Biogen poaches Pfizer exec as EVP, corporate development

US biotech major Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) has appointed Daniel Karp as executive vice president, corporate development effective June 11, 2018.

Mr Karp will lead the newly created corporate development function, which will include corporate and business development and corporate strategy. He will be a member of the executive committee and report directly to Michel Vounatsos, Biogen’s chief executive.

Mr Karp joins Biogen from US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), where he most recently was VP, worldwide business development and head of business development for R&D. In that role, he led a global team responsible for early science transactions, partnerships and acquisitions across Pfizer’s research portfolio. In over a decade at Pfizer, he held corporate and business development roles spanning rare diseases, gene therapy, vaccines, oncology and specialty care, with experience including mergers and acquisitions, licensing and scientific collaborations. In recent years, he has been involved in several high-profile acquisitions and led business development organizations that executed hundreds of agreements, licenses and collaborations. His experience also includes healthcare and life sciences strategy consulting.