&D for over 30 years, most recently as chief R&D officer.

Board switch-up at Allied Healthcare

Peter Turvey has replaced Hadojo Soedirja on the board of Allied Healthcare (ASX:AHZ). Turvey worked at CSL (ASX:CSL) for 19 years, initially as the company's first corporate counsel. He is currently a principal at Foursight Associates, a director on the AusBiotech board and a non-executive director for Starpharma (ASX:SPL). Soedirja is retiring from the Allied Healthcare board.

ImmonoExpress gets non-executive director

Brisbane-born molecular diagnostic company ImmunoExpress has tapped Robert McG Lilley to become its latest non-executive director. Lilley was SVP of global sales and marketing for Digine Corporation from its IPO until its acquisition by QIAGEN in 2007. After the merger, he became QIAGEN's senior advisor for molecular diagnostics for the developing world.

Octa Phillip adds to fund management team

Biotech and healthcare analyst Dr Graeme Wald is joining Octa Phillip Bioscience Managers. The fund managers are currently seeking to attract $200 million to its second fund. As well as Wald, Octa Phillip has added corporate affairs specialist and former Chief Executive of NZBIO Bronwyn Dilley.