Sunil Verma

I serve as Senior Vice President, Global Head, Oncology Franchise helping to oversee the global strategy and execution of our Oncology portfolio along with our work to transform cancer care in partnership with health systems globally. In this role, I have the incredible opportunity to work alongside leaders driving our Oncology ambition across the globe. I also have the utmost privilege to see the delivery and the impact of our medicines and the challenges and opportunities that the health systems face to help improve patient care.

My deep passion for oncology comes from serving patients for nearly 15 years as a Medical Oncologist, focusing on breast and lung cancer. I am recognised internationally for my research and educational leadership, which included being principal investigator for many pivotal advances in breast cancer including several practice-changing Phase III trials.

I joined Astra Zeneca in 2019 so that I could impact more patients globally, and my initial role was to lead our global research and development in breast cancer and set the strategy to help us truly transform breast cancer outcomes. As part of that work, I led the development and execution of our breast cancer strategy, establishing the tumour council model, and designed and established our industry leading clinical development program in Breast Cancer. It has been very rewarding to see the impact of this work that has now led to the approval of transformative medicines including Enhertu.

I went on to lead the Medical organisation for our Oncology Business Unit, helping to drive our vision to redefine cancer care. Together, we advanced cancer care through robust evidence generation, scientific partnerships and helping to reimagine the future cancer care paradigm.  Our science-focused and evidence-based approach has advanced our portfolio and supporting the impact of our medicines across many cancer types. I am also proud of the growth of this organization and the leaders that have joined us with shared patient-centric values.

 During my career I have led and created numerous innovative educational projects in oncology and won several teaching and mentoring awards. I take pride in having mentored more than 100 residents, fellows and faculty and it truly is a great honour to see many of them develop to become leaders in Cancer centres around the globe. This focus on developing future leaders continues to be a key pillar of my leadership values.