• Fred Kornahrens has joined Raymedica (Minneapolis) in the newly created post of chief operating officer. Kornahrens most recently served as vice president, global product development at Zimmer Spine. Raymedica manufactures systems designed to treat patients with degenerative disc disease who have not responded to non-surgical treatment.
• Matthew Plavan has been appointed CFO of Thermo- Genesis (Rancho Cordova, California). Plavan succeeds Renee Ruecker, who sought reduced working hours for family reasons and who will become director of Securities and Exchange Commission reporting, a new position created to accommodate Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements. Plavan comes to ThermoGenesis from his most recent post as CFO of StrionAir. ThermoGenesis develops enabling technologies for cell therapeutics.
• V.I. Technologies (Vitex; Watertown, Massachusetts) reported that John Barr, president, plans to resign following a transition period expected to last until the end of July. Prior to closing the merger with Panacos Pharmaceuticals on March 11, Barr was president and CEO of Vitex. Vitex is developing anti-infective products. Its Inactine technology is designed to inactivate a range of viruses, bacteria and parasites in blood products, and has demonstrated the ability to remove prion proteins.