Vertex Announces Appointment of Stuart A. Arbuckle as Chief Commercial Officer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX) today announced the appointment of Stuart A. Arbuckle as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Arbuckle has more than 25 years of experience in leading global sales and marketing efforts at biopharmaceutical companies. He will oversee Vertex's commercial team, which is responsible for the company's sales, marketing, patient support, market research and other activities that support the approved use of INCIVEK® (telaprevir) in the U.S. and the ongoing global launch of KALYDECOTM (ivacaftor). Mr. Arbuckle will begin his employment with Vertex effective today and will serve as a member of Vertex's executive team, reporting directly to the company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D.
"Stuart brings to Vertex a unique blend of commercial expertise and scientific training that will prove invaluable to the continued launch of KALYDECO for cystic fibrosis and in our efforts to treat more people with hepatitis C," said Dr. Leiden. "Stuart has a bold vision for our commercial growth and expansion that will shape our future in hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis and position the company for continued success as we advance our pipeline. His experience and commitment to patients will complement that of our executive team, and I look forward to his insights at this exciting time for our company."
"With INCIVEK and KALYDECO, Vertex transformed the treatment of hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis, and I believe the company is positioned to make even further advances in these and other serious diseases in the years ahead," said Mr. Arbuckle. "I have always viewed Vertex as a company grounded in science, and I am excited by their commitment to integrating commercial insights into their research and development efforts. By addressing the specific needs of the hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis and other patient communities early in the development process, I believe the company will be positioned to rapidly advance its pipeline while focusing on what is in the best interest of patients and those who care for them."
Prior to joining Vertex, Mr. Arbuckle held multiple commercial leadership roles at Amgen, Inc., a 17,000-person biotechnology company. As Vice President and General Manager, Oncology Business Unit, he led sales, marketing, patient advocacy and access efforts for Amgen's portfolio of cancer medicines. He was responsible for sales and marketing efforts for Aranesp®, Neulasta® and NEUPOGEN®, which accounted for more than $5 billion in sales in 2011, and led the successful launches of XGEVA® and Nplate®. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Regional General Manager where he led efforts to expand Amgen's presence in Japan and emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Prior to these roles, Mr. Arbuckle spent more than 15 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc, where he held sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility for medicines aimed at treating respiratory, metabolic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and other diseases. He joined GSK after earning a degree in pharmacology and physiology from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Mr. Arbuckle currently serves as a national board member of the Cancer Support Community, an international non-profit dedicated to providing support, education and hope to people affected by cancer. |
