Elan promotes president of R&D to board

Irish biotech Elan has hired Dr Lars Ekman, who is currently president of R&D, to the position of member of the operating committee and the board of directors.

Dr Ekman will transition from his current operational role to become an advisor as a member of the board of directors from 31 December 2007. He will continue to chair the science and technology committee on matters relating to Elan's research platform and portfolio. Other board members include Dr Dennis Selkoe and Dr Floyd Bloom.

Ekman will remain an integral part of the company's science, clinical development and corporate activities and will continue as key senior spokesperson for Elan as president of R&D. He will also continue as co-chair on the joint steering committee with US-based pharmaceutical company Wyeth. Ekman's responsibility will be to focus on Elan's intermediate and long-term plans as he dedicates his time to provide strategic advice to the chairman and the CEO in his continuing role as a member of the board of directors.

Ekman joined Elan in January 2001 after holding a number of senior executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry. During this period, Elan received approval for four US NDAs, three EU marketing approval applications and five iNDAs. His efforts have seen the drugs Prialt and Tysabri come to market and progressing further several of Elan's Alzheimer's immunotherapy programmes.