Kite Pharma has appointed former Amgen executive director Dr Rizwana Sproule as head VP, regulatory affairs.
Dr Sproule spent 14 year at Amgen, most recently serving as executive director, therapeutic area head for oncology global regulatory affairs.
In this role, she oversaw Amgen’s oncology products having previously held the role of global regulatory leader for the development of Amgen’s Vectibix (panitumumab), which is approved to treat colorectal cancer.
Her experience prior to joining Amgen includes a regulatory affairs consultant role at the clinical research organisation (CRO) Kendle, as well as roles at SmithKline Beecham and Syntex.
Kite’s chairman Dr Arie Belldegrun said: “Rizwana offers an impressive track record in guiding the regulatory process for well-recognised best-in-class therapies, and her expertise in working with international agencies – FDA, EMA/CHMP, Health Canada, and PMDA – at multiple levels will be critical to Kite’s further advancement and planning.”
Dr Sproule is the latest in a string of senior appointments at Kite as the company prepares for the advance of its research projects involving cancer immunotherapies.
Other recent additions include chief financial officer Cynthia Butitta; Dr Keith Nolop as chief medical officer; and several cancer experts to the company’s scientific advisory board.