Singapore: Astellas Pharma Global Development (APGD), a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc. based in Tokyo, Japan has announced some senior management changes and promotions.

The company announced the promotion of Mr Mark Weinberg to Vice President of Global Clinical Science and the appointment of Ms Robin J McGarry M.D., to the position of Vice President, Global Medical Safety Head.

"Since its inception in 2008, APGD has been a driving force in Astellas' mission of developing innovative medicines for patients in need. We are thrilled to be promoting Mark and bringing Robin onto the Astellas team to further that mission," Dr Sef Kurstjens, Chief Medical Officer of Astellas and President of APGD said at the announcement.

Mr Mark Weinberg, Vice President of Global Clinical Science reportedly joined Astellas in 2011 as the Global Therapeutic Area Head in CNS and Pain. He has more than 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working across multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to Astellas he was at Lundbeck where he focused on CNS. Mark received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his medical degree from Duke University and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University.

Ms Robin J. McGarry, M.D., Vice President, Global Medical Safety Head has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including positions in clinical development and medical affairs at four different companies, and was Vice President, Worldwide Safety at Pfizer. For the past 13 years, she has worked as an independent consultant, providing pharmacovigilance, clinical, and regulatory strategic consulting services. She is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology, and earned her M.D. from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School after receiving a B.S. degree in Biology from Georgetown University.