Pfizer Appoints New Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research and Development

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Following a comprehensive internal and external selection process, Pfizer has announced the appointment of Chris Boshoff, MD, PhD, to Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development, effective January 1, 2025. Boshoff most recently served as Pfizer’s Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President and will succeed Mikael Dolsten, MD, PhD.¹

Roger Dansey, MD, will serve as Interim Chief Oncology Officer, and report to Boshoff effective January 1, 2025. Under this structure, Pfizer’s oncology R&D unit will maintain its fully integrated structure. Dansey will assist Boshoff in selecting a permanent Chief Oncology Officer and then retire from Pfizer. Following his retirement, Johanna Bendell, MD will join Pfizer from Roche in 2025 as Chief Development Officer, Oncology.

In a press release, Albert Bourla, DVM, PhD, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer said, “Boshoff is the ideal leader to propel Pfizer’s R&D engine forward and transform it into a world-leading organization with a more focused strategy, driving the delivery of additional impactful breakthrough medicines with blockbuster potential. Chris has a compelling vision for the future of R&D at Pfizer and deep knowledge of our entire pipeline and R&D organization that positions him well to succeed. He has an impressive record of building strong teams and delivering numerous breakthrough medicines. Under Chris’ leadership, Oncology has become one of Pfizer’s most productive divisions and his continued supervision will ensure that we achieve our goal of being a global leader in oncology and other core therapeutic areas.”

In over 11 years at Pfizer, Boshoff delivered 24 approved innovative medicines and biosimilars in more than 30 indications. Prior to his former role of Chief Oncology Officer, Boshoff served as Chief Development Officer for Oncology and Rare Disease. He also previously served as Head of Development Japan across all therapeutic areas. Before these leadership roles in biopharma, Boshoff served as founding Director of the University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute.

“I am honored to be succeeding Mikael and to be taking on leadership of a combined R&D organization that includes world-class talent and capabilities, industry leading success rates and cycle times, and a promising pipeline of innovative medicines and vaccines candidates poised to have a tremendous impact for patients globally,” said Boshoff in the press release. “I look forward to working even more closely with Albert, our executive leadership team, and our entire R&D organization to take Pfizer’s pipeline and productivity to the next level. I am confident that we can build on our long history of successes and drive even deeper focus on advancing the most impactful programs in areas of high unmet medical need that will have a meaningful impact on patients worldwide.”

Pfizer announced Dolsten’s departure earlier in July. In a more than 15-year tenure, he oversaw more than 35 drug and vaccines approvals. One of Dolsten’s most significant accomplishments was the development and approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and oral therapeutic.²

“Leading research and development at Pfizer has been a journey of a lifetime,” said Dolsten in an earlier press release. “I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished in creating a world-class R&D organization with amazing talent, industry-leading scientific platforms, and a first-in-class pipeline and portfolio. I look forward to working closely with Albert to find a new leader who can build on our success and bring even more breakthroughs to patients in need.”

References

1. Pfizer Announces New Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development. News release. Pfizer. November 20, 2024. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-new-chief-scientific-officer-and-president

2. Pfizer to Launch Process to Identify a Successor for Dr. Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Pfizer Research & Development. News release. Pfizer. July 9, 2024. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-launch-process-identify-successor-dr-mikael-dolsten