Abraxis BioScience Inc. on Thursday said Chief Executive Lonnie Moulder was leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. A successor already has been named.

The Los Angeles cancer drugmaker said Bruce Wendel is the new CEO and will become vice chairman of the board. Wendel joined APP Pharmaceuticals, a predecessor company, in 2004, and has been executive vice president of corporate operations and development since Abraxis BioScience separated from APP in November 2007.

Moulder had been with Abraxis since April when the company founder Dr. Soon-Shiong stepped down to spend more time on a related genetic medicine start-up called Abraxis Health, and on his philanthropy. According to a filing with regulators, Moulder officially resigned Wednesday.

On another matter, the company confirmed that is expected to formally spin off Abraxis Health later this year.

“By spinning off Abraxis Health as an independent, stand-alone company, we believe we will enhance the intrinsic value of both companies by allowing each company to pursue its differing drug development and commercialization strategies,” said Soon-Shiong, who is executive chairman of Abraxis BioScience and chief executive of Abraxis Health.

Mitchell Fogelman who joined Abraxis BioScience in October 2009 as senior vice president of finance, will become principal financial officer of the Abraxis Health division for now and eventually chief financial officer following the spin-off.

Shares were down 29 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $41.07 in midday trading on the Nasdaq.