Roy Baynes joins Gilead’s oncology division

Dr Roy Baynes has been appointed senior VP, oncology therapeutics at US biopharmaceutical company Gilead.

His appointment comes after a 10-year spell at Amgen, where he served as VP of global development and therapeutic area head of haematology and oncology.

“Roy has an extensive background in clinical practice, academic research and in cancer drug development,” said Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive VP, R&D and chief scientific officer.

“Under his leadership, we are well positioned to advance our growing number of pipeline programmes targeted at both haematological malignancies and solid tumours.”

Baynes will report to Bischofberger as part of his new role leading Gilead's programme in oncology.

Baynes added: “Cancer research is an incredibly challenging and evolving field, but one with great opportunity and I look forward to working closely with the internal team and external collaborators as we seek to develop novel cancer therapies that address significant unmet medical needs.”

Prior to his role at Amgen, Baynes was the Charles Martin Professor of Cancer Research at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit.

He was also a professor of medicine, professor of oncology and director of the bone marrow transplant programme during his time at Wayne State.