Saqib
Islam To Join as Chief Strategy and Portfolio Officer
The arrivals of Dr. Mackay and Mr. Islam will help to broaden Alexion's portfolio of transformative ultra-orphan therapeutic candidates and accelerate the development of these candidates into approved products. The promotion of Dr. Squinto to his new position will support these initiatives, and also improve and expand critical processes in manufacturing, quality and corporate project management.
Growing to Serve More Patients, with More Disorders, in More Countries
Alexion currently serves patients in nearly 50 countries with Soliris®
(eculizumab), the Company's first approved product. Soliris is approved
for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in the US,
Dr. Squinto, co-founder of Alexion along with Dr. Bell, has helped to grow the Company from a start-up to a global organization with 1,500 employees around the world. Dr. Squinto continues to serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, having risen to Executive Vice President and Head of R&D in 2007, and subsequently leading the development of Soliris through its approval in aHUS. Most recently, Dr. Squinto has driven the expansion of Alexion's R&D pipeline to now comprise five highly innovative therapeutic candidates. In his new position of Chief Global Operations Officer, Dr. Squinto will increasingly focus his activities on leadership of the Company's critical technical operations and quality organizations. Dr. Squinto will commence his new duties at Alexion in mid-May.
"Steve's deep experience, strong technical background and excellent leadership skills, position him well to lead the critical expansions in our global manufacturing and quality organizations," said Dr. Bell. "Additionally, Steve's leadership in the development of a corporate project management organization will serve as a critical underpinning for our global growth across many vital functions and projects."
Dr. Mackay brings to Alexion more than 30 years of experience in drug
discovery and development on a global scale. In his position, Dr. Mackay
will focus on continuing to build and improve Alexion's global research
and development organization with a goal of accelerating the
simultaneous development of multiple drug candidates in debilitating and
life-threatening ultra-rare disorders across a range of therapeutic
areas. Most recently, Dr. Mackay served as President, Research and
Development at AstraZeneca, reporting directly to the CEO, where he led
all R&D functions on a global basis, including discovery research,
clinical development, regulatory affairs and key related R&D functions.
Prior to AstraZeneca, Dr. Mackay held positions of increasing
responsibility at Pfizer, rising to the position of President, Head of
Pfizer Pharmatherapeutics, R&D, where he reported to the CEO and
Chairman, overseeing all aspects of discovery and development of
therapies across nine therapeutic areas. Earlier in his career, Dr.
Mackay worked in the CIBA organization (now Novartis) and held positions
within academia. He received his Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the
"I am excited to be joining Alexion at a time when the company is developing the most robust pipeline in its history. With an exclusive focus on transformative therapies, we can bring hope to an increasing number of patients with a wide range of life-threatening ultra-rare disorders," said Dr. Mackay.
"Martin's passion to help patients, and his world-class experience in building and leading talented R&D organizations across multiple therapeutic areas, will help Alexion to reach the next levels in our mission to bring additional breakthrough therapies to individuals and families suffering from devastating and ultra-rare conditions," said Dr. Bell.
"Alexion offers an unmatched combination of a unique and highly
respected track record within the ultra-orphan space, substantial global
resources, and an entrepreneurial determination to serve even more
patients with severe, ultra-rare disorders," said
"Saqib's experience within healthcare and across other key industries will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of leading the Alexion organization to maximize our opportunities to serve patients," said Dr. Bell. "He will play a central role as we continue to grow our global organization to serve more patients with additional severe and ultra-rare disorders."
About Soliris
Soliris is a first-in-class terminal complement inhibitor developed from
the laboratory through regulatory approval and commercialization by
Alexion. Soliris is approved in the U.S.,
Soliris is also approved in the U.S. and the
Alexion's breakthrough approach in complement inhibition has received
the pharmaceutical industry's highest honors: the 2008
About Alexion
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to factors that may cause
Alexion's results and plans to differ from those expected, including for
example, decisions of regulatory authorities regarding marketing
approval or material limitations on the marketing of Soliris for its
current or potential new indications, and a variety of other risks set
forth from time to time in Alexion's filings with the
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