US-based Bantam Pharmaceutical, a drug discovery and development company, announced on Wednesday that it has named Michael Stocum, MS as its new president and chief executive officer.

Stocum succeeds the founding chief executive officer, Mike Luther, PhD, MBA and he will head the firm's initial clinical development program.

Stocum has 25 years of industry experience. He has held corporate roles of increasing responsibility from bench scientist to executive management in pharmaceuticals, molecular diagnostics, and biotech start-ups, including pharma roles in Organon (now Merck) and GlaxoSmithKline. He is the founder and president of Personalized Medicine Partners. He has also served as founding chief executive officer at Inivata.