United States-based pharmaceutical company Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced on Wednesday that it has named Michael V Drake, MD, as its new director, effective immediately.

In addition to the newly appointed role, Dr Drake will also serve as a member of the board's Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Committee and its Governance and Nominating Committee.

Dr Drake currently serves as the president of the University of California. He has earlier held the position of president of the Ohio State University (OSU). He has also worked as chancellor of the University of California, Irvine and has also served as UC Irvine's systemwide vice president for health affairs.