Savient appoints interim CEO

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A former Johnson & Johnson executive has been appointed to serve as interim CEO for Savient Pharmaceuticals.

Savient's board of directors appointed David Norton to serve as interim CEO, succeeding current CEO John Johnson, who is leaving the company to become president, CEO and chairman-elect of biotechnology company Denderon. Savient's board said it will conduct a search process for a permanent CEO.

Norton, who is a member of Savient's board, formerly served as J&J company group chairman of global pharmaceuticals.

In related news, Louis Ferrari, Savient's SVP North America commercial operations, has been promoted to the position of EVP and president of North America commercial operations.