Epix makes Gamzu official CEO, president

By Marc Songini

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Lexington-based Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc. now has a permanent CEO and president in Elkan Gamzu.

Since last July, Gamzu had been serving as interim CEO at the biopharmaceutical. The appointment is effective immediately, stated Epix (Nasdaq: EPIX). He took over from Michael Kauffman, who resigned from his post as CEO and a member of the board of directors last summer. Prior to that appointment, Gamzu was a director at the firm.

The Epix board said it had conducted a comprehensive review of Elkan’s performance over the past seven months, and decided he was the “right candidate” as Epix attempts to execute its clinical and business development strategies. Gamzu has more than 35 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience, including that in senior executive positions. He’s been CEO of Pharmos Corp. in New Jersey. He’s also served as vice president, project management leadership, at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, based in Cambridge.

Gamzu stated that although it was a difficult year, Epix remains focused on several opportunities. These include the clinical advancement of PRX-03140 for Alzheimer’s disease, and potential revenue from Vasovist (gadofoveset trisodium), its injectable intravascular agent for magnetic resonance angiography imaging.

Epix concentrates on creating new drugs based on its proprietary and silico drug discovery platform. The company’s pipeline includes drugs to treat diseases of the nervous system and lung conditions. The firm also has collaborations with the companies GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Amgen Inc.

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