Steven M. Paul, M.D., executive vice president, science and technology, and president, Lilly Research Laboratories, will retire, effective February 28, 2010. Jan M. Lundberg, Ph.D., executive vice president and head of global discovery research, AstraZeneca, will succeed Dr. Paul. Dr. Lundberg plans to join Lilly in Indianapolis as early as January 2010.

“Under Steve’s leadership, we now have the most robust pipeline in Lilly’s history, including approximately 60 unique potential medicines, both small molecules and biologics, in human testing. Additionally, Steve has helped to recruit many of the top leaders we have in LRL today. Steve has also been actively involved in advancing Lilly’s research in the area of Alzheimer’s disease, including solanezumab, one of Lilly’s two late-stage Alzheimer’s molecules,” said John Lechleiter, Ph.D., Lilly’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Advancing our pipeline to patients as quickly and as safely as possible is the biggest challenge Lilly faces in 2010 and beyond. We are confident that Dr. Lundberg will be able to deliver on this challenge,” said Lechleiter.

During the last 10 years at AZ, as head of global discovery research, Dr. Lundberg was instrumental in delivering more than 150 drug candidates to the company’s pipeline. He had responsibility for discovery research and supported clinical development of therapies for cancer, infection, central nervous system disorders, pain, cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal conditions, and inflammation. Dr. Lundberg was also responsible for discovery-enabling technologies, discovery informatics, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, translational science and safety assessment. He has had a leading role in external activities, including in-licensing of projects and technologies, as well as acquisitions of biotech companies.

“I have always had tremendous respect for the quality of people, science and products at Lilly. Therefore, I feel honored to be the successor to Steve Paul. I’m really looking forward to meeting my colleagues at Lilly and together with them conquering the future challenges and advancing innovative medicines that meet the needs of patients, payers and prescribers,” said Dr. Lundberg.