Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR), a research-based, development stage biopharmaceutical company, announced yesterday that it has named John Northcott as its new senior vice president and chief commercial officer.

Northcott will also serve as a member of the company's Executive Committee reporting directly to president and CEO, Howard W Robin.

The company says that Northcott is a proven leader who brings extensive commercial experience to Nektar, including both pre-launch planning and on-market commercialisation in oncology and other therapeutic areas.

Most recently, he served as the chief commercial officer of Pharmacyclics from 2015 to 2019. From 2007 to 2013, he also held commercial roles in both US and Global marketing for Avastin with Genentech and the Roche Group, having most recently served as International Business Leader for Avastin, leading global product strategy initiatives in oncology. He also has experience in a variety of therapeutic areas from earlier commercial leadership and management positions at other pharmaceutical companies including Lexicon, Merck and Pfizer.