Frank Yocca

Biography

 Dr Yocca is an internationally recognized pharmaceutical R&D executive and scientist. He has wide ranging expertise in leading and working in high performance world-class teams in drug discovery, development and external diligence. At Bristol-Myers Squibb Company he held a variety of discovery leadership positions. Dr Yocca contributed significantly to and became a leader in 5-HT and melatonin receptor research, utilizing scientific discoveries to drive many diverse discovery programs in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, cognition, sleep disorders and migraine. This work in part contributed to the approval and marketing of four neuropsychiatric agents (Buspar®, Serzone® Abilify® and Heltioz®. Frank was also involved in the clinical development of the antipsychotic Abilify®, as a study director for Phase III Intramuscular Formulation and Phase IV Regulatory Studies. Between 2005 and 2015, Frank held multiple leadership roles at AstraZeneca including Vice President and Site Head, CNS and Pain Discovery Research Wilmington and Vice President, Strategy and Externalization in the Neuroscience Innovative Medicines Unit (iMed). He also contributed to the design and implementation of a new, novel Virtual Neuroscience iMed that focused on outsourcing and in-licensing as the key driver for building portfolio value. He is a recognized scientific leader in the Neuroscience community and member of a number of influential scientific organizations including the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science, and a Fellow of American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Research Interest

 Research interets on Neuropharmacology