Ascent Therapeutics appoints chief executive

Ascent Therapeutics Inc., a Cambridge start-up, said it has appointed Frederick Jones, a medical doctor, as its president and chief executive.

According to its press release, Ascent is an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing Pepducin lipopeptides to treat a variety of illnesses. Pepducin technology was invented at the Tufts Medical Center, the release noted, and the company has been funded with a $19 million Series A investment. Investors include Novartis Option Fund, HealthCare Ventures, and TVM Capital, Ascent Therapeutics said. All three investment firms have local offices.

The Ascent Therapeutics press release added that Stephen Hunt was appointed as the company's vice president of discovery research.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)