Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.Sc., MBA

Mohammad Azab, M.D., M.Sc., MBA, served as President and Chief Medical Officer of Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2014 to 2020 after holding the position of Chief Medical Officer there commencing in 2009. As of November 2020, upon retirement from his management role, Dr. Azab has served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Astex Pharmaceuticals, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, focused on the discovery and development of drugs in oncology and other therapeutic areas. Previously, Dr. Azab served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Intradigm Corporation, a developer of small interfering RNA (siRNA) cancer therapeutics. Prior to this, Dr. Azab served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development, and Chief Medical Officer of QLT Inc., and in several drug development leadership positions at Astra Zeneca in the UK and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals in France. During his career, he has led or has been involved with the development of 8 approved drugs, 7 in oncology and 1 in ophthalmology. Dr. Azab holds his medical degree (M.B., B.Ch.) from Cairo University and a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. He received postgraduate training and degrees in oncology research from the University of Paris-Sud and biostatistics from the University of Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France. Dr. Azab has more than 30 years of experience in clinical research, global drug development, and business management and led the global development of several drugs currently approved in oncology and other therapeutic areas. Currently, he also serves on the board of directors of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.