MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD), better known for discovering and developing therapeutic products for patients suffering from different diseases, has announced new Chief Commercial Officer. As per the reports, Michael E. Castagna, Pharm.D. has taken the charge as company’s new CCO, effective immediately.
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The entire senior management team of the company is delighted to have Castagna on board. He will look after the commercialization of Afrezza as part of company’s senior leadership team, and report directly to MannKind CEO Matthew Pfeffer.
Dr. Castagna comes with over two decades of professional experience in healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical and specialty pharmacy industries. Before joining MannKind, he was associated with Amgen, Inc. as its Vice President of Global Lifecycle Management Division and Vice President, Global Commercial Lead for a portfolio containing over nine biosimilar drugs.
Previously, he also worked with the Immunology franchise of Bristol-Myers Squibb as its Executive Director. During his tenure at Bristol-Myers, Castagna worked as co-lead to launch Orencia SC and re-launch Orencia IV, rheumatoid arthritis drugs. Prior joining Bristol-Myers, he worked with Sandoz as its Division Head and Vice President Biopharmaceuticals in North America. Castagna helped the company form US Biologics Business Unit and re-launch its lead product, human growth hormone – Omnitrope.
Castagna also worked with other major names like EMD (Merck), Pharmasset, Serono, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, etc. and helped them build their brands and market image in the best possible manner in the past. He went to Philadelphia College of Pharmacy for Bachelors of Science – Pharmacy and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy for Doctors before studying MBA at Wharton School of Business.
While talking to reporters, company’s CEO Matthew Pfeffer said that he was very pleased to have an experienced corporate executive like Castagna to lead his product team. At a time when competition is growing at a swift pace, Castagna can use his experience and technical skills to help MannKind achieve a reputable place in the market, he added.
MannKind looks to take many more such initiatives to keep its market-leading position intact.
