Alexion Pharma Canada Corp., AstraZeneca's Rare Disease group, announced the appointment of Karen Heim as Vice President and General Manager, Canada, effective April 1st, 2024. In this role, Ms. Heim will lead the Canadian affiliate in its unwavering commitment to helping people affected by rare diseases live longer, healthier lives.
"Alexion works tirelessly to support people living with rare diseases and their families through continuous innovation to deliver meaningful therapies," says Soraya Bekkali, Senior Vice President, & Head of the EUCAN and International Regions at Alexion. "Karen's deep healthcare experience and incredible passion make her the perfect fit to lead this mission in Canada and drive it with expertise and ambition."
"Taking on this leadership role at Alexion Canada as it continues to grow, with a focus on research and innovation, is incredibly exciting," says Ms. Heim. "I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders who share my passion to make a meaningful difference by advancing our portfolio of medicines, advocating for better rare disease policies, and driving innovation to create patient-centric healthcare solutions".
Alexion's presence in Canada has grown to more than 200 employees and includes a global research and development hub, made up of highly skilled professionals responsible for conducting clinical trials in Canada and around the world, as well as a dedicated local team that is responsible for ensuring treatments reach those who need them.
Ms. Heim is continuing her nine-year career path at AstraZeneca. She was most recently in the United States as a Global Commercial Vice President in the Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism division and previously was VP in the BioPharma and Respiratory & Immunology business units in Sweden and the Nordics, respectively. Prior to this, Ms. Heim was VP of Patient Access & Established Brands in Canada where she played an integral role strengthening our market access capabilities and building an understanding about the value of innovative medicines and contributions of our sector to the Canadian healthcare ecosystem.
Ms. Heim brings over 20 years of experience to the role. Her career before AstraZeneca included a series of commercial leadership roles within GlaxoSmithKline. She has a BSc in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Queen's University, Ontario, and holds a Professional Engineering License (P. Eng).
Subscribe to our e-Newsletters
Stay up to date with the latest news, articles, and events. Plus, get special offers
from American Pharmaceutical Review – all delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up now!