Spark alum Couto joins Atsena as CSO

Ocular gene therapy company  Atsena Therapeutics Inc. hired Linda Couto as CSO. Couto was head of pharmacology and toxicology and ocular research lead at Spark Therapeutics Inc., which developed blindness therapy Luxturna voretigene neparvovec-rzyl, the first FDA-approved in vivo gene therapy. Already a consultant to the company, she will assume the CSO responsibilities from co-founder and acting CSO Shannon Boye.

Infectious disease vaccine play Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) hired Jim Kelly as EVP and CFO, and Nasir Egal as SVP of quality assurance. Kelly was CFO at Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SUPN), and Egal was head of global quality external affairs at Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NASDAQ:SNY)...