Mundipharma hires new SVP business development and strategic partnerships
Mundipharma has named Marco Cerato as its senior vice president, business development and strategic partnerships.
Cerato joins Mundipharma’s European team, reporting into president and chief executive officer of Europe, Alberto Martinez.
Martinez said: “We are delighted to fill this strategic position with such a motivated individual. Marco has significant commercial, development and strategic leadership expertise.
“Marco will be responsible for our European business development team and strategy as well as for coordinating our internal and external partnerships in order to enhance our product portfolio and pipeline.”
Cerato brings with him a wealth of business development experience, including in-licensing, out-licensing, alliance management, and mergers and acquisitions.
He started his career with Eurand in Italy, and since 2011 he has worked for Helsinn Healthcare, a cancer care company.
Sinclair Pharma appoints Umberto La Magna as head of CEE and MEA region
Umberto La Magna has decided to join Sinclair Pharma, taking up the role of head of Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa regions.
Based in London, La Magna will be responsible for driving growth and profit through the implementation of a global strategy.
He will report directly to vice president of intercontinental regions, Kamal Abbasi.
Most recently, La Magna held the role of head of central south-east Europe for Baxter International, based in Prague.
Before this, he undertook a 15-year stint with Allergan.
“Umberto is a highly accomplished pharma executive with a long history of proven success leading major healthcare brands and franchises in both the CEE and MEA regions” said Chris Spooner, CEO of Sinclair.
“As Head of these two regions, he will bring a wealth of experience and his leadership will be instrumental in leading our expansion and growth in these critical territories.”
Relay Therapeutics strengthens R&D team
Relay Therapeutics has announced that Mary Mader will join the team as its vice president of chemistry.
Mader brings a track record of drug discovery experience to the biotech, most recently working for Eli Lilly, where she contributed to the development of multiple clinical candidates.
At Lilly, Mader was most recently a research fellow and group leader, but prior to this she was a visiting research scientists at the Bayer Research Center and an associate professor at Grinnell College, Iowa, US.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Padval also joins Relay as senior vice president of pharmaceutical drug development.
Padval was most recently vice president of pharmaceutical sciences and product development at Verastem. There, he was responsible for preclinical development, CMC, and clinical pharmacology activities in support of company’s development programmes.
“We welcome Mary and Mahesh to Relay Therapeutics, both key additions to our senior R&D leadership team,” said Don Bergstrom, head of research and development at Relay Therapeutics.
“Their experience as seasoned biopharma executives will bolster our capabilities as we apply our protein motion platform to an expanding array of therapeutic targets, as well as support our transition into a development-stage biotechnology company.”