Perennially emphasizing the importance of collective, versus individual, efforts in the ongoing fight to defeat cancer by finally finding a cure, Wendy Hauck, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in biochemistry as well as a Master of Science, is the global medical director of global medical affairs and oncology at Eisai Oncology Medical in Baie-D’Urfé, Quebec in Canada. An innovative, entrepreneurial, and strategic leader at international, regional, and local levels with extensive experience in drug development and clinical research in pharmaceutical and biotech arenas, Dr. Hauck possesses a passion for and robust knowledge of all stages of medical research. She uses teamwork and her deep scientific curiosity to work tirelessly with everyone from clinical investigators, academia, consortia, various cancer experts, and countless other entities. Most important, for Dr. Hauck, oncology is personal, as she has family members, friends, and colleagues who have had or have died due to cancer.
Consistently recognized for her collaborative, results-driven approach and initiative, Dr. Hauck has received numerous company accolades. Her work also has been awarded a succession of scholarship grants, including from the Canadian Federation of University Women. For her achievements, she thanks her mentor for guiding and supporting her throughout her journey as well as her mother who instilled in her the belief that she could accomplish any goal she set for herself. Dr. Hauck also received critical encouragement from her professors and supervisors as they helped her to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities for growth and development, further propelling her toward success.
As the global medical director at Eisai Oncology Medical, Dr. Hauck holds frequent meetings with her colleagues — medical directors of different countries and regions across the globe – to exchange information, share best practices, and keep each other informed about the progress of the launches of new drugs and where the data is coming from. She collaborates with other teams, including a clinical development group, to interpret and analyze data. With medical affairs being at the center of several departments, additional responsibilities in her multifaceted role, particularly in the pharmaceutical or biotech industries, focus on developing treatments and making them available to patients. Dr. Hauck gathers necessary information by looking at real-world evidence and examines investigator-initiated trials or sponsored trials, where ideas originate from professionals such as oncologists, pathologists, or surgical oncologists. They work together to gather more data for trials in which the respective drugs are provided. Blending clinical development, regulatory affairs, drug development, and value and access, Dr. Hauck works relentlessly in the biotech field, where she says speed and urgency are essential.
Dr. Hauck recounts her most fulfilling accomplishment during her tenure at Bellus Health, where she encountered a common challenge faced by smaller biotech companies: the absence of products on the market. The company was dedicated to developing a neurology drug for Alzheimer’s disease with Dr. Hauck focusing on the amyloidosis side. She says that her research demonstrated that “inhibiting amyloid—whether amyloid beta and Alzheimer’s or AA amyloidosis and systemic amyloidosis—was the correct target and yielded positive effects.” Leading the phase 2 development of the drug, which addressed a rare disease linked to chronic inflammation, Dr. Hauck formulated protocols and conducted trials. Upon receiving more promising results, she and her team were on the verge of submitting their package for approval. While it was initially a pilot project with the FDA, discussions were held on the subsequent steps. The package was also submitted to Europe and Canada. Although the project encountered procedural and financial setbacks and could not advance to a phase 3 trial, Dr. Hauck remained committed, knowing that, as always, her work was intended for the benefit of patients.
During her nearly 30-year career, Dr. Hauck has held numerous leadership and research positions in her areas of expertise. At Eisai Oncology Medical, she was recently promoted to her current global medical director role after serving as global associate medical director of global medical affairs and oncology as the breast cancer lead. Leading Dr. Hauck to that point throughout the years, she enjoyed stints of varied longevity at Eisai Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Amgen Canada Inc., Lundbeck Canada, Neurochem (now Bellus Health), Novartis Canada, Lady Davis Research Institute at Jewish General Hospital, and Montreal General Hospital. Professionally, she is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and other organizations. In community service, Dr. Hauck volunteers with Girl Guide and is a member at large of the Baie D’Urfe Citizens’ Association Executive Committee.
Within the next decade, Dr. Hauck hopes to work as a consultant and plans to apply to universities to become a faculty member or adjunct professor. Her never-ending aim, however, is to help scientists develop treatments for cancer patients and ultimately find a cure for the disease.