Pfizer announces key appointments in BioTherapeutics R&D and Rinat

Pfizer has made two strategic appointments in the leadership of their Worldwide Research and Development (WSD) organisation effective immediately.

Michael D. Ehlers, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected as Group Senior Vice President and Head of BioTherapeutics Research & Development and Site Head for Pfizer’s Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts locations. Dr Ehlers will report directly to Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., President of Worldwide Research & Development. In addition, John Lin, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Rinat. Dr Lin will report directly to Robert T. Abraham, Ph.D., Group Senior Vice President for Oncology-Rinat Research & Development.

Dr Michael D. Ehlers to lead BioTherapeutics R&D

In his expanded role as Head of BioTherapeutics Research & Development, Dr Ehlers will continue to be Chief Scientific Officer of Pfizer’s Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit and he will oversee the entire BioTherapeutics Research & Development organisation. In connection with this appointment, the Inflammation and Immunology Research Unit will move to Pfizer’s PharmaTherapeutics Research & Development organisation. Dr Ehlers will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“It’s a privilege to see extraordinary scientific talent rise to the opportunity to grow within our organisation and lead the future of Pfizer’s key R&D areas” said Dr Dolsten. “Mike is a world-class talent who has made significant contributions in advancing our neuroscience research efforts and is now poised to lead BioTherapeutics Research & Development into the next era of potential breakthroughs for patients, not only in neuroscience and pain, but in rare diseases, and also at Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation.”

Prior to joining Pfizer in 2010, Dr Ehlers spent 12 years as the George Barth Geller Professor of Neurobiology and as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at Duke University. He holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr Ehlers is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2013 Thudichum Medal from the Biochemical Society in the U.K., the 2003 Eppendorf & Science Prize in Neurobiology and the 2007 John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology. Dr Ehlers will succeed José-Carlos Gutiérrez-Ramos, Ph.D., as Head of BioTherapeutics Research & Development.

Dr John Lin to lead Rinat

Rinat is Pfizer’s biotechnology unit within the Worldwide Research & Development organisation, located in South San Francisco, California.

“John’s expertise in advancing differentiated antibody programs in both oncology and non-oncology indications is at the core of Rinat’s proven track-record of bringing potential therapies such as tanezumab, ponezumab and bococizumab into the clinic,” said Dr Abraham. “I am fully confident that he will continue to leverage Rinat’s unique entrepreneurial culture to help us build a strong portfolio of cancer immunotherapeutics, and to help optimize their development in combinations with targeted therapies. These contributions from Rinat will be critical to our overarching goal of delivering potential durable or even curative therapies to cancer patients.”

Dr Lin joined Rinat in 2002 and continued in his role when the biotechnology company was acquired by Pfizer in 2006. Since 2011, he has served as Vice President of Experimental Medicine at Rinat with responsibility for overseeing immuno-oncology and discovery and validation biology efforts with particular expertise in cellular, molecular and in vivo neurobiology. Dr Lin is succeeding Dr Jaume Pons in the role.