Deborah Dunsire, CEO of the former millennium, is looking for pipeline growth as CEO of Lundbeck

Lundbeck, a neuroscientist, has been without a permanent general manager since last November, when helmsman Kåre Schultz left for Teva's top post. Now he has found one at Deborah Dunsire, M.D., an industry veteran whose background is primarily in oncology.

Dunsire, who takes over Sept. 1, is probably best known as the former CEO of Millennium. During his tenure from 2005 to 2013, Dunsire turned Millennium into a leader in oncology biotechnology with best-selling drugs like Velcade before being sold to Takeda to become a centerpiece of its US operation. Previously, she had supervised Novartis' North American oncology activities for approximately 10 years

. "She brings a wealth of very successful R & D and commercial experiences, including a solid knowledge and experience in neuroscience," said Lundbeck President Lars Rasmussen in a statement.

Indeed, Lundbeck's main focus in neuroscience is not new to Dunsire. Prior to taking the helm of cancer and XTuit fibrous start-up last March, she spent three years as CEO of CNS Forum Pharmaceuticals. This role came to an end shortly after the FDA got its hands on two Alzheimer's tests from its leading candidate, who had failed in schizophrenia.

So why did Dunsire decide to go back to neuroscience? 19659002] "My motivation as a doctor in the past is still to transform medicine and unaddressed medical needs, it's the driving force behind oncology, behind Forum and XTuit," Dunsire said in a statement. interview with FiercePharma. Admitting CNS is a "high-risk area," said Dunsire, it's also an area with inadequate therapies. She said these risks will be reduced in the coming years as more biomarkers and more imaging techniques are identified to help scientists understand the genesis of diseases in the brain.

Overall, Dunsire inherits Denmark from Lundbeck in good shape. Thanks to Schultz and his restructuring plan which has cut about 1,000 jobs, Lundbeck is now on an upward trajectory. Lundbeck beat badyst expectations in the first quarter, although strong dollar and generic competition on some older products eroded sales.

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Dunsire said that the new CEO, she does not plan to restructure the Company again significantly, but will focus on identifying the "source of growth" for Lundbeck. Although oncology has been an important part of his biopharmaceutical career, Dunsire said it's a clear focus on psychiatry and nurology that sets Lundbeck apart from others, and she does not plan to change that with new therapeutic expansions. The company will continue to strengthen its pipeline, probably through partnerships, she said.

Abilify Maintena, her long-term monthly antipsychotic, maintained double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2018 and reached DKK 364 million ($ 56.7 million). Takeda's Trintellix antidepressant therapy increased 25% to 467 million DKK. Northera blood pressure treatment, Onfi epilepsy treatment and Rexulti-approved blockbuster for major depressive disorder and schizophrenia, and in phase 3 to treat agitation in patients with dementia. Alzheimer's have all jumped from double-digit sales

pink in the future. Generic competitions have clearly taken a toll on the treatment of seizure Sabril and Xenazine drug Huntington's disease. Trintellix received a second full response letter last June on new labeling for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in people with major depressive disorders. In addition, Onfi should also lose its exclusivity in October, opening the possibility of generic competition. A few weeks ago, the drug maker offered to pay $ 52.6 million to settle the charges regarding its donations to charities helping patients as part of a survey at the University of Toronto. Scale of the industry.