Pfizer has appointed Chris Boshoff, M.D., PhD, as its new Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research & Development, effective January 1, 2025. Dr. Boshoff, currently Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, will succeed Dr. Mikael Dolsten. In this new role, Dr. Boshoff will report to Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, overseeing all research and development functions across therapeutic areas. He will also retain his position on Pfizer’s Executive Leadership Team.
The oncology R&D organization will maintain its integrated structure. Roger Dansey, M.D., will serve as Interim Chief Oncology Officer, reporting to Dr. Boshoff, while assisting in the search for a permanent replacement. Dr. Dansey plans to retire after the transition is complete and will hand over his current responsibilities to Johanna Bendell, M.D., incoming Chief Development Officer for Oncology, who is joining Pfizer from Roche in 2025.
Dr. Boshoff has an extensive history at Pfizer, spanning over 11 years. During his tenure, he has contributed to the approval of 24 innovative medicines and biosimilars across more than 30 indications. His prior roles include Chief Development Officer for Oncology and Rare Disease, and Head of Development Japan. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, he was the founding Director of the University College London Cancer Institute. His educational background includes a medical degree from the University of Pretoria, a Ph.D. from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, and training as a medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden and Royal Free Hospitals in London. He is also a Fellow of the U.K. Academy of Medical Sciences.
Dr. Roger Dansey joined Pfizer through the Seagen acquisition and currently serves as Chief Development Officer, Oncology. His previous experience includes serving as Chief Medical Officer and interim CEO at Seagen, where he led clinical development for several cancer therapies. Before Seagen, he led Clinical Oncology Research at Merck, overseeing KEYTRUDA®i registration efforts.
Dr. Johanna Bendell brings significant experience to Pfizer as Global Head of Oncology, Pharma Research and Early Development at Roche. Her background includes leadership positions at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School. She holds a medical degree from The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Chicago. Her medical training encompasses a Brigham and Women’s Hospital residency and a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute oncology fellowship.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.