Bermuda-based biotechnology company XOMA Ltd. has appointed Susan Kramer to the position of vice-president, project and alliance management.

A seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with 25 years of industry experience at Genentech and two biotechnology companies and a strong focus on product development and alliance management, she will lead and direct the programme management activities for XOMA 052, both strategic and operational, from clinical development through approval.

Working at the company's operational headquarters in Berkeley, California, she will provide leadership to the company's project and alliance management group.

"We believe that XOMA 052 is a potentially transformational opportunity for XOMA that can lead to multiple therapeutic approaches in major indications and bring benefits to millions of patients with cardiovascular, diabetic and other diseases. Susan's addition is a key step in strengthening the management of this unique opportunity," said Steven Engle, chairman and chief executive officer of XOMA.

"Susan brings to XOMA a variety of biological project management experiences including Actimmune(R), Raptiva(R), TNF-alpha and Relaxin. She also has demonstrated repeated success in forging and managing complex product development alliances with multiple international pharmaceutical companies."