Kite Pharma once again looks to Amgen

Kite Pharma has appointed two former Amgen directors to senior positions in its research team.

Dr William Go joins as senior director, clinical development, and Jeff Aycock joins as senior director, clinical operations. 

Dr Go was most recently US medical lead for Amgen's cancer treatments Vectibix (panitumumab) and medical director in the company's global development business. Aycock, meanwhile, was most recently director, oncology study management and US regional lead at Amgen, overseeing five oncology programmes.

The two will now add their expertise in cancer to Kite as it plans to advance its immunotherapy plans in oncology.

They are the fourth and fifth senior figures to make their way from Amgen to Kite this year, following the appointments of VP, clinical development, Dr Jeffrey Wiezorek in May and of chief medical officer Dr David Chang earlier this month to replace Dr Keith Nolop who spent just one year in the role.

Outside R&D, Kite also added Dr Rizwana Sproule from Amgen as head VP, regulatory affairs in January.