AstraZeneca’s head of drug development to retire

Source: Healthcare Digital

Date :04/11/2008 11:08:54

John Patterson, AstraZeneca plc's head of drug development, will retire from the company next March.

The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said on Tuesday, November 4, that Patterson (pictured), 61, would be replaced by Anders Ekblom, 54, who will assume full management responsibility for the development organisation at the end of January 2009.

Ekblom joined AstraZeneca in 1993 and is currently Vice President and head of global clinical development.

Patterson, an industry veteran, was appointed Executive Director responsible for development in December 2004. He was initially brought in as development head in a bid to restore confidence in the drugmaker’s new drug pipeline.