Metabasis CEO Resigns

Bruce V. Bigelow12/16/08

San Diego’s Metabasis Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MBRX) said today that co-founder Paul Laikind has resigned as CEO and interim chief financial officer. The biotech, which is developing drugs for diabetes and liver disease, says Laikind will remain on the company’s board. Mark Erion, a co-founder and chief scientific officer, was named as Laikind’s replacement. In connection with Laikind’s resignation, Metabasis said David F. Hale has assumed an expanded role as board chairman. Metabasis said last month it was closing a facility in Ann Arbor, MI, and laying off almost a third of its workforce.

Bruce V. Bigelow is the editor of Xconomy San Diego. You can e-mail him at bbigelow@xconomy.com or call (619) 669-8788