AstraZeneca Plc (LON:AZN), a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company, announced on Monday organisational changes to support continued scientific innovation and commercial success in the main therapy areas, as the company enters a new phase in its strategic development.

These changes will include the creation of therapy area-focused Research and Development units that are responsible for discovery through to late-stage development, one for BioPharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM) and Respiratory) and one for Oncology, with dynamic resource allocation across the company's pipeline.

Also, there will be the creation of mirrored commercial units, one for BioPharmaceuticals and one for Oncology. The creation of the BioPharmaceuticals commercial unit aligns product strategy and commercial delivery across CVRM and Respiratory.

According to the company, the Research and Development units and the commercial units will each be represented on the senior executive team of AstraZeneca and report to the CEO, Pascal Soriot. These units will also share common basic biology and science platforms, as well as product supply, manufacturing and IT infrastructure to improve efficiency. These resources will continue to be allocated on a company-wide basis according to the overall therapy area considerations and strategy.

Mene Pangalos will lead the Research and Development unit for BioPharmaceuticals. Pangalos was previously responsible for the company's Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit and Global Business Development. He joined AstraZeneca in 2010.

Dr José Baselga will lead the Research and Development unit for Oncology. Baselga is a foremost oncology leader with vast experience in the development of innovative cancer therapies, who joined the company on 7 January 2019. Baselga was most recently physician-in -chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Prior to that, he was chief of the division of Haematology/Oncology and associate director at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Centre and professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He was also the chairman of Medical Oncology and founding director of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain.

Ruud Dobber will lead the commercial unit for BioPharmaceuticals. Dobber was most recently responsible for the company's commercial operations in North America, as EVP, North America, a position he has held since August 2016. Dobber joined AstraZeneca in 1997 and has held various senior commercial and leadership roles, including as EVP, Europe, regional VP of AstraZeneca's European, Middle East and African division, regional VP for the Asia Pacific region and interim EVP Global Product and Portfolio Strategy.

Dave Fredrickson continues to lead the commercial unit for BioPharmaceuticals, which mirrors the company's existing commercial unit for oncology. The International commercial organisation remains under current leadership.

AstraZeneca focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in the three therapy areas of Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory.