BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frank Amato, previously Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of electroCore, the Merck-backed world leader in non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) therapy. This change is part of a management-proposed development plan, unanimously approved by the company’s Board, designed to position the company for its next phase of growth.

This will include the commercialization of its gammaCore nVNS therapy for the treatment of cluster headache and migraine. It will also position other key personnel within the company to continue the development of nVNS for the treatment other central nervous system disorders.

Mr Amato, who joined electroCore in 2012 as COO, has extensive commercial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, most recently holding the position of US Vice President, Specialty Commercial Operations Group, at Merck (NYSE: MRK). Prior to his tenure at Merck, Mr. Amato worked at Schering-Plough, as Executive Director, Global Business Operations. Other senior positions he has held include Business Unit Lead, Oncology for Ligand Pharmaceutical, and National Accounts Director, Specialty Managed Markets, for Pfizer.

Founder and Board Member, JP Errico, who previously held the role of Chief Executive Officer, is transitioning to Chief Science and Strategy Officer, and will focus on leading the team that will spearhead the development of nVNS into other therapeutic areas in the CNS and beyond.

JP Errico, who co-founded electroCore in 2005, has been involved with successfully establishing several prior successful medical ventures, with licenses and sales of technologies and companies in medtech, including co-founding K2 Medical (NASDAQ: KTWO) and SpineCore, where he served as the CEO and Board Member from 2001 to 2004, when it was sold to Stryker Corp. (NYSE: SYK). Products patented, developed, and commercialized by the companies he founded have generated more than $12 billion in sales to date.

The commercialization of the CE marked gammaCore therapy has started in Europe through a partnering agreement with Desitin, a CNS-focused specialty pharmaceutical company calling on neurologists and pain doctors treating headache disorders in Germany.

ElectroCore has regulatory approval for the use of gammaCore therapy in the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of cluster headache, migraine and medication overuse headache throughout the European Union. In the USA it is presently being reviewed by the FDA for the treatment of cluster headache.