Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (Abraxis BioScience), an in vitro diagnostics company, has appointed Leon Moulder as vice chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO). In his most recent endeavor, Moulder served as vice chairman of Eisai Corporation of North America following Eisai’s acquisition of MGI PHARMA, INC., where he served as president and CEO since 2003. The company also said that Patrick Soon-Shiong will assume the role of executive chairman and CEO of Abraxis Health.
Further, the company announced the senior management team for Abraxis Health, which will focus on biomarkers and personalized medicine. Soon-Shiong will assume the role of chief executive officer, Edward Geehr, will be the president and chief operating officer and Bruce Wendel will be vice chairman and executive vice president global business development.
Leon Moulder comes to MGI PHARMA in 1999 as executive vice president and was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2002. Previously, he was a member of the founding management team and vice president business development & commercial affairs of Eligx, Inc., a venture-stage biomedical company. Earlier, Moulder served for 16 years in a number of commercial roles for Hoechst Marion Roussel (now Sanofi Aventis) and its predecessor companies. He began his career as a clinical pharmacist. Moulder was previously a board member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and is a member of the board of visitors of the Temple University school of Pharmacy. He earned a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Temple University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Chicago.
“Lonnie is a 25-year veteran of the healthcare industry and has a stellar track record of growing companies,” said Dr. Soon-Shiong. “His experience with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, particularly in the oncology area, combined with commercialization and drug development acumen makes him an ideal executive to lead the company to exceptional levels of growth.”
“It is an honor to lead Abraxis BioScience at such a pivotal time in the company’s evolution,” said Moulder. “I believe the ABRAXANE franchise and our robust product pipeline hold tremendous potential and I look forward to working with the Abraxis BioScience team as we expand globally and bring important therapies to patients.”
“My passion is medical research and pursuing next generation science. Through Abraxis Health, my team will focus on biomarkers and personalized medicine and expanding the company’s myriad of research and development opportunities,” said Dr. Soon-Shiong.