Tokyo, Japan, January 2026 – Vikram Chand has taken on a new global leadership mandate as Senior Vice President and Head of Research & Development, Japan at AstraZeneca. In this role, he will lead AstraZeneca’s Japan R&D strategy, clinical development agenda and scientific partnerships, strengthening the company’s innovation footprint across one of its most critical global markets.
Vikram Chand brings a distinguished global oncology and pharmaceutical leadership career spanning over two decades. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Vice President and Global Franchise Head – Datopotamab Deruxtecan at AstraZeneca, leading one of the company’s most important global oncology franchises. Earlier, he served as Vice President, Global Product Leader – Datopotamab Deruxtecan, and also held leadership roles as Vice President, Global Clinical Head – Immuno-Oncology (Thoracic Malignancies) and Vice President, Global Development Lead – Immuno-Oncology (Lung Cancer), shaping AstraZeneca’s global oncology pipeline.
Before joining AstraZeneca, Vikram was Executive Medical Director at EMD Serono, where he led oncology clinical development portfolios, and earlier spent over seven years at Boehringer Ingelheim, progressing through senior oncology development leadership roles including Senior Clinical Program Leader, Director, Senior Associate Director and Associate Director – Clinical Research (Oncology).
His early career included medical leadership as a Hematologist/Oncologist at The US Oncology Network and Medical Oncologist at Gundersen Lutheran, following fellowship training in hematology, oncology and blood & bone marrow transplant at the University of Iowa.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company dedicated to accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines. With strong R&D investment and innovation across oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic and respiratory therapy areas, AstraZeneca continues to push the boundaries of science to improve patient lives worldwide.
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