CORPORATE VISION / July 2017 19 Leading by Example Name: Pedro Crisanto, Director Email:
[email protected] Web Address: www.servier.com.au Address: 8 Cato Street, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia Telephone: +613 8823 7333 g the people who are in charge and understand where you can bring in added value and where you do not. Finding the right balance between keeping up with the daily demands of running a business, while still being able to formulate creative strategic initiatives for the future, is another key aspect.” Pedro shares with us his most significant achievements from the past calendar year as a director. “In the past year, we have contributed to the fact that Servier worldwide has been identified as the 2nd best company in the 2017 CenterWatch Global Investigative Site Relationship Survey. This surveys more than 1,300 global investigative sites on 40 relationship attributes, to determine the best biopharmaceutical companies to work with. Not only were we the 2nd highest ranking sponsor rated by investigative sites globally, but we were also on the top three and four of the five criteria deemed the most important. “In Australia, we conducted our ‘first in human clinical trial’ with one of new oncology drugs that targets the inhibition of cell survival proteins which allows cancer cells to escape death-inducing signals, such as apoptosis. This could represent a highly innovative treatment, which we hope will provide innovative therapeutic solutions, to address the needs of cancer patients. “Servier acknowledges Australia as one of the leading countries in scientific research and development, so during this year we have continued to increase our R&D activities, by further strengthening strategic partnerships with key hospitals, institutes and universities.” Pedro proceed to reveal his career journey - prior to becoming a director - plus the details of how he attained his current position. “I have a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and two masters in Pharmaceutical Medicine, one by European Centre of Pharmaceutical Medicine in Basel, Switzerland and a second by the University of Aveiro in Portugal. I started my career working in a scientific consulting company in my home town of Lisbon, Portugal. I worked there for five years in clinical research, regulatory affairs and in business development. I believe that this gave me a strong background for the next the step in my career, joining Servier. “I had the opportunity to join Servier in 2007, to help to create the Portuguese department of the Spain & Portugal International Centre for Therapeutic Research. Over five years, I worked closely with local and international colleagues, to develop the firm’s activity and the team work in Portugal. “This proved to be a very enriching experience that in 2012 led me to Paris as Deputy Worldwide Clinical Operations Manager, where I had the chance to work with the Worldwide Clinical Operations Director in defining the global clinical operations strategy, optimising the contribution of each region to this strategy and in the promotion and cross-fertilisation of innovative ideas. In 2014, I was appointed Director of the Australia and New Zealand International Centre for Therapeutic Research.” In closing, Pedro reveals his hopes and plans for 2017 and beyond. “Collaboration is a key cornerstone in research, development and partnerships with other pharma and biotech companies, academia, institutes and governments. This is fundamental, to allow us to fulfil our mission of delivering positive outcomes to patients in need and of contributing to ensure access to quality healthcare for all. Australia is a prime example of a rich ecosystem, with a long- lasting tradition of institutions focused on innovation, in both medical research and improving healthcare. “In the 2017 edition of the QS World University Rankings, Monash University in Melbourne, was ranked the second in the world in the field of pharmacy and pharmacology. We work in collaboration with the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in an exciting research programme with G protein– coupled receptors. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is one of the leading institutes worldwide in the field cancer research and have been at the forefront of translating laboratory discoveries to innovative medical research, and we are proud to say that some of these collaborative discoveries have been the focus of a Nature publication. “Through our fellowship programme with The George Institute, we are contributing to sustainable healthcare. The George Institute for Global Health is a health and medical research institute; whose mission is to improve the health of millions of people worldwide. They have been named by The Lancet as ‘one of the world’s most renowned global health research institutions’, indeed their work is helping to shape healthcare policies around the globe. “Therefore, in 2017 and beyond, we will continue to develop new and to build on these existing strategic partnerships. At the same time, we will also put our energy into developing our assets in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, immune-inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases faster and more effectively with the goal of meeting the needs of patients.”