Aquestive Therapeutics inks new chairman

Warren-based Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced Monday that its board of directors has appointed Santo “Sandy” Costa as chairman, effective Aug. 8.

Costa joined Aquestive’s board in 2015 bringing with him over 40 years of pharmaceutical, health care and life sciences industry experience.

Douglas Bratton, chairman since 2004, will continue to serve as member of the board.

“We would like to thank Doug for his leadership and invaluable guidance both as Chairman and Aquestive’s lead investor over the past 14 years. We are pleased that he will continue to serve as a director,” said Keith J. Kendall, CEO of Aquestive. “Sandy’s experience, expertise and insights from his work in the industry and on numerous other boards has made him an important part of the leadership of our company. We expect that to continue with Sandy in the role of chairman.”

“Aquestive is uniquely positioned with a broad pipeline that spans late stage CNS candidates and earlier stage orally administrated complex molecules. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and the executive team as Aquestive transitions to a commercial organization in the coming months,” Costa said.

Costa current sits on the boards of Cytokinetics Inc. and Metabolon Inc. He is currently of-counsel to the law firm Smith Anderson.