José Baselga, head of oncology R&D for AstraZeneca and ‘true change-maker,’ dies at 61
Prominent cancer researcher José Baselga, MD, PhD, FASCO, who served as head of oncology research and development for AstraZeneca, has died at age 61 years, the company announced in a press release.
Baselga was internationally known as a pioneer in the development of molecular targeted agents. Prior to his role at AstraZeneca, he served as physician-in-chief and chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend and colleague, José Baselga,” Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO, CEO of ASCO, told Healio. “I worked with José, one way or another, for most of my career, dating back to when we were both medical oncology fellows at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His career was built on a passionately articulated vision of the future of cancer research and care.”
Prior to his job at Sloan Kettering, Baselga served as chief of hematology/oncology and associate director at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he was chairman of medical oncology and founding director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, and he served as president of American Association for Cancer Research for the 2015-2016 term.
“An outstanding scientific leader, José leaves a lasting legacy in the scientific community and here at AstraZeneca,” Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, said in the press release. “He set our oncology R&D function on a remarkable trajectory, and his visionary leadership, deep scientific expertise and strategic insight have delivered so many achievements that we can all be proud of and will benefit patients’ lives for years to come.”
Baselga played an instrumental role in collaborations between AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo on the clinical development of the promising cancer drugs trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) and datopotamab deruxtecan (DS-1062). Additionally, he led a team investigating new science in antibody-drug conjugates, cell therapy and epigenetics. Some of his work centered on development of agents that target HER2, a key receptor on many breast cancers, as well as the PI3K pathway.
“Dr. Baselga’s death is a great loss to cancer research. He played a leading role in the clinical trials of several therapeutics that are pillars of cancer treatment,” Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, CEO of AACR, told Healio. “He was a caring oncologist and supportive mentor to a whole generation of physician-scientists. He will be dearly missed throughout the world for his stellar contributions to cancer science and to the improved care of [patients with cancer].”
Baselga died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare neurogenerative disease.
“He held himself to high standards and expected the same from others,” Hudis said. “As I watched him trailblaze over 3 decades, this drive marked everything he did, every day, including during his service on ASCO’s board of directors. The world of oncology has lost a true change-maker whose legacy will live on for years to come.”
References:
AstraZeneca. Comment on the passing of José Baselga. Available at: www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/statement-on-the-passing-of-jose-baselga.html. Accessed March 22, 2021.
AstraZeneca. José Baselga, executive vice-president, research & development oncology. Available at: www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/our-people/jose-baselga.html. Accessed March 22, 2021.
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Press Release, Healio Interviews