ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   February 1, 2010

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 001-32157 84-1318182
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(State or other jurisdiction 		_____________
(Commission 		______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
6725 Mesa Ridge Road, Suite 100, San Diego, California   92121
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(Address of principal executive offices) 		  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   858-552-0866

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 1, 2010, the Board of Directors of ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Brian M. Culley, previously the Company’s chief business officer and a senior vice president, to serve as the Company’s chief executive officer and appointed Patrick L. Keran, previously the Company’s general counsel and vice president, legal, to serve as the Company’s president and chief operating officer. Mr. Keran will continue to serve as the Company’s secretary and principal financial and accounting officer. A copy of the press release announcing these title changes is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Mr. Culley, age 38, has served as the Company’s principal executive officer since February 2009 and chief business officer and a senior vice president since January 2007. Mr. Culley served as vice president, business development upon joining the Company in December 2004, and was appointed senior vice president, business development in February 2006. From 2002 until 2004, Mr. Culley managed all strategic collaborations and licensing agreements for iTherx, Inc. (formerly, Immusol, Inc.) in San Diego, where his most recent title was director of business development and marketing. From 1999 until 2000, he was a licensing and marketing associate at the University of California, San Diego, department of technology transfer & intellectual property services and from 1996 to 1999, he was a research associate for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., where he performed drug discovery research. Mr. Culley has over 17 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, including deal structure and negotiation, licensing, due diligence, market and competitive research, and venture funding. He received a B.S. in biology from Boston College, an M.S. in biochemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. from The Johnson School of Business at Cornell University with an emphasis on private equity and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Keran, age 38, has served as the Company’s principal financial and accounting officer since July 2009, vice president, legal since January 2007, secretary since September 2006 and general counsel since August 2006. From April 2004 to August 2006, Mr. Keran was associate general counsel at Isis Pharmaceuticals, a publicly held drug discovery and development company. From February 2003 to April 2004, Mr. Keran practiced corporate law at the law firm of Heller Ehrman LLP, specializing in public and private financings, licensing arrangements, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters. From September 1999 to February 2003, Mr. Keran practiced law at the law firm of Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP where he had a similar corporate practice. Mr. Keran is licensed to practice law in the State of California. Mr. Keran received a B.A. from the University of California at San Diego and a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The list of exhibits called for by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index filed with this report.





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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
          
February 4, 2010   By:   /s/ Patrick L. Keran
       
        Name: Patrick L. Keran
        Title: President & Chief Operating Officer

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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
99.1
  Press Release, dated February 4, 2010