WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc., the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., today announced the immediate appointment of Avinash Desai, MD, as Vice President, Americas Oncology Medical Affairs for the Oncology Business Group (OBG).

In this role, Dr. Desai will lead Eisai's Oncology Medical Affairs team by creating and overseeing the medical strategy for the Oncology Commercial and Market Access businesses in the Americas. Dr. Desai, who has over 20 years of experience in the oncology field, will work closely with the company's clinical, commercial and OBG strategy organizations to develop, implement and deliver oncology life cycle plans. He will provide strategic leadership to the Medical Affairs team to ensure the delivery of key objectives.

Dr. Desai has designed and implemented clinical development and life cycle management plans for a variety of pharmaceutical products, including anti-angiogenic agents, taxanes, proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and targeted therapies. He has served as the global lead of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs teams, and has experience in strategic planning for product development, long-range project and life cycle management strategies, and the development of contingency plans.

"With his extensive experience in medical strategy and supportive tactics for the portfolio of commercialized brands, life cycle management and assistance in the launch of products, Dr. Desai will be a tremendous asset for Eisai," said Dr. Alton Kremer, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Global Oncology Business Group. "We are confident that he will play a large role in the continued growth of Eisai's oncology business."

Dr. Desai joins Eisai from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he was Global Medical Affairs Leader, Oncology responsible for leading the life cycle management of the company's oncology/hematology products. Prior to Janssen, he was Director, International Clinical Development Oncology at Sanofi-Aventis, where he was responsible for the international development of oncology products in solid tumors and hematological malignancies and leading the NDA submission activities for several products. Dr. Desai also led the oncology clinical research/medical affairs department at Genaera Corporation. He has extensive research and clinical study management experience in HIV/AIDS, Wet AMD and Respiratory therapeutic areas.

Dr. Desai received his Doctor of Medicine degree from B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, India, which included a two-year residency in oncology and hematology at the M. P. Shah Cancer Institute in Ahmedabad. He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, India.

Eisai Inc.

At Eisai Inc., human health care is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families, and helping to increase the benefits health care provides. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., we have a passionate commitment to patient care that is the driving force behind our efforts to help address unmet medical needs. We are a fully integrated pharmaceutical business with discovery, clinical, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. Our key areas of commercial focus include oncology and neurology. To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at www.eisai.com/US.

Eisai Inc. has affiliates that are part of a global product creation organization that includes R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as a global demand chain organization that includes facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. Eisai's global areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; metabolic disorders; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs.

Eisai Co. Ltd.

Eisai Co., Ltd. is a leading global research and development-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. We define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call our human health care (hhc) philosophy. With over 10,000 employees working across our global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realize our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products in various therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs, including oncology and neurology. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit www.eisai.com.

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SOURCE Eisai Inc.