Bob Kirkman, the CEO of Seattle-based Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]), took an unexplained medical leave from the company back in September. The company said at the time he’d return in the fourth quarter of 2011, but now it’s official that he’s back on the job as CEO, Xconomy has learned.
“Bob is back,” says Christopher Henney, the Oncothyreon chairman who stepped in as interim CEO this fall. Henney told me about the move at last night’s Xconomy event, “The Immunex Impact.” Kirkman made a presentation to the company’s board on Thursday, Henney says.
Kirkman, listed as 62 in the company’s most recent proxy report, declined to comment this morning, saying he still has to put out the usual regulatory disclosure about his return. But he is coming back just in time for the biggest event in Oncothyreon’s history—the results of a pivotal lung cancer trial of its immunotherapy known as Stimuvax.
Researchers and investors are eagerly awaiting the clinical results of this drug, being tested in partnership with Germany-based Merck KGaA. Data should be available sometime in the first quarter of 2012, Oncothyreon has said.
