Viking Therapeutics and Aspen Neuroscience have both stepped up their commercialization planning, each tapping leaders with resumes spanning the likes of Amgen, Eli Lilly, Merck and GSK to oversee launch preparations for their respective obesity and Parkinson's disease hopefuls.
San Diego-based Viking is running phase 3 trials of its dual GLP-1/GIP agonist for obesity, VK2735. And, having held on to rights to the asset so far, the biotech faces the prospect of launching its first product into a market dominated by two well-established incumbents—Lilly and Novo Nordisk—and targeted by a who’s who of leading drugmakers.
Viking has identified Neil Aubuchon as the person to oversee its commercial preparations. Aubuchon has joined the biotech as chief commercial officer, having previously held the same title at AbCellera.
Earlier in his career, Aubuchon spent four years at Amgen, working as global marketing lead for the general medicine early portfolio, and 17 years at Lilly, a period that included stints as chief marketing officer in Australia and in Japan, and global head of strategy and operations for Lilly Bio-Medicines, among other titles.
Disclosing the new hire in a Wednesday announcement, Viking CEO Brian Lian, Ph.D., said Aubuchon “is a perfect fit to lead our commercialization strategy for VK2735, including engagement with potential strategic partners, representing a key step in our preparation for commercial success.”
Lian’s comment reflects the dual-track planning at Viking, which has begun laying the groundwork to bring VK2735 to market independently while also remaining open to striking a deal with a larger partner.
“Having a larger party involved would be very helpful in driving the program through commercialization. That said, I don’t think it's mandatory. I think it’s probably a preference, but it’s not mandatory,” Lian said on an earnings call in October. “We're prepared to go alone, but we’re also prepared to engage with anybody who is interested.”
Viking’s Aubuchon hire was one of two biotech chief commercial officer appointments to cross the wires Wednesday morning.
Aspen Neuroscience put out the other announcement, revealing that Lisa Johnson‑Pratt, M.D., has been promoted to the post. Previously, Johnson‑Pratt led Aspen's therapeutic program strategy for ANPD001, a cell therapy that is in phase 1/2a development in Parkinson’s disease.
Before that, Johnson-Pratt spent time at Merck, GSK, Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Akcea Therapeutics—up until its acquisition by Ionis—in various leadership roles spanning business development, marketing and commercial strategy.
Aspen raised $115 million in November to fund ANPD001 trials and scale its manufacturing capabilities to meet clinical and future commercial demand. Johnson‑Pratt will support the program by heading up the creation of a commercial structure to eventually get the personalized cell therapy to patients.
"As ANPD001 progresses toward late‑stage development, we are building a commercialization framework that keeps patients at the center—preparing the market, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring the infrastructure is ready to bring our personalized, regenerative cell therapy to the patients and families who are waiting," she said in the announcement.