Horizon Discovery appoints executive director

UK-based genetic research company Horizon Discovery has named Dr David Smoller as an executive director of the board.

Smoller joined Horizon as chief business officer as part of the form's acquisition of Sage Labs for $48m in September this year.

Of his appointment, he said: “The integration of Sage Labs and Horizon is progressing well and I am delighted to be joining the Horizon board at this exciting time for the company.”

His previous roles include the position of CEO at Sage Labs, chief scientific officer of Sigma-Aldrich and president of its research biotechnology business unit.

He also served as president of ProteoPlex, a seed stage spinout focusing on proteomics, which was acquired by Merck KGaA in 2003, and founded Genomes Systems, acquired by Incyte Genomics in 1996.

Horizon is a UK-based biotech focused on genomics research and the development of personalised medicines. It has partnerships with several major pharma companies, including AstraZeneca.

The company has undergone expansion in recent years with other senior appointments including GSK and Abbott veteran Dr Ian Gilham as chairman and the addition of AstraZeneca's head of oncology R&D Susan Galbraith to Horizon's board.