Elan names new president

Dr Paya will be based at Elan’s South San Francisco campus, with particular focus on and responsibility for leading the company’s scientific, clinical and medical initiatives and delivering successful results in these areas. He will also bring additional depth and executive management perspective to Elan’s strategic assessments and decisions in all areas of the company.

Dr Paya will lead the continued integration of Elan’s R&D teams, and all of the company’s medical, scientific and research functions will be accountable to him, including development, research, clinical relationships and the offices of the chief scientific officer and chief medical officer. The chief medical officer will also retain specific accountabilities to CEO Kelly Martin, as they relate to patient safety.

Dr Paya will also assume responsibility for Elan’s commercial and marketing functions, with a primary focus on strategic planning, marketing positioning and product life cycle management. The company’s corporate and business development responsibilities will be shared by Dr Paya and Shane Cooke, Elan’s executive vice president and CFO.

Dr Paya joins Elan from Eli Lilly & Company, where he was vice president of Lilly Research Laboratories and global leader of the diabetes and endocrine platform.

Mr Martin said: “Dr Paya’s position reflects a new level of responsibility for continuing to advance our science towards those with unmet medical needs-a responsibility for which he is uniquely prepared. We are very pleased he is joining Elan at this time.”