Dr Eddie Guzdar

Executive Medical Director Oncology at Eli Lilly, Medical Affairs | Physician Leader | Portfolio and Launch Strategy | AI & Innovation | ex-Bain

United Kingdom

About

Medical affairs creates value for patients when clinical judgement, scientific expertise and commercial understanding sit in the same room, ideally in the same person. This is the career I have sought to build as a physician leader, board-certified family physician and Executive Medical Director at Eli Lilly. I have nearly two decades across country, regional and global pharmaceuticals, commercial strategy and health systems policy, and have continued seeing patients in clinic. At Lilly, I lead Medical Affairs for Haematology, Oncology, Diagnostics and Precision Medicine across the UK and Ireland spanning a portfolio of >20 medicines across modalities. I hold broader responsibility for Medical Excellence across Northern Europe, supporting over 100 medical professionals, and deputise for the Head of Medical. I oversee the Ireland Country Medical Lead across Lilly's full portfolio and sit on multiple global leadership groups. I was previously Immunology Medical Leader for Northern Europe. My recent focus has been on evolving Medical Affairs into a more integrated and externally facing function. That has meant driving a major increase in stakeholder and KOL engagement and establishing a pre-launch pipeline readiness operating model aligned to future portfolio growth. I also partner closely with development teams on pipeline assets across new product planning. Outside Lilly, I serve as an Appeal Board Member of the UK PMCPA appointed by the ABPI Board. I engage across NHS and policy forums and have represented Lilly at the UK Parliament and medical societies. Prior to Lilly, I held medical leadership roles at Sanofi, LEO Pharma and GSK spanning oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardio-metabolic and rare diseases. At Sanofi I led the Dupixent and Neurology medical teams across multiple indications, navigating EMA safety reviews, helping secure positive NICE recommendations, and leading work streams as part of Sanofi's G10 (global leadership group). I'm especially proud of leading a COVID-19 research collaboration with Imperial College London that contributed to a WHO treatment recommendation. Earlier, I worked at Bain & Company on global commercial strategy across industries / markets and at the London Business School on R&D strategy focused on emerging markets. I trained at UCL, graduating with Distinction in Medicine and a First Class Degree in neuroscience, with research at UCL, King's College London, Harvard and MIT. After 17 years, I continue to practise clinically within the UK NHS.

Experience

  • Eli Lilly and Company (Full-time · 3 yrs 11 mos)
    • Executive Medical Director
      Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

    • Senior Medical Director - Oncology Lead UK / Lilly Ireland / Medical Excellence Lead Northern Europe
      Nov 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

      1. Oncology Medical Director UK: leading a head office and field medical team across haematology, oncology and precision medicine. Working across 3 marketed and 19 pipeline therapies. 2. Medical Excellence and Capabilities Leader for Lilly Northern Europe: drive a broad range of capabilities and digital transformation activities across Lilly medical. I also work closely here with the International Business Unit. Our goal is to be an industry leading medical affairs team benefiting patient outcomes at scale. 3. Lilly Ireland: recruitment and oversight of medical affairs FTE covering Lilly wide portfolio in immunology, oncology, diabetes, obesity and neuroscience. My leadership philosophy is grounded in fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, authenticity and resilience where empowering teams to excel and adapt is key to driving sustainable growth and transformative patient outcomes.

    • Senior Medical Director - Immunology Lead - Northern Europe region
      Aug 2022 - Dec 2023 · 1 yr 5 mos

      I lead a team of scientists and physicians up to Executive Research Director level across the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries covering multiple promoted and pipeline medicines in dermatology, rheumatology and gastroenterology and established medicines in neurology and endocrinology.

  • Physician at NHS England
    Aug 2009 - Present · 16 yrs 11 mos

    Board Certified Family Physician in the NHS covering the full spectrum of primary and urgent care services in the private and NHS sectors. Academic Neuroscience Foundation Programme at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital London and their Clinical Standards Committee member. I also have clinical experience in specialty care including cardiology, respiratory, oncology, gastroenterology, neurology, rheumatology, dermatology, emergency medicine and surgery. Expertise on various aspects of health policy development including the development of CCG's, Federations and Integrated Care Systems in the UK NHS.

  • Expert - Medical Devices, Diagnostics and Digital Health at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
    Jan 2020 - 2025 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    Appointed to the Expert Group. https://www.fpm.org.uk/policy-and-publications/expert-groups/medical-devices-diagnostics-and-digital-health/

  • Sanofi (3 yrs 10 mos)
    • Medical Head of Immunology (Dermatology / Respiratory / Gastroenterology / Allergy) - UK and Ireland
      Mar 2021 - Aug 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Leadership of a fantastic medical team focused on bringing Sanofi’s highest priority blockbuster medicines to patients across the therapy areas of dermatology, respiratory, allergy and gastroenterology.

    • Medical Head - Neurology and Immunology (Rheumatology) - Specialty Care UK & Ireland
      Jan 2020 - Apr 2021 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Gained additional responsibility to lead the Immunology - Rheumatology Business Unit. Current and future indications focused on rheumatology whilst exploring potential in other therapeutic areas too from Phase 1 onward. Also COVID related trials via immunology portfolio.

    • Medical Head - Neurology at Sanofi Genzyme UK & Ireland
      Nov 2018 - Dec 2019 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Head of the UK and Ireland medical team (Franchise Medical Director) in the neuroscience (multiple sclerosis, parkinsons, neurodegeneration, other rare neurology across the product lifecycle) franchise working closely with our Global teams across functions - R&D, clinical operations, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, marketing, communications, public affairs and patient access. On the Sanofi Genzyme medical leadership team and company Digital Ambassador.

  • Private Family Physician at BMI Healthcare
    Aug 2016 - Mar 2019 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    Private primary and urgent care medical services.