Biogen Idec has hired Olivier Danos as senior VP of gene therapy. Danos will report to Douglas Williams, executive VP of R&D at Biogen Idec. At Biogen Idec, he will be in charge of the gene therapy research group, which develops new technologies for gene transfer and genome engineering.
Before joining the firm, Danos was senior VP of molecular medicine, synthetic biology, and gene regulation at Kadmon Pharmaceuticals; directed the Gene Therapy Consortium at the University of London; and led a gene therapy research effort at the Necker Hospital, Enfants Malades in Paris.
Exagen Diagnostics has appointed Frank Witney and John Radak as independent directors, effective September 18. Witney is president and CEO of Affymetrix and Radak is CFO of the biotech product development firm ArborGen Inc.
Simultaneously, Exagen also announced that Samuel Riccitelli and Michael Walsh will no longer serve on its board. That brings the company's board of directors to seven members, six of which are independent directors.