Astellas Pharma Inc, a United States affiliate of Japan-based Astellas Pharma Inc., announced on Thursday that it has appointed Michael Petroutsas as its new head, United States Commercial.

Petroutsas is to head Astellas Pharma's US organisation and will be responsible for the company's US commercial operations. He is to succeed Mark Reisenauer, who is leaving Astellas at the end of March.

Petroutsas has worked as senior vice president, US Specialty and Oncology Business, at GSK. He has also served in senior positions at Pfizer and Novartis Oncology.