Merdad Parsey: Leading Gilead’s Medical Strategy to Transform Patient Care

Merdad Parsey

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Overview :

Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, leads Gilead Sciences as its Chief Medical Officer, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s approach to clinical development and medical affairs. Since joining Gilead in 2019, he has overseen the company’s global clinical operations, ensuring that new therapies move from research to patients effectively. With a background spanning decades in medicine, research, and industry leadership, Parsey’s work aims to redefine healthcare through innovation and strategic development.

Before joining Gilead, Parsey led clinical development at Genentech as Senior Vice President of Early Clinical Development, focusing on areas such as oncology, inflammation, and infectious diseases. His role involved directing teams through the early stages of drug development, advancing treatments from preclinical studies to early-phase trials. Parsey’s leadership extended beyond Genentech, having also served as President and CEO of 3-V Biosciences (now Sagimet BioSciences), where he helped the company navigate the challenges of the biotech industry.

His career trajectory took shape early on in academia. Parsey completed his MD and PhD at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and pursued further training at Stanford University for his internal medicine residency. He later specialized in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Colorado, an experience that deeply influenced his medical and research outlook. Parsey then transitioned to a faculty role as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine, where he also directed critical care medicine. This academic foundation gave him a strong grounding in both research and patient care, which he has carried forward into his roles in the pharmaceutical industry.

At Gilead, Parsey works closely with the company’s leadership team to advance clinical development strategies that focus on transforming care for patients. His approach centers on addressing unmet medical needs, whether through pioneering treatments for cancer, liver diseases, or viral infections. Under his guidance, Gilead has sharpened its focus on innovation, with Parsey ensuring that clinical trials are designed to optimize outcomes for both current and future patients.

In addition to his role at Gilead, Parsey maintains a presence in the broader pharmaceutical and biotech community. He serves on the boards of directors for Sagimet BioSciences, TransCelerate BioPharma, and Arcus Biosciences, helping these organizations navigate complex scientific and regulatory landscapes. His work with TransCelerate BioPharma, for instance, contributes to global efforts aimed at improving drug development processes and fostering collaboration across the industry. Through these roles, Parsey not only influences Gilead’s direction but also helps shape the future of biopharmaceutical innovation as a whole.

Parsey’s leadership reflects a blend of scientific rigor and practical strategy, always with a focus on the patients who stand to benefit from Gilead’s research. His career is defined by a commitment to improving the way diseases are treated and prevented, with a long-term vision of changing the trajectory of disease for future generations. His work continues to push Gilead toward its goal of advancing care, addressing global health challenges, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients.

Also Read: The 10 Most Innovative Chief Medical Officers to Watch in 2024.

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