Takeda Italia has announced the appointment of Anna Maria Bencini as Oncology Country Head, starting from April 1st.
With this new responsibility, Bencini will accompany the company in the process of consolidation and growth in Oncology, a therapeutic area of increasing importance for the Company.
Through a commitment to research that develops not only “in house” but also through numerous external collaborations with prestigious centers and institutions, Takeda wants to strengthen its presence with an ever-expanding portfolio and a presence in different areas of Oncology.
“It is a great pride for me to continue the path taken in Oncology and bring to healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers all the value Takeda is capable of-commented Anna Maria Bencini – we want and can make a difference through an approach that considers the person as a whole: not only his illness, but also the socio-assistance and organizational context, his experience and his psyche. This will translate into new personalized therapeutic options, high added value services, digital innovation and collaborations aimed at improving the entire treatment path. “
Degree in Pharmacy and many years of experience in leading international pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Lundbeck, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, in which she acquired transversal skills in various therapeutic areas, Anna Maria Bencini joined Takeda in 2015 as Director of the then newborn. IBD Business Unit (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), subsequently renamed GI Business Unit Director following the inclusion of GI Rare products. In this position, Anna Maria successfully led the launch of vedolizumab, the first “gut-selective” biotechnological drug for the area of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, until it became the number one brand in the IBD market.
The team she led is committed to making available, also in our country, the first therapy based on mesenchymal stem cells of adipose origin approved in Europe for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas and which won Takeda the 2018 Prix Galien for innovation in ATMP (Advanced therapy medicinal products).
“I am sure that Anna Maria, with her experience, her enthusiasm and her passion, will contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the Oncology Division –commented Annarita Egidi, CEO of Takeda Italia – In the great organizational and technological revolution of the “health world” that our country is called to face, the cancer patient and his path deserve special attention. We will need to be able to make the most innovative treatments available quickly, ensure fairness in patients’ access to appropriate and quality care and at the same time improve the ability to plan the necessary economic, technological and professional resources. Takeda will be alongside operators and institutions to help achieve these ambitious goals. “