Headshot of Sunil Verma, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Oncology, Medical at AstraZeneca.

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.

Throughout my career I have been driven to make changes that bring meaningful benefits for people with cancer. We are at an unprecedented time where the cancer care landscape is on the verge of being completely transformed and I believe the team here at AstraZeneca has a critical role in shaping our vision and working with the oncology community to makes it a reality. Our transformative ambition is driven by a truly science and patient-focused approach to bring a range of impactful novel options for patients with varied cancer types and across different settings.

Sunil Verma Senior Vice President, Global Head, Oncology Franchise, AstraZeneca

Top 25 Young Breast Oncologists in the World (2006)

Future Forum Award recognizing young oncologists who will be future leaders in breast cancer

Outstanding Teaching Award (2005, 2007, 2011)

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Division of Medical Oncology

Distinguished Alumni Award

University of Alberta

CURRENT ROLE

Senior Vice President, Global Head, Oncology Franchise at AstraZeneca

2021-2024

Led Global Medical Affairs organisation helping to drive the vision to redefine cancer care. His leadership focused on advancing the practice of cancer care through robust clinical studies, evidence generation, scientific partnerships and helping to reimagine the future cancer care paradigm.

2019-2021

Served as Head of Breast Cancer Research Strategy and Global Clinical Head for Breast Cancer at AstraZeneca, responsible for leading the company’s research and development in breast cancer

2015-2019

Led the growth of the department and launched the build of the New Calgary Cancer Centre, one of the largest comprehensive cancer care facilities in North America during term as Professor and Head of the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary and Medical Director of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre

Featured publications:

Work published in more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts including in the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer.



Veeva ID: Z4-70554
Date of preparation: November 2024