Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering a novel approach to treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other serious neuromuscular disorders, has appointed James Connolly as chief executive officer and a member of the board. Mr. Connolly is an accomplished business executive with more than 25 years of leadership roles in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and non-profit sectors.

“I’m excited about joining Tivorsan, a company that has the potential to become a significant player in the arena of neuromuscular disorders,” Mr. Connolly said.

“Throughout his extensive career, Jim Connolly has demonstrated strong leadership, management and business-building expertise, coupled with a passion for addressing unmet health needs. This is the exact blend of skills necessary to successfully transition Tivorsan to a development stage organization and advance our compound, recombinant human biglycan, into clinical trials with its initial indication for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the near future,” said John Nicholson, chairman of the board. “I would also like to recognize Joel Braunstein for his efforts serving as acting chief executive officer and his continuing role as a board member.”

Mr. Connolly joins Tivorsan after several years of operating his own firm, JE Connolly Consulting, providing consulting and advisory services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and investment organizations. Prior to consulting, he served as president and chief executive officer of Aeras, a Rockville, MD-based nonprofit global biotechnology organization working to develop tuberculosis vaccines in conjunction with a range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and academic partners.

Mr. Connolly joined Aeras after more than two decades of pharmaceutical industry experience at Wyeth, where he held a series of increasingly senior management, commercial and finance positions in the U.S. and Canada.