MannKind Taps Eli Lilly Scientist

Former Eli Lilly & Co. executive Dr. David Kendall has been appointed chief medical officer at MannKind Corp., the Westlake Village biotech announced Tuesday. The move puts an accomplished diabetes researcher with experience at one of the world’s most prominent insulin manufacturers at the helm of MannKind’s research and development efforts for its inhalable insulin product, Afrezza. Kendall started his tenure at Eli Lilly in 2011 as a medical fellow in the company’s global affairs division, and was promoted to oversee the segment as vice president in 2014. He came to Eli Lilly from the American Diabetes Association, where he served as chief scientific and medical officer from 2009 to 2011. Kendall will assume his post at MannKind on Feb. 12 and will be based at the company’s headquarters in Westlake Village. Shares of MannKind (MKND) fell 2 cents, or less than 1 percent, on Tuesday to close at $2.50 on the Nasdaq.