Antares names new head of R&D, chief medical officer

Ewing-based Anteres Pharma Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced Monday it has appointed James P. Tursi its new executive vice president, head of research and development, and chief medical officer, effective Aug. 6.

Tursi has extensive experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Most recently, Tursi was chief medical officer at Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. Before that, he was chief medical officer at Innocoll AG. Prior to Innocoll, he was chief medical officer and vice president of clinical research and development at Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. He also spent time as director of medical affairs for GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and medical director for Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Tursi join the executive leadership team at Antares Pharma, bringing with him extensive drug development, clinical and medical affairs experience.  I believe that adding James to the Antares team will have a positive impact on our goal of expanding our internal and external pipeline, given our focus on developing novel proprietary drug device combination products,” Robert F. Apple, CEO and president of Anteres, said.