Novartis Vet Mari Scheiffele Poached by Ipsen

Ipsen has hired a Novartis veteran to lead its international specialty care team as part of its aim to expand globally in oncology, rare illnesses, and neurology. Mari Scheiffele was named executive vice president and president of international specialty care by the drugmaker on Monday. According to a release, she will begin on November 1 and seek to expand the company’s business in more than 115 countries worldwide, excluding North America. Scheiffele will be situated in Boulogne, France, and will report directly to CEO David Loew, who joined a Big Pharma firm.

Loew joined Ipsen as CEO in July, after leading the company’s worldwide vaccines unit at Sanofi since 2016. Scheiffele brings more than 20 years of healthcare experience to Ipsen, first as a partner in pharmaceuticals and medical products at McKinsey & Company, then in several global and country-specific roles with Novartis. Ipsen has established a goal of becoming a prominent midsize pharmaceutical company. For example, Cabometyx, a cancer medication developed in collaboration with Exelixis, has rights in dozens of countries worldwide.

The company’s website also sells tyrosine kinase inhibitor Cometriq, pancreatic cancer medicine Onivyde, prostate cancer treatment Decapeptyl, and neuroendocrine tumor drug Somatuline. Xermelo is also available from the company for carcinoid syndrome diarrhea. Aside from cancer, the firm has a few rare disease treatments on the market. Last year, the company’s sales totaled €2.59 billion ($3 billion). Merrimack signed a $1.25 billion deal with the company in 2017 to acquire a U.S. production plant and the rights to Onivyde.