Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) today announced executive leadership changes as it creates neuroscience and immunology business units.
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly split its bio-medicines segment into Lilly Neuroscience and Lilly Immunology in the organizational shift, to be made effective Sept. 5, with Anne White set to lead the neuroscience unit and Patrik Jonsson set to head up the immunology arm.
White, currently SVP and president of Lilly Oncology, will be responsible for Lilly’s launched products and Phase 3 portfolio in pain and neurodegeneration, including the potential launch of its donanemab treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which recently received FDA breakthrough device designation.
According to a news release, Jonsson’s role as president of Lilly Immunology will add to his ongoing responsibilities as SVP and president of Lilly USA and chief customer officer. He will lead the company’s launched products and Phase 3 portfolio of medicines in dermatology, gastroenterology and rheumatology.
Jacob Van Naarden, currently the CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly, was promoted to SVP, CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly and president of Lilly Oncology. He will be tasked with unifying the organizations and will also join Lilly’s executive committee.
Additionally, Alfonso Zulueta, SVP and president of Lilly International, will retire at the end of 2021, following more than three decades of service to the company. Ilya Yuffa, the current SVP and president of Lilly Bio-Medicines, will succeed Zulueta, having previously served as VP of U.S. diabetes for Lilly USA.
Mike Mason will continue to serve as SVP and president of Lilly Diabetes with responsibilities for the company’s launched products and Phase 3 portfolio of diabetes therapies.
“As we prepare for an exciting period of growth and the potential launch of new breakthrough medicines over the next few years, these leadership and organizational changes will allow us to realize the many opportunities we have to improve the lives of people around the world,” Lilly chairman & CEO David A. Ricks said in the release. “Anne, Jake and Patrik’s extensive experience will bring the focus and agility necessary to lead the growth of our existing medicines and the global introduction of Lilly’s late-stage pipeline for the benefit of patients across a diverse set of medical conditions.”
