-Jeffrey Chodakewitz, M.D., to retire and serve as senior advisor
through early 2019-
-Dr. Kewalramani to become CMO and Executive Vice President, Global
Medicines Development and Medical Affairs, on April 1, 2018-
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Vertex
Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that
Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., has been appointed Chief Medical Officer and
Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Medical
Affairs, effective April 1, 2018. Dr. Kewalramani currently serves as
Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at
Vertex and will succeed Jeffrey A. Chodakewitz, M.D., who is retiring
from his role as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President,
Global Medicines Development and Medical Affairs. Dr. Chodakewitz will
remain with Vertex as a senior advisor through early 2019.
Since joining Vertex in 2014, Dr. Chodakewitz has been an inspirational
senior medical leader and has played an instrumental part in the
company's advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) and in expanding Vertex's
development pipeline. Prior to Vertex, Dr. Chodakewitz had an
outstanding 20-year career at Merck, where he led the successful
development of multiple medicines and vaccines across a number of
therapeutic areas.
"I would like to personally thank Jeff for his leadership and dedication
to improving the lives of people with cystic fibrosis and other serious
and life-threatening diseases," said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D.,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex. "He has
played a critical role in leading multiple successful clinical
development efforts at Vertex, and I'm pleased that we will continue to
benefit from his guidance as a senior advisor over the next year as he
transitions to retirement. I'm also delighted that Reshma has agreed to
succeed Jeff as our Chief Medical Officer. Reshma's depth of medical
knowledge, paired with her experience and proven track record as a
clinical leader at Vertex, makes her an ideal successor to Jeff. I look
forward to working with Reshma to continue to advance our clinical
development pipeline in cystic fibrosis and other serious diseases."
"It has been an honor to lead Vertex's clinical development efforts and
to be a part of the significant advancement in treatments for cystic
fibrosis patients over the last four years," said Dr. Chodakewitz. "I
have enjoyed working closely with Reshma since she joined the Company
last year and am confident that Vertex will continue its success in
pursuing innovative therapies under her leadership."
"It's a privilege to work at a company with such a relentless focus on
science and deep commitment to improving the lives of patients and their
families," said Dr. Kewalramani. "I am excited to assume the role of CMO
and continue our important work to help more people with cystic fibrosis
and other serious diseases alongside the talented team at Vertex."
Dr. Kewalramani is an accomplished leader and physician who has a track
record of building strong teams, putting patients first, leading change
and delivering results. Prior to joining Vertex in February 2017, Dr.
Kewalramani spent over 12 years at Amgen where she most recently served
as Vice President and Head of the U.S. Medical Organization. During her
tenure at Amgen, Dr. Kewalramani held roles with increasing
responsibility across Clinical Development and Medical Affairs and
served in leadership positions involving research and development and
commercialization activities across a variety of therapeutic areas. Dr.
Kewalramani is the industry representative to the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) Endocrine and Metabolic Drug Advisory Committee and
was on the inaugural Board of Directors of the Kidney Health Initiative.
She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the
Massachusetts General Hospital and her fellowship in Nephrology at the
Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital combined
program. Dr. Kewalramani received her medical degree, with honors, from
the Boston University School of Medicine and is also an alumnus of the
Harvard Business School.
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific
innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious
and life-threatening diseases. In addition to clinical development
programs in CF, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs
focused on the underlying mechanisms of other serious diseases.
Founded in1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's headquarters is now located
in Boston's Innovation District. Today, the company has research and
development sites and commercial offices in the United States, Europe,
Canada and Australia. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the
industry's top places to work, including being named to Science
magazine's Top Employers in the life sciences ranking for eight years in
a row. For additional information and the latest updates from the
company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226005820/en/
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Investors:
Michael
Partridge, 617-341-6108
or
Eric Rojas, 617-961-7205
or
Zach
Barber, 617-341-6470
or
Media:
617-341-6992
mediainfo@vrtx.com
Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
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