USA — After nearly two decades, esteemed pharmaceutical veteran Paul Burton, M.D., Ph.D., is making his way back to Amgen, where he will assume an expanded version of the chief medical officer position he currently holds at Moderna.
Effective June 26, Burton will take on the role of Amgen senior vice president and CMO, as stated in an internal memo sent by R&D Executive VP David Reese to Amgen staff.
This appointment comes following a recent restructuring at Amgen, which resulted in the establishment of a dedicated chief medical office.
The reorganization broadened the CMO’s responsibilities to encompass global medical, regulatory, and patient safety matters, as well as R&D strategy and operations. In his newly enhanced position, Burton will report directly to Reese.
The selection process for the CMO role involved careful consideration of multiple candidates and extensive discussions with key stakeholders, as disclosed by Reese.
Ultimately, Burton emerged as the ideal choice. Upon joining Amgen, he will assume the responsibilities currently managed by SVP of Global Medical Darryl Sleep, M.D., who has been leading the chief medical office on an interim basis since the organizational changes in March.
Sleep will continue to oversee the global medical aspect of the chief medical office when Burton assumes his new role.
Burton took up the position of CMO at Moderna in July 2021, shortly after the company launched its highly successful COVID-19 vaccine.
Prior to his tenure at Moderna, Burton spent 16 years at Johnson & Johnson, where he held various leadership positions, including his most recent role as chief global medical affairs officer for Janssen, the pharmaceutical unit of J&J.
Interestingly, Burton has a history with Amgen, having worked at the company as a global development leader following the merger with Immunex from 2002 to 2005.
Amgen has emphasized that Paul Burton brings over 20 years of invaluable experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Throughout his career, he has been involved in every stage of drug discovery and development, showcasing his comprehensive understanding of the process.
Burton has also played a significant role in leading research initiatives in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders.
His return to Amgen marks a significant reunion and highlights the industry’s recognition of his expertise and contributions.
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