Philip J. Vickers, Ph.D., has been appointed senior vice president of R&D for Shire’s Human Genetic Therapies (HGT) business. Dr. Vickers will be responsible for leading global R&D for Shire HGT and for establishing the strategic direction of the company’s pipeline. He will report to Sylvie Gregoire, president of Shire HGT, and will play a central role in the development and execution of HGT’s global business strategy.

Dr. Vickers joins the company from Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, where he was chief scientific officer and president and also served as a member of the board. Previously, Dr. Vickers was senior vice president and U.S. head of research at Boehringer-Ingelheim, where he led a research site that focused on the therapeutic areas of cardiovascular and immunology and inflammation, while managing strategic external collaborations. He also held leadership positions at Pfizer in both the U.S. and UK.

“Shire HGT has grown substantially in recent years, and we are pleased to have Phil join us at a crucial time in the growth of the Company,” said Sylvie Gregoire, president of Shire HGT. “He has the breadth of experience and expertise that will enhance our scientific and business capabilities in forging the long-term vision for the Company, and we will count on him to help us deliver on our promise to patients suffering from rare genetic diseases worldwide.”