Tacere Therapeutics Inc., of San Jose, Calif., appointed Linda Couto vice president of research and development.

Targacept Inc., of Winston-Salem, N.C., appointed Alan Dunton to its board.

Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Redwood City, Calif., said its vice president of finance and controller, Cathleen Davis, would assume the financial management responsibilities of Michael Ostrach, who has resigned as chief operating officer, general counsel and chief financial officer.

TopoTarget A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, named John Parsons president of its U.S. subsidiary, TopoTarget USA Inc., of Rockaway, N.J.

Transave Inc., of Monmouth Junction, N.J., named Renu Gupta executive vice president of development and chief medical officer.

Transgenomic Inc., of Omaha, Neb., named Debra Schneider vice president and chief financial officer.

Transport Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Framingham, Mass., named Navneet Sharma vice president of quality systems and operational excellence.

Trellis Bioscience Inc., of South San Francisco, elected Tony Scullion chairman.

VioQuest Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Basking Ridge, N.J., named Lawrence Akinsanmi vice president of clinical operations and regulatory affairs.

Viral Genetics Inc., of Azusa, Calif., appointed Marcus Altfeld and Todd Allen to its scientific advisory board.

ViroPharma Inc., of Exton, Pa., added Daniel Soland as vice president and chief commercial officer.

Ziopharm Oncology Inc., of New York, appointed John Amedio vice president of manufacturing and process development.

ZLB Behring, of King of Prussia, Pa., appointed Robert Lefebvre vice president, general manager, of U.S. commercial operations.

Zogenix Inc., of San Diego, appointed J.D. Haldeman vice president of commercial strategy and corporate communications and as an officer of the company.

Zymeworks Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, named Patrick McCroskey to its board.