Chutes & Ladders: Cancer expert Richard Gaynor leaves Lilly Oncology

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Welcome to this week's Chutes and Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word--or the bad--from your shop to Michael Gibney (email) or Eric Sagonowsky (email) and we will feature it here at the end of each week.

Cancer expert Richard Gaynor leaves Lilly Oncology

Eli Lilly
Dr. Richard Gaynor
will leave his position as one of the top execs of Eli Lilly’s Oncology division at the start of next year as the company employs new blood to try to bolster its cancer R&D. Dr. Gaynor, who is said by Lilly ($LLY) to be retiring completely, will be succeeded by Dr. Levi Garraway, who is described by the Big Pharma as “a world leader in the analysis of cancer genomics and resistance to targeted therapies.” He’ll become SVP of global development and medical affairs for Lilly’s Oncology biz from Jan. 1 of next year. More


Ex-FDA Sarepta critic Ron Farkas joins Parexel

Parexel
After days of rumors that Dr. Ron Farkas, a vocal FDA critic of Sarepta’s Duchenne med eteplirsen, had left the agency, Parexel has confirmed to FierceCRO that he has joined their company. The FDA said on Wednesday that Farkas had left the regulator, and Parexel ($PRXL) confirmed to me on the same day that he joined the CRO “earlier this month,” and will be consulting as VP of integrated product development. Dr. Farkas became known as a big critic of Sarepta’s recent attempt to get its DMD drug onto the market, saying it did not have great enough efficacy to warrant a green light. More


C4 Therapeutics promotes Andrew Phillips to president and CSO

C4 Therapeutics

Andrew Phillips will be the new president and chief scientific officer, replacing Jason Fisherman, who resigned. Release


Biotech

> eFFECTOR appointed Jeremy Barton as its chief medical officer. Release

> Sorrento ($SRNE) appointed Miranda Toledano as executive vice president of corporate development and president of LA Cell. Release

> Melissa Moore joined Moderna as its mRNA research platform's chief scientific officer. Release

Medical Devices

> Medtronic ($MDT) named Mark Ploof its senior vice president of global operations and business services. Release