Histogenics Names Peter Greenleaf CEO

The privately held regenerative medicine firm Histogenics Corp. has hired Peter Greenleaf, former president of AstraZeneca, to be its new CEO, according to Julie M. Donnelly, writing for the Boston Business Journal. He succeeds Patrick O’Donnell who became CEO when Histogenics merged with Prochon in 2011.

Histogenics’ lead product is NeoCart, which uses a patient’s own knee cartilage, harvested during a diagnostic arthroscopy procedure, to regrow cartilage, which is then put back into the patient using a small incision. NeoCart is currently undergoing a Phase 3 trial.

Greenleaf previously served as president of MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s biologics business, and MedImmune Ventures, where he oversaw more than $300 million in investments in early stage portfolio companies. Prior to MedImmune, Greenleaf held a variety of positions at Centocor, most recently as the Vice President of the U.S. gastroenterology commercial group.

“Peter’s expertise in growing smaller biotech companies into industry leaders will be critical as we work to move NeoCart through pivotal trials and ultimately toward launch and commercialization, ” said Garheng Kong, Histogenics chairman and Sofinnova Ventures general partner. “While NeoCart will be the main focus in the near term, Peter will also help facilitate our vision for building out the company’s platform technology and the future growth plans for the organization.”