Adrian Adams was appointed CEO and president of Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, effective immediately, succeeding Armando Anido, who, after discussions with the company’s board agreed to step down from that role. Among other things, the firm is looking to Adams to drive uptake of new drugs Xiaflex and Testim. Adams has more than 30 years of industry experience, most recently serving as chairman and CEO of Neurologix. Prior to that, he had been CEO of a number of companies that were eventually acquired: Inspire, bought by Merck this year; Sepracor, purchased by Dainippon Sumitomo in 2010; and Kos Pharmaceuticals, scooped up by Abbott in 2006.
Another former Kos executive, Aaron Berg was promoted from president and chief commercial officer to CEO of Essentialis, whose lead compound, DCCR, is in Phase II development for patients with very high triglycerides. Berg has held senior commercial positions at Schering-Plough and at Kos, where he rose to VP, marketing and sales, before Kos was acquired by Abbott. He is noted for his commercial expertise in lipid therapy.
