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 Eric Sagonowsky (email) or Angus Liu (email) and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
With $76M round, KSQ names ex-Genzyme head David Meeker as CEO
David Meeker was named CEO.
Using a platform called CRISPRomics to guide drug discovery, KSQ Therapeutics launched this week with a $76 million funding round and high-profile leadership. The company is helmed by David Meeker, M.D., who spent more than 20 years at Genzyme and ultimately led that company before leaving earlier this year. Frank Stegmeier, Ph.D., formerly global head of oncology target discovery at Novartis, is serving as chief scientific officer. The company is preparing to advance toward the clinic with some of its candidates, discovered with a platform that screens all human genes in hundreds of models to highlight drug targets that could have a strong effect on molecularly defined cancer subtypes with minimal toxicity. FierceBiotech story
In management revamp, Lilly R&D exec Jan Lundberg is retiring
Eli Lilly
Jan Lundberg is retiring as president of Lilly Research Labs.
Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks is making his next shake-up. As part of changes announced this week, R&D executive Jan Lundberg, Ph.D., is set to retire at the end of May 2018 after eight years with the drugmaker. He previously served as AstraZeneca's drug discovery research head for a decade. The company promoted
Sanofi promotes Stefan Oelrich to top diabetes and CV post
Stefan Oelrich was promoted to head of diabetes and cardiovascular.
After Peter Guenter stepped down last month to take Almirall's CEO job, French pharma giant Sanofi has tapped Stefan Oelrich with managing the company's global diabetes and cardiovascular business. Oelrich, who had been running the business in North America, is tasked with the tough job of growing a segment that's been hit by competitive pressures as payers pit drugmakers against each other for deep discounts. As a result, Sanofi's diabetes and cardio sales have been a drag on overall growth in recent years. In an interview, he said Sanofi is ready to compete not just on rebating but also on value and "clinical differentiation." FiercePharma story
> Cellectis Chief Medical Officer Loan Hoang-Sayag, M.D., left the company to pursue other opportunities. Release
> Jonca Bull, M.D., was appointed vice president of ophthalmology within global product development at PPD. The CRO also named her president of its consulting group, PPD Consulting. FierceCRO story
> Atlas Genetics named a new CEO in Jeffrey Luber. Release
> Medtech giant Boston Scientific selected Desiree Ralls-Morrison, J.D., as its general counsel. Release
> AMRI named Joseph D. Sangregorio its chief human resources officer. Release