Trovagene, a California-based developer of cell-free molecular diagnostics, has hired K. Peter Hirth, Ph.D., who joins the company's scientific advisory board. A pioneer in the field of personalized medicine, Hirth led the organizations that developed both Sutent and Zelboraf; two successful targeted cancer therapeutics.

Hirth has over 30 years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical discovery and development experience. In December 2000, he co-founded Plexxikon and was its chief executive officer until 2013. Plexxikon was acquired in April 2011 by Daiichi Sankyo.

Prior to Plexxikon, Hirth was at Sugen. He helped build the company from inception, and advanced several kinase inhibitors through clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, including the drug Sutent. After the acquisition by Pharmacia-Upjohn in 1999, Hirth continued as president until the end of 2000. Previously, Hirth was a vice president of research with Boehringer Mannheim where, among other responsibilities, he successfully led the company's erythropoietin program.