Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that David A. Cory has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. David Apelian, MD, PhD, MBA, Senior Clinical Advisor and member of the Board of Directors, has been named as interim Chief Executive Officer and will also continue to serve on the company's Board of Directors. The company plans to initiate an executive search to identify candidates to serve as a permanent CEO.

Dr. Apelian has 23 years of clinical development and regulatory experience with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including nearly six years in senior management, advisory and Board roles at Eiger. He has been serving as a Director since 2017 and in 2018 was appointed Chief Operating Officer and Executive Medical Officer, responsible for heading the company's R&D, Medical and Regulatory Affairs operations. Following his departure from that position, he has been serving as a Director, Senior Clinical Advisor and board member at Eiger.

Dr. Apelian was also the founding CEO of BlueSphere Bio. In addition, Dr. Apelian was Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he was responsible for creating portfolio strategy and managing the company's clinical development programs. Earlier in his career, he held senior management positions at Globelmmune, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering Plough. Dr. Apelian has extensive experience in chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B, and rare diseases.