Rare disease drug developer Eiger Biopharmaceuticals, maker of the progeria drug Zokinvy, said its president and CEO David Cory has resigned effective immediately and named board member and senior clinical advisor David Apelian as its interim CEO.
Photo: David Apelian, interim CEO of Eiger Biopharmaceuticals
Apelian will also continue to serve on the company’s board of directors.
The company said it plans to initiate an executive search to identify candidates to serve as a permanent CEO.
Apelian has 23 years of clinical development and regulatory experience with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including nearly six years in senior management, advisory, and Board roles at Eiger. He has been serving as a director since 2017 and in 2018 was appointed chief operating officer and executive medical officer, responsible for heading the company’s R&D, and medical and regulatory affairs operations.
Following his departure from that position, he has been serving as a director, senior clinical advisor, and board member at Eiger.
Apelian was also the founding CEO of BlueSphere Bio. In addition, he was executive vice president and chief medical officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for creating portfolio strategy and managing the company’s clinical development programs. Earlier in his career, he held senior management positions at Globelmmune, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering Plough. Apelian has extensive experience in chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B, and rare diseases.
All five Eiger rare disease programs have been granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation.
Author: Rare Daily Staff
Stay Connected
Sign up for updates straight to your inbox.