Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC), a precision therapy company focused on genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy, today announced the appointment of Fouad Namouni, M.D., as President, Research & Development, effective September 1, 2020.
In his new role, Dr. Namouni will lead a joint research and development organization, overseeing all phases of product development from discovery through global registration under a unified portfolio vision, and join the executive management team. Marion Dorsch, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, and Andy Boral, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, will continue to lead the research and clinical development functions, respectively, within the research and development organization.
“We are excited to welcome Fouad, a seasoned drug developer and portfolio strategist, to broaden our ambitious R&D vision, as we complete the evolution of Blueprint Medicines into a fully-integrated, multi-product, global biopharmaceutical company this year,” said Jeff Albers, Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines. “Under his leadership, we will expand development of our lead programs for avapritinib and pralsetinib to maximize their value for patients, build on core R&D capabilities to accelerate our preclinical pipeline, and prioritize new targets and technologies to solidify our leadership in the field of precision medicine.”
“I’m pleased to join Blueprint Medicines’ talented and accomplished R&D team, which has advanced two lead programs to the precipice of global regulatory approvals, with FDA breakthrough therapy designations across four indications, in just five years since entering the clinic,” said Fouad Namouni, M.D., President, Research & Development. “Combined with a highly compelling preclinical pipeline that has the potential to replicate this success, and a culture defined by scientific innovation and an urgency to impact patient need, Blueprint Medicines is uniquely poised to build an industry-leading portfolio of transformative precision therapies.”
Dr. Namouni brings more than 20 years of oncology and cancer immunotherapy drug development expertise, as well as clinical experience as a pediatric oncologist. Prior to joining Blueprint Medicines, Dr. Namouni served in leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) since 1999, including as the global development lead for the company’s practice-changing cancer immunotherapy franchise. Most recently, Dr. Namouni served as Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology Development from August 2016 to April 2020, with responsibility for driving product development plans from early-stage clinical development through commercialization across a portfolio of nearly 30 drug candidates. Previously, he served as Head of Global Medical Affairs overseeing 1,700 employees worldwide from September 2015 to September 2017, and he served as Head of Development at BMS for Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab), immunotherapy medications used in the treatment of cancer, from January 2011 to September 2015. Prior to that, he held roles of increasing responsibility within BMS. Dr. Namouni has served as a member of the board of directors of Aprea Therapeutics Inc. since June 2020. Dr. Namouni holds an M.D. from the University of Annaba Medical School in Algeria, and a Pediatrics degree from Université Rene Descartes in Paris, France. In addition, he received a Pediatric Oncology and Hematology degree and an M.S. in clinical and experimental pharmacology from Université Paris-Sud in France.
