Akela Pharma announces restructuring
Akela Pharma, Inc., and its wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary, PharmaForm, announced a comprehensive corporate restructuring designed to achieve several operational objectives. As part of its efforts to preserve its ability to execute on its development strategy for the company's lead compound, Fentanyl TAIFUN(R) for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain, and to optimize the infrastructure required to support its PharmaForm clients, the company has reduced its head count by 32 employees to a combined workforce of 65.
Further, several of Akela's international operations will be closed and the company's operational headquarters will be centralized in Austin, Texas. Concurrent with the restructuring, Taneli Jouhikainen, former acting chief executive officer of Akela, will be leaving the company. Ed Margerrison, Ph.D., Akela's vice president, program management, will lead the Fentanyl TAIFUN project, and Marcelo Omelczuk, Ph.D., Akela's senior vice president, business and product development, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of PharmaForm.
In addition, Rudy Emmelot, formerly with Nventa Biopharmaceuticals, has joined Akela as vice president, finance. Akela remains committed to building shareholder value through the development of high value, proprietary products such as Fentanyl TAIFUN and others and concurrently, the company seeks to strengthen its revenue base from the PharmaForm business.
Other news from the department business & finance
Get the life science industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for biotechnology, pharma and life sciences brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
