Merck names new global oncology head

Merck has announced the appointment of Maya Martinez-Davis as its new global head of oncology with immediate effect.

Prior to joining Merck, she was a senior executive with Pfizer for more than a decade, delivering on therapeutic area portfolio strategies, in-market growth strategies and major launches. Before this, she held a number of oncology-related positions with Aventis Pharma.

Ms Martinez-Davis has been selected as the successor to Andrew Shiermeier and will take responsibility for defining integrated global oncology strategies and overseeing therapeutic launches, starting with the introduction of the new drug avelumab in 2017.

Avelumab is an investigational anti-PD-L1 antibody that is currently managed under a strategic alliance with Pfizer.

Rehan Verjee, chief marketing and strategy officer of Merck's healthcare business sector, said: "This is a very exciting time for our company as we advance our promising oncology and immuno-oncology pipeline and attract leading industry talent to Merck."

In her new role, Ms Martinez-Davis will report to Mr Verjee and will be based in Billerica, Massachusetts.