Eisai Inc names former Shire exec as SVP of oncology unit

The US subsidiary of Japanese pharma major Eisai (TYO: 4523) has appointed Kirk Shepard as senior vice president, global medical affairs of the Oncology Business Group.

Dr Shepard will be responsible for creating and overseeing Eisai's global oncology medical strategies for the commercial and market access businesses at New Jersey-based Eisai Inc.

Dr Shepard joins Eisai from Ireland-headquartered Shire (LSE: SHP), where he served as SVP and head, global medical affairs following the company's acquisition of Baxalta (formerly Bioscience Baxter Healthcare Corporation) in June 2016. During his four-plus year tenure with Shire and Baxalta, Dr Shepard was in charge of leading the life cycle management of the company's oncology, neurology, hemophilia, hematology and immunology products, as well as biosimilars. Prior to Baxalta, Dr Shepard served as SVP, global medical affairs at Takeda Pharmaceuticals International for over four years. Dr Shepard began his pharmaceutical career with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (formerly Roxane Labs), where he spent 17 years in roles at the vice president and senior vice president level.