Biogen announces departure of research and development head

Biogen has confirmed that its research and development head Dr Douglas Williams will be leaving the company at the end of the month.

Dr Williams has accepted a role as chief executive of an as-yet unnamed start-up biotechnology company and will be the first member of the new organisation, which will focus on cancer diagnostics and therapy research.

His responsibilities at Biogen will be taken up by Dr Alfred Sandrock, the company's senior vice-president and chief medical officer, and Dr Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas, its senior vice-president and chief scientific officer. Both currently serve on the firm's executive management team.

Dr George Scangos, chief executive officer of Biogen, thanked Dr Williams for his contributions to the rapid development of its research and development organisation.

He added: "We are fortunate to have Al Sandrock and Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas to lead the work to which Biogen is dedicated."

This comes after the company appointed Matt Griffiths as its new senior vice-president and chief information officer in May 2015.