Novartis appoints head of pharmaceuticals development

Novartis has appointed Dr Timothy Wright as the new global head of development for its pharmaceuticals division.

Dr Wright has been with the organisation since 2004 and holds a BA in biology from the University of Delaware, as well as a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

His previous position at the firm was that of senior vice-president and global head of translational sciences at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

In this capacity, he conducted research in areas such as translational medicine, biomarker development, preclinical safety (toxicology) and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.

His career also includes a spell at Pfizer's global research and development division, while he has also served in key positions at the University of Pittsburgh.

Earlier this month, Novartis announced new clinical trial data for a developmental pharmaceutical agent called ACZ885, demonstrating its effectiveness in treating a rare condition called active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.