Destiny Pharma has appointed Neil Clark as CEO as the Brighton, UK-based firm plans a phase IIb trial for its lead antimicrobial candidate.
Clark will also be a member of the firm’s board of directors after spending 20 years in private and public life science companies gaining international experience in drug research and development.
He said: “The resistance to antibiotics is becoming a global issue that needs to be addressed and I believe Destiny has a significant part to play.
“The company has a clear focus on developing effective anti-infective drugs with low/no resistant profiles and has a potentially valuable lead asset ready to enter phase IIb clinical development.”
Prior to Destiny Pharma, Clark served with the likes of Ergomed as chief financial officer (CFO), and CeNeS pharmaceuticals as CFO and subsequently CEO until its sale in 2008.
Nigel Rudd, non-executive chairman of Destiny Pharma, said: “I am delighted to welcome Neil Clark as chief executive officer of the company.
“As we move forward, Neil’s extensive leadership experience in clinical stage biopharmaceutical companies will be investigating XF-73 as a potential first-in-class drug for the prevention of post-surgical infections from all strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which we believe is a blockbuster opportunity.”
Clark will succeed Dr Bill Love who will remain in the company as its chief scientific officer (CSO).