FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jun 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that John G. McHutchison, MD, will join the company as Senior Vice President, Liver Disease Therapeutics. In this position, Dr. McHutchison will report to Norbert W. Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer and will have responsibility for Gilead's research and development efforts supporting the company's programs in liver disease, including hepatitis C.
Dr. McHutchison will also join Gilead's Executive Committee.
"John is recognized internationally as one of the leading experts in gastroenterology and hepatology, and I am very pleased to welcome him to the Gilead team," said Dr. Bischofberger. "John's appointment as Senior Vice President is indicative of the strong commitment we have to the therapeutic category of liver disease. His extensive clinical and translational research experience in this area will be of great value as we work to advance promising pipeline programs in hepatitis C and further characterize the profile of our commercial products in hepatitis B."
Dr. McHutchison joins Gilead from Duke University Medical Center, where he most recently served as Associate Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Director of the GI/Hepatology Research Program. He also held the positions of Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at Duke University Medical Center, Co-Director of the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Award and Director of the Duke Clinical Research Unit.
"The strength of Gilead's scientific leadership and the unique opportunity to help shape future therapeutic possibilities for many patients with liver disease led to my keen interest in the company," said Dr. McHutchison. "After meeting with the Gilead team, I am very enthusiastic about the company's potential to advance promising treatments for patients with hepatitis C and other liver diseases - areas where there remains a large unmet medical need."
Dr. McHutchison received bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degrees from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Dr. McHutchison is also a member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is a member of several scientific advisory boards, serves on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts.
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Huge news for Gilead as McHutchison is one of the most globally recognized thought leaders in HCV and brings in huge amounts of clinical and commercial expertise. On the flip side, he is one of the more polarizing figures in liver disease which could have ramifications in regards to Gilead's current and future customer base.
ReplyDeleteMcHutchinson was on my team of Drs at Duke along with Dr Andrew Muir as my primary hepatologist when I was treated for HCV the second time in 2005.
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