Aastrom Names New Interim CEO, Mayleben To Remain Active in Fundraising
Summary
Orlando was hired at Aastrom in August to be the company’s chief commercial officer, and Mayleben says his experience getting products to market is what makes him a good fit.“I’m excited and the board is excited.” Earlier this year, Aastrom began a Phase 3 clinical study of ixmyelocel-T, the company’s multicell therapy for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who have no other treatment options.While at Takeda, Orlando was the brand director for pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos), a top diabetes drug, and led commercialization efforts along with a $500 million round of financing.In March, Aastrom announced a $40 million financing deal with Eastern Capital to support the research and development costs associated with the company’s Phase 3 REVIVE-CLI trial.This could be the first cell therapy approved for both of these conditions [CLI and DCM].” A CMO will be hired in 2013, and Orlando has brought in a former colleague from Takeda with “25 years of R&D dialogue with the FDA” to consult in the meantime.