Biopharmaceutical company Celgene has appointed Dr David Gillen as their new UK and Ireland Medical Director.

The appointment aims to reinforce the company’s commitment to its portfolio of products and use the experience of Dr Gillen to enhance its pipeline.

Samantha Pearce, Celgene General Manager in the UK and Ireland, says the new Medical Director is “one of the most well respected and experienced medical leaders” in the UK pharma industry.

Dr Gillen worked within the NHS as a physician for seven years before joining Pfizer’s R&D unit. In 2010, he joined Gilead Sciences as the Head of International Medical Affairs. “I am delighted to be appointed as Medical Director at Celgene and look forward to working with the team in an area that I’m passionate about,” he commented. “This is a very exciting time as Celgene’s portfolio expands and I can’t wait to build on the excellent work that’s already being undertaken.”

NICE has recommended Boehringer Ingleheim’s Pradaxa (dabigatran) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in people with atrial fibrillation (AF) in final draft guidance.

The positive recommendation follows the disclosure of further information from Boehringer that had been requested on a number of areas, including its cost effectiveness and use in clinical practice.

Professor Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director, says the medication “represents a significant potential benefit for many people with AF”.

Questions were initially raised by NICE’s Independent Appraisal Committee over the cost to the NHS and a “more plausible set of assumptions” on Pradaxa’s use were required from Boehringer.

But NICE says it is “pleased” the additional information and analysis it received has enabled the Committee to recommend the treatment as a cost-effective use of NHS resources.

“The Independent Appraisal Committee accepted evidence that showed dabigatran 150mg twice daily is more clinically effective than warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke or systemic embolism, and that dabigatran 110mg twice daily is as effective as warfarin. However, there were a number of uncertainties relating to the drug’s cost-effectiveness in the original evidence submission from the manufacturer which required clarification,” said Professor Longson.

Dr Charles de Wet, Medical Director at Boehringer Ingelheim, welcomed the revised decision by NICE. “Pradaxa is the first new oral anticoagulant in 50 years and we are committed to working closely with the NHS to ensure appropriate prescribing in suitable patients with AF who are at risk of stroke,” he said.

Pradaxa has a UK marketing authorisation for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients aged 75 years with AF who have had a previous stroke, heart attack or systemic embolism.

It is also authorised for people with AF over 65 who have diabetes, coronary heart disease or hypertension.

Final guidance is now expected to be published next month.

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of Genzyme to incorporate its Rare Disease and Multiple Sclerosis franchises.

He will join the company’s Group Management Committee, reporting to Sanofi’s CEO, Christopher Viehbacher.

He said that David’s “medical and business experience will be essential to move Genzyme’s broad portfolio of products forward and deliver much-needed therapies to patients”.

Mr Meeker joined Genzyme in 1994 as medical director to work on the company’s Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy programme. He has since held various positions at the company, including President of Global Rare Disease Business, and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2009.

Sanofi is a global healthcare provider, which develops and distributes therapeutic solutions in diabetes care, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health.

The FDA has approved Cook Medical’s Evolution Duodenal Controlled-Release Stent for patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO).

The stent is the only duodenal stent delivery system that allows for controlled release and recapturability, expanding palliative care options for patients experiencing issues with malignant GOO and extending the company’s product portfolio for the treatment of gastric diseases.

Barry Slowey, Global Business Unit Leader for Cook Medical’s Endoscopy division, said that the product “provides physicians with highly accurate stent placement, reducing the risk of migration, perforation and minimizing the need for repeat procedures”.

The Evolution’s design using 18 crowns at both ends of the stent allows the product to adapt to the anatomy’s shape. The proximal and distal flanges are designed to reduce the risk of stent migration, while the product’s Flexor catheter provides trackability and manoeuverability for deployment in the hard-to-reach duodenum.

Dr Willis Parsons, Medical Director of the Northwest Community Hospital Gastroenterology Center, said: “The stent platform is designed for optimal trackability and manoeuverability in difficult angulations, providing superior stability at crucial points during delivery.”

The stent was used in a multicentre study of 23 European patients, of which 21 patients had significant improvement of symptoms.

Mr Slowey added: “This stent has been used to treat thousands of patients around the globe, potentially improving quality of life for these patients, and hopefully minimizing the painful symptoms associated with this disease.”

Sanofi Pasteur MSD has appointed Dr Aidrian Kilcoyne as its new medical director in the UK.

He currently works for Roche Pharmaceuticals in Ireland, where he manages a team responsible for medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, information and research.

Before his time at Roche, Aidrian held a medical director post at Baxter Healthcare, prior to which he served as a senior clinical research physician at Lilly.

Sanofi Pasteur is the vaccine branch of Sanofi-Aventis, a global company which develops and distributes a range of vaccines.