Scynexis, which is targeting development of treatments for deadly fungal infections, is shuffling its management team.

In an announcement made early Friday, Scynexis (Nasdaq: SCYX) said veteran executive Marco Taglietti, an MD, would replace Yves Ribeill as chief executive officer effective April 1.

Scynexis went public just a year ago.

At the same time, Scynexis said Chief Medical Officer Carole Sable is resigning as of Feb. 20.

The company said the changes were unrelated.

Ribeill will remain with Scynexis as the company’s president and keeps his seat on the board.

Taglietti is no stranger to Scynexis. He was named to the company’s board in December.

“Yves provided remarkable leadership over the last 15 years, building a strong drug discovery organization and successfully ushering SCY-078 into clinical development,” said Pamela Kirby, chair of the Scynexis board.  

“Yves will remain a key member of the management team as we transition Marco’s role at Scynexis to Chief Executive Officer. Marco brings to the position an outstanding background and relevant experience in drug development, having led more than 35 drugs and devices through clinical development and onto the market, including several anti-infective products.”

Taglietti has an extensive background in life science.

“SCYNEXIS is a company with great people, products and potential and I am honored and excited by taking over the role of CEO,” he said in a statement.

“SCY-078 has tremendous potential to play an important role in the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections. I look forward to advancing the drug’s clinical development as a potential new treatment option to those patients who currently experience high morbidity and mortality.”

According to the company, Taglietti “previously served as Executive Vice President,Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Forest Laboratories, Inc. and also as President of the Forest Research Institute until the company was acquired by Actavis, plc. Prior to joining Forest Labs, Dr. Taglietti was Senior Vice President, Head of Global Research and Development at Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. and held various positions with Schering-Plough Corporation where he served as
Vice President, Worldwide Clinical Research for Anti-infectives, Oncology, CNS, Endocrinology and Dermatology. He received his medical degree and his Board Certification in Infectious Diseases from the University of Pavia in Italy.”