Adams is new Sepracor chief executive

Sepracor Inc. announced today the promotion of Adrian Adams to chief executive, effective immediately.

Sepracor, a Marlborough pharmaceutical company known for such drugs as the insomnia treatment Lunesta, said that Adams succeedsTimothy Barberich, who has been elected executive chairman of the company's board of directors.

Before being elected chief executive, Adams held the titles of president and chief operating officer, Sepracor said.

Adams joined Sepracor in March; previously he was president and chief executive officer of Kos Pharmaceuticals Inc., which was acquired last year for $3.7 billion by Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois-based maker of health-care products, Sepracor said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)