Michael Wyzga OncoMed board

OncoMed has appointed industry veteran Michael Wyzga to the company's board of directors.

The cancer specialist is looking to make the most of Wyzga's years in the industry as it prepares to advance the development of its five drug candidates, with several new filings planned for 2014.

This experience includes serving as chief financial officer of the biotech Genzyme from 1998 to 2011, when the company was acquired by Sanofi in what was the second-largest acquisition in biotech history.

He is currently president and CEO of biopharma company Radius Health having joined the company in December 2011.

"As a CEO of an emerging biopharmaceuticals company and previous chief financial officer of one of the leading biotechnology companies in the world, Mike brings an excellent perspective to OncoMed's board following our successful initial public offering," said Paul Hastings, chairman and CEO of OncoMed.

In addition to its own prospects, OncoMed also has development deals with major pharma companies, including GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer.