Takeda Appoints New Head of Vaccine Development
DEERFIELD, Ill., Oct 07, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. ("Takeda") announced today that John Boslego, MD, has been named Senior Vice President and Head of Development for Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit, effective December 1, 2014. He will succeed Ralf Clemens, MD, who has served in this role since the launch of Takeda's Vaccine Business Division in January 2012.
Dr. Boslego will be responsible for accelerating global vaccine development activities at Takeda, with a focus on lead development programs for dengue, norovirus and seasonal influenza. He will report to Rajeev Venkayya, MD, President of Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit.
Dr. Boslego has worked for more than 40 years in vaccine clinical research and development. Most recently, he was the Director of the Vaccine Development Global Program at PATH, where he built a vaccine development organization and advanced the development of vaccines against pneumococcus, rotavirus, ETEC, shigella, meningococcus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, polio and Japanese encephalitis. Prior to this, he served as executive director of Biologics, Clinical Research at Merck & Co., Inc., where he directed a global team that was responsible for the successful development and licensure of a portfolio that included a Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine, various pediatric combination vaccines, a rotavirus vaccine, and the first HPV vaccine, among others.
Prior to Merck, John directed the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS) in Bangkok, Thailand where he led research and development programs for vaccines against hepatitis A, malaria, dengue, rickettsial diseases, bacterial diarrheas, and HIV. John's final assignment in the US Army was as Deputy Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), where he directed research and vaccine development against a broad array of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens.
Dr. Boslego received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.
"John brings a wealth of vaccine development and global health experience to Takeda at an important time," said Rajeev Venkayya, MD, President of Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit. "He takes the helm of an outstanding Development team that was built by Ralf Clemens, and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to deliver our exciting pipeline."
About Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Located in Deerfield, Illinois, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, an industry leader and the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. is the hub for R&D excellence and the commercial activities in Americas and Europe as well as other strategic functions of Takeda group. It is committed to maximize the global market potential of new products and the company's international presence to realize Takeda's Mission to strive toward better health for patients through leading innovation in medicine. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate Web site, www.takeda.com.
About Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit
Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit is committed to global public health and prevention of disease to ensure "Better Health, Brighter Future" for people around the world. Takeda has manufactured and supplied vaccines in Japan for more than 60 years. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Takeda's Global Vaccine Business was launched in January 2012 to build upon this success. Today, development efforts are focused on global health priorities, such as dengue, norovirus and influenza that represent significant public health problems around the world.
SOURCE: Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
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