Emer Cooke becomes first woman to lead EMA
The first woman to act as executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially started in the role.
Emer Cooke began her mandate as executive director of the EMA, which is responsible for the protection of public and animal health through the scientific evaluation and supervision of medicines. on Monday, November 16.
She was nominated for the role with a renewable five-year mandate in June 2020 by the EMA’s management board. She was appointed the following month, having made a statement to the European Parliament's committee on environment, public health and food safety.
Cooke has three decades of experience in international regulatory affairs, including working for the pharmaceutical unit of the European Commission and at the EMA. Most recently, Cooke served as the director responsible for all medical product-related regulatory activities at the World Health Organization.
“I take up the role of executive director of EMA amid a public health crisis of unprecedented scale,” said Emer Cooke on her first day in office.
She continued: “My number one priority will be to drive forward EMA’s response to the pandemic and the work already ongoing to support the development and approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.”
Cooke noted that the EMA will need to tackle other major challenges in the future, including antibiotic resistance, encouraging new waves of innovation, and maximising the opportunities provided by digitalisation in the context of medicine discovery and development.
“I look forward to working with the EU regulatory network, the European Commission, and regulators globally, to address these issues and to further promote human and animal health,” Cooke commented.
As part of her role as executive director Cooke has also taken over the chairperson position at the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities.
Cooke is the fourth executive director of the EMA, following Fernand Sauer, Thomas Lönngren, and Guido Rasi. The agency was formed in 1995.
Last week outgoing executive director, Guido Rasi, described Cooke as a strong leader who is committed to leading the EMA during this challenging period.
“I hand over my responsibilities at this critical time to the capable hands of Emer Cooke whom I have had the pleasure of working with over the years,” Rasi said.
In March 2019, the EMA relocated from its London headquarters to Amsterdam. The move was sparked by the UK’s vote to leave the EU in 2016, and the new location of the agency was determined by the drawing of lots from a fishbowl.
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