DEBI WATSON

VICE PRESIDENT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ONCOLOGY

Debi Watson is the head of the Oncology Business Development Group at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Janssen Business Development. In this role, she leads Business Development Strategy in coordination with Oncology Research and Development and Commercial leadership. Debi is responsible for all aspects of licensing, search and evaluation, mergers and acquisitions, and alliance management for the Janssen Oncology Therapeutic Area.

Under Debi’s leadership the Oncology team has executed several important transactions, including the Legend/B cell malignant antigen chimeric antigen receptor-T cell (BCMA CAR-T), argenx/CD-70, Tesaro/niraparib, Geron/imetelstat, and many others. With her guidance, the Oncology team manages the alliances, including Pharmacyclics/Abbvie, Genmab Legend, argenx and Tesaro/GSK.

Debi has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning multiple therapeutic areas. Prior to leading the Oncology Business Development team, Debi led the Anti-Infective Business Development Group and completed several transactions in support of the HIV and HCV disease strategies. Earlier, she served as a transaction lead for the Research and Early Discovery group, where she led the efforts to out-license de-prioritized assets, including a license/option deal with PPD/Furiex, which was later acquired by Allergan. Debi also worked in the licensing group supporting the Neuroscience franchise and served in roles of increasing responsibility in the sales and marketing divisions of Janssen and Johnson & Johnson.

Debi graduated from the University of Connecticut.