PhRMA Foundation Announces New Leadership on its Board of Directors

The PhRMA Foundation, which improves public heath by proactively investing in innovative research, education, and value-driven health care, today announced the appointment of Andrew Plump, MD, PhD, President of Research and Development at Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., as the Chairman of the Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Med. Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Member of the Executive Committee at UCB S.A., as its Treasurer.

Plump, who joined Takeda in 2015 and the PhRMA Foundation Board of Directors in the same year, brings robust experience in translational medicine and drug development, and previously held roles at Sanofi and Merck. At Takeda, he has led global research and development efforts in the company’s core therapeutic areas of oncology, rare genetics & hematology, neuroscience and gastroenterology.

“The PhRMA Foundation is catalyzing critical conversations around health outcomes and value while helping establish the careers of young investigators conducting cutting-edge research in drug discovery, drug delivery, and translational medicine,” said Plump. “With the appointment of Amy Miller, PhD, as PhRMA Foundation President, and new leadership on the Board of Directors, I look forward to building on the successes of this organization and to helping to raise its profile and expand its role within the biopharmaceutical research ecosystem.”

Loew-Friedrich joined UCB in 2008 through its acquisition of Schwarz Pharma and the PhRMA Foundation Board of Directors in 2019. She is a leader in global clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, real world evidence, patient safety/pharmacovigilance, and external engagement, and a board-certified physician in internal medicine, holding a visiting professorship at the University of Frankfurt medical school.

“The pandemic has shown how critical a thriving biopharmaceutical research community is to tackle burgeoning challenges to global health” said Loew-Friedrich. “The demand for greater evidence and capabilities for assessing value have been pressing needs for several decades. The PhRMA Foundation’s work in this space has advanced this critical field and the global conversation around evidence and value.”

“It has been my honor to provide the next generation of biopharmaceutical scientists with the tools they need to develop the next vaccine or cancer therapy, better ways to assess drug safety, new methods to determine the value of a medicine,” said Alfred Sandrock, MD, PhD, former Head of Research and Development at Biogen Inc. and outgoing Chairman of the PhRMA Foundation Board of Directors. “I have full confidence in Dr. Plump and Dr. LoewFriedrich and the rest of the PhRMA Foundation leaders to advance the organization’s critical mission in 2022 and beyond.”

“Since taking the helm of the PhRMA Foundation last fall, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the impact of this organization over the course of its 57-year history. While we will miss our former chairman Dr. Sandrock, I am confident that our experienced Board of Directors and leaders like Dr. Plump and Dr. Loew-Friedrich will help us further develop our work and provide value to the health care system in the coming years,” said Miller.