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GRI Bio announced the appointments of David Szekeres, Roelof Rongen, MSE, MBA, and Camilla Simpson, M.Sc. to the Company's Board of Directors. Szekeres will serve as Chairman of the Board. As previously announced, GRI Bio will commence trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "GRI", effective today, April 24, 2023, as a result of its recently completed its merger with Vallon Pharmaceuticals (VLON). David Szekeres has more than two decades of experience in the global life sciences industry as a finance and business development executive, deal maker, legal counsel and board member. Szekeres joined Heron Therapeutics (HRTX)as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Finance. Rongen currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of gene-therapy company, Adolore BioTherapeutics, Managing Partner of AsteRx Pharma Consulting and Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Molecules. Camilla Simpson serves as Chief Executive Officer of Zehna Therapeutics, an early-stage biotech and spin-out from the Cleveland Clinic.

Heron Therapeutics announced the appointment of Craig Collard as CEO, effective April 3. Collard succeeds Barry Quart, Pharm.D., who has stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board. In addition, as part of the leadership change, the Board elected Adam Morgan as Chairman. Collard brings more than three decades of experience leading innovative pharmaceutical companies through periods of strategic change to deliver growth and enhanced value for stockholders. Most recently, as CEO of Veloxis Pharmaceutics A/S before its acquisition by Asahi Kasei Corp.

Heron Therapeutics announced that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, has approved transitional pass-through status for APONVIE injectable emulsion, which will be established for three years beginning April 1, 2023 under C-code C9145. APONVIE was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for intravenous use in adults for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting and became commercially available on March 6, 2023. "The granting of pass-through status for APONVIE further facilitates patient access and streamlines billing and reimbursement for all HOPD and ASC settings, which is important with over 70% of the surgery opportunity being conducted in these outpatient settings of care," said Barry Quart, Pharm.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Heron. "Receiving pass-through only days after the U.S. launch is encouraging and will provide patients undergoing surgery that are at risk for developing PONV an easy to use, convenient, and highly effective treatment option."

Heron Therapeutics earlier announced that CMS has approved transitional pass-through status for Aponvie injectable emulsion, which will be established for three years beginning April 1 under C-code C9145. Aponvie was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for intravenous use in adults for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting, or PONV, and became commercially available on March 6, the company noted. "The granting of pass-through status for Aponvie further facilitates patient access and streamlines billing and reimbursement for all HOPD and ASC settings, which is important with over 70% of the surgery opportunity being conducted in these outpatient settings of care. Receiving pass-through only days after the U.S. launch is encouraging and will provide patients undergoing surgery that are at risk for developing PONV an easy to use, convenient, and highly effective treatment option," said Barry Quart, Pharm.D., Chairman and CEO of Heron.