United States-based Eli Lilly and Company has named Kimberly Blackwell as its new vice president of early phase development and immuno-oncology, it was reported yesterday.

Blackwell presently serves as a professor of medicine and assistant professor of radiation oncology at Duke University Medical Center, and she is also the co-director of the Duke women's cancer programme, associate director for strategic relations for the Duke Cancer Institute among other roles.

Sue Mahon, senior vice president and president of Lilly Oncology, said, 'We are pleased and honoured to welcome Dr Blackwell to Lilly, she is highly regarded for her leadership in cancer research, especially metastatic breast cancer, where she has led programmes that resulted in numerous ground-breaking regulatory approvals. Furthermore, she has been on the forefront of research in oncology vaccines, immuno-oncology and biosimilars, giving her the unique expertise that will be pivotal in helping us continue to develop and advance novel treatments for people living with cancer.'