peter azzarello appointed chief accountant

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/131127/bota8-k.html

"Effective November 26, 2013, the Board of Directors of Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Peter Azzarello as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Azzarello, age 42, has served as the Company's Vice President, Finance since March 31, 2013.

Mr. Azzarello served as Vice President of Finance of Inhibitex, Inc. from November 2004 through January 2012 and interim Chief Financial Officer from February 2012 to September 2012...Mr. Azzarello entered into an Executive Employment Agreement (the "Employment Agreement") pursuant to which Mr. Azzarello will receive an annual base salary of $217,500..."

So this is now the official replacement notification of Damian Lismore (who by the way, was on double the salary).

For those who went to the briefings earlier this year, you might have met Peter. I recall that he was the first person to welcome me at the briefing. Personable chap.

So the main three players in Biota, Russ Plumb, Joseph Patti and Peter Azzarello are all ex Inhibitex people and the company is now based in Atlanta.

From an admin perspective, Biota is effectively Inhibitex. From a science perspective, Biota is effectively as it used to be.

Many of us were calling for a Market savvy executive change at the top to replace our dinosaurs led by PC. These guys finally hit a home run with the Inhibitex sale to BMS, even though the lead drug (that triggered the sale) subsequently failed. We clearly now have a team of market savvy salesmen at the helm. Obviously hoping that with their track record, they will similarly steer Biota to a home run. To me, at the moment, everything points to a long term gear up to prime Biota for a sale to a Global Pharma at some point close to LANI commercialisation. Let's see in the meantime whether there are any other early/mid stage purchases to indicate additional substance.

Looks like 2016/2017 might possibly be exit time for us holders. Let's hope the wait will be worth it.