Hughes’ employment becomes effective Aug. 1, 2022, and he will be based out of Tel Aviv, Israel-based Teva’s U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey. The company develops generic and specialty medicines, including inhalation solutions.
With nearly 20 years of experience in all phases of drug development in leading global pharmaceutical companies, Hughes most recently served as SVP of clinical development and translational medicine at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Before that, he was head of the immunology, hepatology and dermatology global development unit at Novartis.
“Eric brings nearly 20 years of leadership roles with a proven track record in a variety of R&D functions for global pharmaceutical companies, and has a successful record of accomplishment fostering productive collaborations with key opinion leaders and patient advocacy groups,” Teva President and CEO Kåre Schultz said in a news release. “As an accomplished scientist with specialty training in infectious diseases and immunology, combined with his track record of leading clinical development activities and talent across multiple therapeutic areas around the globe, I believe Eric has the experience and expertise to lead our global R&D function and execute on the company-wide vision for innovation and growth going forward.”
Hughes began his career in the industry in 2004 in early clinical research at Bristol Myers-Squibb Company and then at Schering-Plough Research Institute. He also spent a year at Merck Research Laboratories as director of clinical hepatology before returning to Bristol Myers-Squibb, where he was the medical lead in global clinical research for virology before later becoming head of virology, fibrotic diseases, genetically-defined diseases, autoimmunity and cardiology exploratory clinical and translational research.
“I am thrilled to join Teva’s executive management team and lead its unique, integrated global R&D organization,” Hughes said. “Building on Teva’s strong heritage of value creation, we have a tremendous opportunity to bring meaningful specialty, biologics and generics medicines to patients worldwide.”
