Dendreon appoints new R&D lead

Cancer vaccine company Dendreon has added to its senior team, appointing Dr Bruce Brown as its new senior vice president, medical.

The appointment comes at a time when the Californian biopharma drives to expand the use of Provenge (sipuleucel-T).

Dr Brown’s new role will see him head the company’s R&D organisation, including research and discovery, clinical development and exploring Dendreon’s therapeutic platform for alternative oncology indications.

James Caggiano, chief executive officer, Dendreon, said: “With the addition of Bruce, a board-certified urologist and experienced medical director, to our growing leadership team, we are intensifying our focus on urologists who are uniquely positioned to deliver long-term care to men with prostate cancer.

“Bruce’s valuable background leading major medical organisations makes him the ideal fit to accelerate our R&D programme and oversee our efforts to evaluate the use of Provenge in early-stage prostate cancer, with the hope of curing more men of the disease.”

Joining from Astellas Pharma, Dr Brown most recently served as senior medical director of oncology, where he led US medical strategy for the prostate cancer drug Xtandi (enzalutamide).

He said: “Having launched my medical career as a practicing urologist, I am excited by the prospect of improving the lives of men living with prostate cancer through expanded use of Provenge, both in the US and around the world.

“I look forward to working with Dendreon’s experienced team.”