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| Philippe Bishop |
The biopharma industry's headlong rush into cancer drug research has created a fierce competition for top talent in the field, as underscored by Gilead's ($GILD) decision to raid the senior ranks of Genentech for an R&D leader who's being charged with the lead role in oncology. Gilead has recruited Philippe Bishop, who once headed the Avastin program, to take the lead as senior vice president of hematology and oncology therapeutics. According to RBC's Michael Yee and John Chung, the move marks an effort to reinvigorate Gilead's work in the field. "The point we are making is that it's clear Gilead will begin to increase (or at least revitalize) their efforts on the hematology/oncology landscape including determining an immuno-oncology strategy for Gilead," the analysts noted. "Notably Dr Roy Banes was a SVP and key person working on the oncology strategy for Gilead from 2012-2013 and previously was at Amgen as head of hematology oncology for 10 years--but left to go to Merck last year to help lead their PD-1 strategy. So the hire of Dr Bishop today re-invigorates a leader to help determine Gilead's path in oncology." Release