Despite New CEO Job, Alan Lewis to Continue to Consult for CIRM

The California stem cell agency said this morning that Alan Lewis will continue to work as a consultant to the agency although he has what appears to be a full-time job as the new CEO of Ambit Biosciences of San Diego.

In the wake of the announcement of the new job, we queried CIRM earlier today about Lewis' status as the interim vice president for research and development for the $3 billion stem cell agency, an arrangement that began only on June 21.

Don Gibbons, CIRM's chief of communications, replied via a comment filed on our item that reported that Lewis had a new job. Gibbons said,

“CIRM's president was informed of Mr. Lewis' new position Friday. From the outset the $250,000 salary was to be prorated based on days actually worked with the full amount assuming a five-day week. With his new position Mr. Lewis will scale back his time with CIRM from a planned two to three days a week to 2 to 3 days a month, and the salary will be prorated accordingly, while we continue the search for a VP for R&D. “

Gibbons did not mention whether Lewis would continue to hold the title of interim vice president. Ambit and Lewis have not yet responded to our queries concerning his job with CIRM.