Gilead Sciences announces two new executive promotions

Gilead Sciences has announced the promotion of two long-serving employees to new executive roles.

Dr Andrew Cheng, who has been with the company since 1999, has been named executive vice-president for HIV therapeutics and development operations, having led research activities for the company's development-stage programmes in HIV/AIDS for some years.

Meanwhile, Dr Taiyin Yang has been named executive vice-president for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. A Gilead employee since 1993, Dr Yang will be responsible for managing pharmaceutical development, analytical operations, laboratory information, quality assurance and manufacturing of both clinical and commercial drug substances and products.

In addition to these roles, both of the newly-promoted executives will join the company's senior leadership team.

Dr Norbert Bischofberger, executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer at Gilead, said: "Andrew and Taiyin have both demonstrated leadership in bringing groups together to help expedite the development and manufacturing of products – ultimately allowing the company to reach patients in need more quickly."

This comes after the firm appointed Dr Philippe Bishop, formerly of Genentech, as senior vice-president for haematology and oncology therapeutics in December 2014.