Intro
Recently appointed Diaceutics Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific (APAC), Yvanka Gilliam took time out of her busy schedule to sit down and talk to us about her goals for Diaceutics. Yvanka will be responsible for managing business development and operations in the APAC region and will be based out of Singapore. She brings a wealth of industry experience to the company, having worked in pharma for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Diaceutics, she held roles in Kantar Health, IQVIA Asia Pacific and AstraZeneca. We spoke with Yvanka to get her thoughts on her recent appointment.
1) Welcome Yvanka! First, why don’t you tell us a bit about your role with Diaceutics?
As the Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific (APAC), I am responsible for the company’s regional operations and business development with a core focus on establishing key collaborations and strategic partnerships to drive growth and revenue. My role involves working continuously to identify innovative and creative services and solutions to help leverage the company’s platform DXRX and increase the offering.
2) What inspired you to join Diaceutics?
When the opportunity arose, I was most attracted to the vision and overarching goal of the organization which is to get every patient the treatment they deserve. Diaceutics is a company that I have long admired for their unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes, and my experience in the APAC region to date has made this move an obvious one.
3) What excites you about Diaceutics’ pipeline of activity?
Quite a lot! I genuinely believe Diaceutics is powering a sea-change in the world of diagnostics, as Diaceutics’ products and services are focused on precision medicine and bridging the gap between diagnostics and therapeutic decision making to improve testing outcomes for patients. More broadly, I am particularly excited by DXRX – The Diagnostic Network® which launched in 2020 – the world's first Diagnostic Network for Precision Medicine diagnostics. DXRX is an end-to-end solution for the development and commercialization of precision medicine diagnostics, from biomarker discovery to in-market test availability to ensure an optimal diagnostic commercial launch. This platform is a game-changer for the space.
4) We’d love to hear about some of your recent roles. What kind of work were you focused on prior to joining Diaceutics?
I’ve been based in the APAC region for the past three years, where I managed the delivery of real-world insights for evaluation by regulators, payers, clinicians, and patients using non-interventional study designs based upon primary and secondary data collection.
Prior to joining Diaceutics, I worked with Kantar Health as a Senior Client Partner in the Real World Evidence division, where I developed and implemented global business planning strategies, and conducted high-quality research and analysis. At Kantar, I also built and managed a pipeline of oncology real world data assets by designing, analyzing and conducting observational and interventional studies of safety and effectiveness. I’ve also worked with IQVIA Asia Pacific in the area of Principal Strategy/Life Sciences in the Real World Insights Division and as a Senior Medical Science Liaison at AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical Corporation.
5) How has your experience to date prepared you for your new role at Diaceutics?
I have worked within the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on oncology, for over 20 years. I have collaborated in the launch of nine oncology compounds and a companion diagnostic. This experience has been invaluable and really prepared me for my current role. My career has focused primarily on the Research and Development of innovative oncology compounds and is very much aligned with the goal of Diaceutics’ products and services – to provide insights that will allow patients to have access to and benefit from the most effective and suitable treatment. Also, my strong network of contacts across the APAC region will be invaluable in helping us establish key collaborations and strategic partnerships to drive growth and revenue in the region.
6) What do you wish to achieve in your new role?
In my new role, I look forward to broadening Diaceutics’ influence in the APAC region and working alongside a team of driven and talented individuals. I’m particularly excited to come on board as the company’s DXRX – The Diagnostic Network® platform continues to gain traction within the industry, as we help get every patient the treatment they deserve.
I also want to further establish Diaceutics as the partner of choice to deliver accelerated diagnostic development, optimized commercialization, accelerated implementation and post-launch performance tracking.
7) Can you talk to us about your educational background?
I hold a doctorate degree in Pharmacy from The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in Ann Arbor, a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Grambling University in Louisiana, and an MBA in International business from Rutgers University Singapore. My work has also been published in the Annals of Oncology and the Journal of Clinical Oncology – an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Journal.
