Vivus names Astrue chairman, Zook CEO
Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) appointed Michael Astrue as chairman, effective Tuesday. The move comes less than a week after the biotech settled a proxy battle with activist investor First Manhattan Co. Astrue, former president and CEO at Transkaryotic Therapies Inc., is part of a slate of seven proposed directors from First Manhattan that will join four existing Vivus directors alongside a newly reconstituted board. Transkaryotic was acquired by Shire plc (LSE:SHP; NASDAQ:SHPGY) in 2005.
Vivus also named Anthony Zook CEO, effective Tuesday. He was president of the MedImmune LLC biologics unit of AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) from 2008-09 and was EVP for global commercial operations at AstraZeneca until February. Zook replaces Leland Wilson, who is among the five current Vivus directors who will be departing under the settlement between Vivus and First Manhattan (see BioCentury, July 22). ...