In brief: Mesoblast, Epitan, Acrux, Avantogen

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has appointed Dr Tamara Lewis as manager of clinical and regulatory affairs. Lewis has held previous appointments as regulatory and clinical affairs manager with Ventracor (ASX:VCR) and as a senior member of US clinical research organisation Kendle's regulatory, development and commercialisation team. Lewis' specialty areas include design and oversight of clinical trials and identifying key regulatory issues for biological therapeutics.

Melbourne based Epitan (ASX:EPT) has recruited the first volunteers in Sydney for its six month Phase IIb study to evaluate the photoprotective effect of a sustained release dose of its tanning drug Melanotan. The trial aims to establish a 'protection' rating for Melanotan, similar to that used in sunscreens, to determine the change in skin pigmentation for fair-skinned Caucasians and determine the reduction in UV-induced skin damage.

Tim Morgan, a co-inventor of Acrux's (ASX:ACR) technology and currently director of business development, will leave the company in July after ten years working with the technology. From July, former Lander & Rogers partner Peter Willcocks, who joined Acrux as general counsel in February, and Nina Wilkins, who was promoted to senior manager, intellectual property and commercialisation in May, will lead Acrux's new business development. Geoff Boland, director of strategic alliances, will continue to manage Acrux's existing business relationships. Adam Watkinson, a transdermal scientist from the UK, will take up the position of chief scientific officer at Acrux this month.

Avantogen (ASX:ACU), formerly Australian Cancer Technology, will receive its first milestone payment from partner and licensee Endocyte, following Avantogen's successful submission of a Drug Master File to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its vaccine adjuvant GPI-0100.