Melinta Chief Exec Wechsler Steps Down, Johnson Named Interim CEO

Melinta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MLNT]]) CEO Dan Wechsler has stepped down from the company and its board of directors. In his place, the New Haven, CT, antibiotics company appointed board member John Johnson to serve as interim CEO. Wechsler joined Melinta last November. In a prepared statement, the company said he is leaving “to pursue other opportunities.” Melinta went public last year via a reverse merger with Cempra. The company’s portfolio also includes anti-bacterial drugs acquired from The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MDCO]]).

Author: Frank Vinluan

Xconomy Editor Frank Vinluan is a business journalist with experience covering technology and life sciences. Based in Raleigh, he was a staff writer at the Triangle Business Journal covering technology, biotechnology and energy before joining MedCityNews.com as North Carolina bureau chief. Prior to moving to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 2007 he held business reporting positions at The Des Moines Register and The Seattle Times.