Steven E. Benner, M.D., has been appointed senior vice president and Therapeutic Area Head for Oncology, Astellas. Also, Anne Keating, Pharm. D., has been promoted to vice president of Clinical Science for Oncology, within the company’s Development organization. Both will be located at Astellas’ office in Northbrook, IL.
 
“Astellas couldn’t be more pleased to have Steven and Anne help lead us on our journey to becoming a global oncology leader,” said Bernhardt G. Zeiher, M.D., president, Development, Astellas. “They have diverse experience across all areas of development and I know they will provide the strategic oversight to help us continue to address the evolving needs of our patients.”
 
Dr. Benner will report to Dr. Zeiher and will be responsible for providing global leadership for Astellas’ Oncology therapeutic area, which includes numerous clinical programs in prostate cancer, leukemia, lung cancer and breast cancer, among others.
 
Dr. Benner previously served in senior leadership positions in clinical development, compliance and licensing at Cell Therapeutics Inc., OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, PDL BioPharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as academic appointments at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  
 
Ms. Keating will be responsible for the leadership and strategic direction for the execution of all phases of Astellas’ Clinical Science oncology programs globally, applying operational best practices into the design and execution of projects across the company’s portfolio. She will report to Eric Terhaerdt, senior vice president, Development Operations.
 
Ms. Keating joined the company in 2004 as a director of Clinical Operations, and has held a series of roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, she served as an executive director and global development project leader for Oncology, overseeing the clinical development program for ASP8273, Astellas’ investigative medicine for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).