Synairgen PLC (AIM:SNG, OTC:SYGGF) chairman Simon Shaw will retire at next month's annual shareholder meeting, to be replaced by Mark Parry-Billings, who he called "a world class inhaled drug development leader".
Dr Parry-Billings was latterly global head of drug development at Italian respiratory and rare diseases giant Chiesi Farmaceutici, following a stint as CEO of Canadian clinical-stage respiratory biotech Topigen Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Pharmaxis in 2010.
Synairgen highlighted his track record of more than 30 years heading R&D and leading businesses, with "deep expertise" in respiratory therapeutics and inhaled drug delivery to the lungs.
Shaw said: "I am delighted to hand over the reins to Mark, who is a world class inhaled drug development leader. Synairgen now has both a rigorous development plan for SNG001 and someone with the optimal experience to guide the company's direction through this next phase."
Parry-Billings said he has "followed Synairgen's approach to SNG001 as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral for a wide range of severe lung infections for some time and look forward to working with the board and broader team on its clinical development in a crucial area of unmet need".
The annual general meeting will be held in London on 10 October.