Former JnJ executive Marianne De Backer to lead Bayer pharma division

Marianne De Backer will take the role of Head of Business Development & Licensing at Bayer's pharmaceuticals division, joining from rival JnJ, where she led business development activities across different therapeutic areas and regions.

Frankfurt: Bayer said it hired Johnson & Johnson(JnJ) executive Marianne De Backer to manage acquisitions and licensing deals at its drugs unit, as the German drugmaker turns to outside sources to boost its development pipeline.

De Backer will take the role of Head of Business Development & Licensing at Bayer's pharmaceuticals division, joining from rival JnJ, where she led business development activities across different therapeutic areas and regions.

Based in Berkeley, California, the Belgian national will have a more senior role than her predecessor, reporting directly to the head of pharmaceuticals, Stefan Oelrich, and taking a seat on the division's Executive Committee.

Read Also: Bayer sells Animal Health unit to US drug firm Elanco for USD 7.6 billion

Bayer said last year it would lean more strongly on external firms and institutions for a better drug development pipeline, which most analysts regard as too thin to make up for an expected decline in revenues from its two pharma bestsellers from about 2024.

Bayer has recently agreed on deals to sell a stake in a chemical park operator, consumer health brands Dr Scholl's and Coppertone, as well as it's animal health unit in a bid to reduce the debt burden from its $63 billion takeovers of Monson.

Read Also: Bayer mediator dismisses report of USD 8 billion Roundup settlement