Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. announced that its board of directors has appointed John H. Johnson as interim chief executive officer (CEO), effective immediately. Mr. Johnson, a director of Melinta, succeeds Dan Wechsler, who is stepping down from his role as president, CEO and director to pursue other opportunities. John H. Johnson has more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry, executive leadership and commercial experience at leading global organizations, including Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly & Company, ImClone and Pfizer, Inc. In addition to Melinta, Mr. Johnson currently serves on the boards of Aveo Oncology, Histogenics Corporation, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is chairman of Strongbridge Biopharma plc.

Mr. Johnson previously served as a director at Cempra and Sucampo.