Actelion announces resignation of director

Actelion has announced that Dr Elias Zerhouni has resigned from his position on the company's board of directors.

Dr Zerhouni is departing from his role for Actelion after recently being appointed as president for global research and development at fellow healthcare company Sanofi-aventis.

He is therefore seeking to focus his attentions on his new responsibilities to Sanofi-aventis from the beginning of 2011 onwards.

Robert Cawthorn, chairman of the board of directors at Actelion, said the company has been able to benefit from Dr Zerhouni's "vast scientific managerial and strategic experience" during his time with the company.

He added: "We would like to thank Dr Zerhouni for his valuable contribution as a board member … We wish him success in his new executive role that leads to him leaving our board."

Last month, Actelion announced the opening of a new business centre in Basel, Switzerland, following the completion of a three-year construction phase.