Ronald E Cape

Cetus Corp.'s outspoken president and chief executive, Robert A. Fildes, resigned Thursday, less than a month after a Food and Drug Administration panel recommended against approval of the company's crucial anti-cancer drug. Chairman Ronald E. Cape, who relinquished the CEO title to Fildes in 1986, was again named to the post, the Emeryville, Calif.-based biotechnology company said in a statement. Also, Hollings C. Renton, chief operating officer, was given the additional title of president.

Cetus Corp.'s outspoken president and chief executive, Robert A. Fildes, resigned Thursday, less than a month after a Food and Drug Administration panel recommended against approval of the company's crucial anti-cancer drug. Chairman Ronald E. Cape, who relinquished the CEO title to Fildes in 1986, was again named to the post, the Emeryville, Calif.-based biotechnology company said in a statement. Also, Hollings C. Renton, chief operating officer, was given the additional title of president.

Cetus Corp., a leader in the biotechnology field, is expected to announce today that Robert A. Fildes, president and chief operating officer, will be given the additional title of chief executive. Cetus Chairman Ronald E. Cape also has held the chief executive title since he co-founded the firm in 1971. Cape, considered the dean of the biotechnology industry, is expected to remain with the Emeryville-based company.

As expected, Cetus Corp. said Thursday that it has named President Robert A. Fildes to the additional position of chief executive. Ronald E. Cape, Cetus co-founder and chairman, also had been chief executive. Cape will remain as chairman. Fildes, 47, joined Cetus in December, 1982, as president and chief operating officer. As Cape became increasingly active in industry organizations and issues, Fildes has assumed more and more of the day-to-day responsibilities for the No. 2 biotechnology firm.