NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDX) announced today that Larry Ellberger has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective September 3, 2009. Mr. Ellberger has been an independent member of the Celldex Board of Directors since the merger in March 2008 between Celldex and AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc., and was a member of the AVANT Board since 2003. During his 30 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Mr. Ellberger had served as Board member and Chief Executive Officer of PDI, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Omrix Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (which was purchased by Johnson & Johnson in 2008), as well as held senior executive positions at W.R. Grace & Co., American Cyanamid Company and Powderject Ltd. In addition to his current position as Founding Partner of HVA, a healthcare transaction advisory firm, Mr. Ellberger is a Director of TransPharma Medical Ltd. and the Jewish Children’s Museum.
