Novacea Inc., of San Francisco, named Edward Schnipper executive vice president and chief medical officer.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego named Anthony E. Altig to its board of directors.

Oxford Genome Sciences, of Oxford, UK, named Christopher Hibberd to its board of directors.

Pharmasset Inc., of Princeton, N.J., appointed Patrick T. Higgins executive vice president of marketing and sales.

Raven Biotechnologies inc., of South San Francisco, appointed Michael Kranda chairman of the board.

Targacept Inc., of Winston-Salem, N.C., elected Julia R. Brown to its board of directors.

Vyteris Inc., of Fair Lawn, N.J., appointed Haro Hartounian chief technology officer.