Biocept (NASDAQ:BIOC), Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOC) has named Antonino Morales as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Morales has served as Biocept’s interim Chief Financial Officer since February 2022 and as a Director of the Company since July 2021. Robert Walsh, the Company’s Controller, has been promoted to Vice President and Controller and will serve as the Company’s principal accounting officer. These changes follow the resignation of Samuel D. Riccitelli as interim President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director.
“We are delighted that Antonino has accepted the chief executive position at Biocept following the instrumental role he played in redirecting the business to focus exclusively on our proprietary cerebrospinal fluid assay CNSide™. Antonino shares the Board’s passion for advancing the clinical development of CNSide and improving the lives of patients with advanced cancer,” said M. Faye Wilson, Board Chair. “We are grateful to Sam for his transitional leadership during a challenging time for our company and extend thanks for his many contributions as a Director and while serving as interim President and CEO.”
“Since joining the Company, I’ve been impressed by Biocept’s mission of helping to improve the lives of patients with metastatic cancer of the central nervous system, and it’s a privilege to take the lead in advancing this mission,” said Mr. Morales. “I’m fully committed to the FORESEE clinical trial and generating the data necessary to establish CNSide as the standard of care. We intend to build on steps already taken to right-size the Company and continue to take measures to extend our cash runway as we advance the FORESEE trial. I’m delighted to report that enrollment is running ahead of our forecast.”
Mr. Morales has served as a member of Biocept’s Board since July 2021 and was a member of the Audit Committee from August 2021 until his appointment as interim Chief Financial Officer. He has more than 30 years of broad executive leadership experience and has served in executive management or consulting roles with various Fortune 100 companies, including Citibank, Bank of America, Arthur Andersen, Mazda North America and McDonald’s. Mr. Morales has also led multiple private equity-backed startup companies. He received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Southern California and is a licensed CPA.