Takeda names CRISPR’s CMO PK Morrow as head of oncology

Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda Pharma (TYO: 4502) has appointed Dr Phuong Khanh (PK) Morrow as head of the Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, effective as of January 29.

Takeda noted that Dr Morrow brings decades of oncology and hematology experience, most recently serving as chief medical officer (CMO) at CRISPR Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CRSP). Under her leadership, the first ever CRISPR gene editing medicine, Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel [exa-cel]), was approved for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.

Before her time at CRISPR, Dr Morrow spent over a decade at Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), where she served as vice president and global therapeutic area head of hematology, GI oncology, GU oncology, and bone diseases. During her tenure, Dr Morrow oversaw the development and registration of several new medicines and led late development for multiple other investigational therapies.