InterMune names Jonathan Leff executive VP of R&D

InterMune has appointed Jonathan Leff to the newly created position of executive VP of R&D, effective from February 27, 2012.

Leff joins the US biotech from KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, where he was vice president and chief medical officer.

In his new role, Leff will be responsible for leading and overseeing all groups within the company's R&D organisation.

He will also provide regulatory and medical support for the commercialisation of the company's products and help expand InterMune's product portfolio.

Dan Welsch, chairman, CEO and president of InterMune, said: “As we begin to execute our plans to achieve InterMune's Vision 2015 Strategic Plan, now is the appropriate time to bring additional talent to our senior leadership team to better co-ordinate and lead the growing size, scale and complexity of our scientific endeavours”.

Prior to joining his position at KaloBios, Leff served as chief medical officer at Halozyme Therapeutics, and was previously vice president and global head of inflammation clinical development at Roche.

Other earlier roles include vice president of North America medical affairs at Amgen and senior director at Merck.