New York, N.Y., USA - April 8, 2013, New York, N.Y., USA - Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced the appointment of Francis Cuss as executive vice president and chief scientific officer, effective July 1, 2013.
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Dr. Cuss has a strong medical background, and broad experience in both research and development. Prior to joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Cuss led teams in the successful development and approval of several blockbuster medicines.
Dr. Cuss joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2003 as senior vice president, Drug Discovery, adding responsibility for Discovery Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology in May 2006. Dr. Cuss and his team successfully integrated Adnexus, Medarex and ZymoGenetics into the research organization, and have driven innovation in the research operating model, processes and governance.
Dr. Cuss became a member of the company’s Senior Management Team in 2010. Prior to joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Cuss spent 14 years at Schering-Plough and three years at Glaxo, holding positions of increasing responsibility in discovery, clinical research and medical affairs in both the U.S. and Europe.
Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Cuss was a practicing physician and held several academic appointments, including as adjunct associate professor at Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Cuss received his medical training in the U.K. and holds medical degrees from Cambridge University. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.
Elliott Sigal, Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and President, plans to retire.
Dr. Sigal joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1997 as vice president of the newly created department of Applied Genomics.
He served as senior vice president, Early Discovery and Applied Technology, head of Drug Discovery & Exploratory Development, and senior vice president, Global Clinical and Pharmaceutical Development, before being appointed chief scientific officer and president of R&D in 2004.
Dr. Sigal has been a member of the company’s senior management team since 2001, was appointed executive vice president in 2006 and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2011.
Under Dr. Sigal’s leadership, 14 new products have been brought to market including medicines to treat diseases including cancer, serious mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplant rejection, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. ■