Optimer expands management team
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The San Diego, California-based biopharmaceutical company Optimer Pharmaceuticals has appointed Dr Nancy Ruiz senior vice-president of R&D, Cynthia Schwalm senior vice-president of international and Dr Kasia Petchel senior vice-president of pharmacovigilance. These newly created positions will strengthen the company's management team as it prepares for the potential launch of its lead product candidate, Dificid (fidaxomicin). Dr Ruiz joins from Merck Research Laboratories (formerly Schering-Plough Research Institute), where she served as vice-president of project and pipeline management for infectious diseases. Ms. Schwalm was previously president of Eisai Pharmaceuticals, the US commercial arm of Tokyo-based Eisai Co, while Dr Petchel was formerly vice-president of global head drug safety risk management at Roche.