Amgen’s Joseph Turgeon joins Spectrum as SVP sales and commercial operations

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has appointed former Amgen executive Joseph Turgeon to senior VP sales and commercial operations.

In his new role, Turgeon will have responsibility for the commercialisation and sales of Spectrum's complete portfolio, which includes cancer treatments Fusilev (levoleucovorin), Folotyn (pralatrexate injection) and Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan).

Turgeon has strong pedigree in the oncology market, having most recently served as VP sales, oncology at Amgen, where he led the launch of four new drugs and oversaw an increase in annual revenue from $2bn to more than $6bn.

He is the second major figure to move from Amgen to Spectrum in recent months following the appointment of Ken Keller as chief operating officer in September this year.

”The addition of Mr Turgeon following appointment of Mr Keller earlier this year is part of a planned strategy for expedited growth of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals,” Rajesh Shrotriya, chair, president and CEO of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.

“With three anticancer drugs on the market now bringing nearly $300m in pro forma revenue and nearly ten drugs in clinical development, we are committed to strong growth in the next five years.”

In addition to Turgeon's appointment, Spectrum also announced that the company's chief commercial officer Jim Shields is to retire due to health reasons. He will continue to serve Spectrum in an advisory role.