Management tracks: Blueprint, Clovis

Ahead of the anticipated 2019 launch of avapritinib, Blueprint Medicines Corp. (NASDAQ:BPMC) hired Christina Rossi into the newly created role of chief commercial officer. She was the multiple sclerosis business unit head of North America at the Genzyme Corp. unit of Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY). Spokesperson Jim Baker said avapritinib would be Blueprint's first commercial launch.

Avapritinib is an inhibitor of stem cell factor receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Kit; KIT; CD117) exon 17 mutations and platelet derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA; PDGFR2; CD140A) with the D842V amino acid substitution. In 1H19, Blueprint plans to submit an NDA to FDA for the therapy to treat PDGFRA D842V-driven gastrointestinal stromal tumors...