Working Life: Celgene’s Rob Moore
pharmafile | July 14, 2014 | Feature | Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Celgene, Working Life, rob moore
How did you find your way into your current role?
I joined the pharmaceutical industry almost 20 years ago with Abbott and have progressed through a series of commercial roles in the UK and Europe. The last six years of those have been spent working in Immunology with Abbvie. Seeing first hand the impact diseases such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can have on people has made me very passionate about ensuring patients get access to the very best treatments available in this area.
I started working at Celgene about three months ago and was drawn to their strong heritage in delivering innovative medicines to patients in areas of high unmet need. We are currently developing a number of pioneering inflammation and immunology treatments which we believe will significantly improve the lives of patients suffering from a range of debilitating conditions. I am delighted that I have the opportunity to build the Inflammation and Immunology division for Celgene in the UK and Ireland.
How is your field changing?
Bringing new therapies to patients who need them has become more complex in the UK. The decision-making landscape has changed completely over the last 10 years and we need to continually adapt our approach to ensure we can exceed the requirements of our stakeholders.
Innovation is an integral part of our approach at Celgene and we must constantly reinvent ourselves to be leaders in our field. Patients are also becoming more proactive in the management of and decision-making in relation to their disease. We must adapt our approach within the regulatory framework to ensure they are supported to make the right choices.
What are the most enjoyable things about your role?
I love seeing the life-changing impacts that the pharmaceutical industry has on patients. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a product or a service that you have worked so hard to bring to market, deliver a life changing impact for someone.
It makes it all worthwhile. People development is also incredibly rewarding. It is fantastic to work with people to advance their career, watch them deliver on their potential and achieve their aspirations. I have the perfect opportunity to do this at Celgene as we look to bring the most talented individuals to the team as we build the I&I Division. The scope for career development over the next few years will be unrivalled.
And the least enjoyable?
There is a significant procedural burden which can sometimes delay patient access or stifle innovation in pharmaceutical companies. This is a shame and can be a frustration at times, but we must always remember it is there for a very good reason!
What are the most common misconceptions about your field and the people in it?
The pharmaceutical industry seems to have a poor reputation amongst the general public – and when you consider the life-changing advances that the industry has made over the years, this perception is very unfortunate.
I believe we all need to be far more proactive in communicating the huge benefits that we, as an industry, have delivered historically, and will continue to deliver over the coming decades. We are changing patients’ lives for the better, which is something we can be very proud of.
Is there someone in your field who has inspired you or from whom you have learnt a lot?
I would never single out one individual, but I have been fortunate to work with some inspirational people over a number of years, without whom, millions of people would be living very different lives.
What is the secret to a happy working life?
Keep the balance right. Whilst people I know work incredibly hard, it is important to relax outside of work to keep you fresh within it. Also try and have a bit of fun in your day to day working life.
Work can be tough at times and if you can do it with a team who are enjoying themselves, it makes it a lot more productive, in my experience.
If you had advice for anyone starting out in your field now, what would it be?
Work for great people and stretch yourself. You learn so much and they will challenge you every step of the way to develop your career. Also don’t be afraid to do things very differently. You may fail from time to time, but you will achieve so much more in the long term.
Rob Moore is Celgene’s director of Immunology and Inflammation (UK and Ireland)
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