Former Boehringer diabetes marketing VP joins Gelesis

Gelesis, a biotech focused on the development of products to improve glycaemic control, has appointed Dr David Pass as its chief operating officer.

Dr Pass brings over 20 years of commercial expertise in the diabetes and metabolics areas among others to Gelesis, and takes on responsibility for all business development and product commercialisation, including the firm's lead candidate, Gelesis100.

Most recently, Dr Pass served as Boehringer Ingelheim's vice president of marketing for its diabetes portfolio, and led the pharma firm's alliance with Lilly & Co on mid- and late-stage diabetes compound development.

He has previously worked at Gilead Sciences as senior director of cardiovascular strategic marketing, at Johnson & Johnson as vice president of marketing for pain and institutional therapies, and as director of marketing at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Yishai Zohar, chief executive officer of Gelesis, said: “We are excited to have David onboard as we prepare for the potential launch of our first product, Gelesis100.

“David brings invaluable commercial, strategic and business development experience across a broad range of therapeutic areas and has a proven track record of building successful franchises.”