Singapore: China's ShangPharma appointed Dr Art Taveras as president and chief scientific officer (CSO). He will be responsible for establishing the company as premiere drug discovery and development partner of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.

Prior to joining ShangPharma, Dr Taveras was VP, small molecules drug discovery, VP chemistry R&D, and VP CMC development at Biogen Idec, leading the discovery and CMC development of neurology, immunology and oncology drug candidates at its multiple sites and partnerships in the US and abroad.

Before Biogen Idec, Dr Taveras was VP of Drug Discovery and CMC Development at Alantos Pharmaceuticals, leading the company's discovery research and building its Diabetes and Matrix Metalloproteinase franchise in the U.S. and Germany before being acquired by Amgen in 2007.

Dr Taveras has overseen or contributed to more than 40 drug discovery research and/or CMC development programs in nearly all therapeutic areas including neurology, immunology, oncology, pain, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, lupus and rheumatology.

"We are so pleased that Dr Taveras has joined the company as President and CSO," said Mr Michael Hui, Chairman and CEO of ShangPharma Corp. "His extensive leadership, strategic and technical experience at the highest levels in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development will be a great asset to the company as it strives to become the preferred small molecules and biologics drug discovery partner for biopharmaceutical companies. Under Dr Taveras' leadership, there will be so much to be looking forward to."