Michael Fleming joins biosimilars firm Coherus

Coherus Biosciences has named Michael Fleming as senior VP, commercial strategy.

Fleming was most recently at Elan where he was head of commercial and of the company's Tysabri (natalizumab) franchise.

He joins Coherus as it begins to advance its pipeline of biosimilars towards commercialisation, a process that has already seen it sign an alliance with Baxter to develop a biosimilar version of Amgen and Pfizer's big-selling arthritis and psoriasis drug Enbrel (etanercept).

“Michael's experience in building commercial operations and his knowledge of markets and health systems are of immediate importance,” said Danny Lanfear, CEO of Coherus.

“He will play a key role in defining strategies that effectively maximise the commercial potential of our products.”

Fleming gained experience in commercialising biological medicines during his time leading the strategy for Elan's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.

His other experience includes senior commercial roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Genentech, Nuvelo, Agendia and Campbell Alliance.