Daniel Hoth, the former director of the AIDS division of theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),has joined Cell Genesys Inc. as senior vice president and chiefmedical officer.

Hoth will have direct responsibility for clinical research andregulatory affairs at the Foster City, Calif., company, as well ascontribute to the company's strategic decision-making processand overall operations.

Joining Cell Genesys is "an opportunity to come in at the seniorlevel and assist Steve (Sherwin, the company's president andchief executive officer) with the broad issues," as well asoversee the clinical and regulatory programs, Hoth toldBioWorld. In addition, "the idea of a small company attractedme," Hoth said.

Cell Genesys, which applies gene targeting technology in itssearch for therapeutic drugs, has two products now inpreclinical development that it hopes to get into human clinicaltrials by early 1994, according to spokesman Jack Murphy. Thelead product is an anti-HIV T-cell transplant product which thecompany is developing as a universal cell transplant productfor treating AIDS. The company is also readying a "secondundisclosed product in the protein area" for trials next year,Murphy told BioWorld. -- Jennifer Van Brunt

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