10 Exelixis regulatory affairs leaders
Cheryl Watton, Senior Vice President, Global Patient Safety and Regulatory Affairs, is the most senior of these Exelixis regulatory affairs leaders, who also hold current titles in regulatory operations, commercial regulatory affairs and regulatory strategy. A reader can learn how regulatory affairs leaders work at Exelixis from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Cheryl Watton, MBBCh, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Global Patient Safety and Regulatory Affairs · Exelixis
Cheryl Watton has been Senior Vice President, Global Patient Safety and Regulatory Affairs at Exelixis since August 2022, based in Oceanside, California. Cheryl Watton was Senior Vice President, Drug Safety at Exelixis from 2020 to 2022, Vice President, Global Safety & Epidemiology at Allergan from 2009 to 2020 and Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs & Global Safety at Amylin Pharmaceuticals from 2007 to 2009.
James Adams
LinkedInExperience: Head of Regulatory Affairs Early Development · Exelixis
James Adams has been Head of Regulatory Affairs Early Development at Exelixis since September 2023, based in Flemington, New Jersey. James Adams was Senior Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Pyxis Oncology from 2022 to 2023 and Senior Director at ADC Therapeutics from 2017 to 2022.
Joe Lallier
LinkedInExperience: Former Senior Director, Regulatory Strategy · Exelixis
Joe Lallier was Senior Director, Regulatory Strategy at Exelixis from December 2024 to May 2026, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Joe Lallier was also Director, Global Regulatory Leader, GRA, Oncology at Johnson & Johnson from 2016 to 2025, and has been Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs at Dianthus Therapeutics, Inc. since April 2026.
John Manganaro
LinkedInExperience: Director, Regulatory Policy, Intelligence and Compliance · Exelixis
John Manganaro has been Director, Regulatory Policy, Intelligence and Compliance at Exelixis since March 2025, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area. At Bayer, John Manganaro was Director, Policy and Research, Regions from 2022 to 2025 and worked in Regulatory Intelligence - U.S and Latin America from 2009 to 2022.
Karen Frantz
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Regulatory Operations · Exelixis
Karen Frantz has been Vice President, Regulatory Operations at Exelixis since August 2023, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Karen Frantz was Senior Director, Regulatory Operations at Daiichi Sankyo from 2009 to 2023 and Manager, Regulatory Operations at GSK from 2005 to 2009.
Lisa Sauer
LinkedInExperience: Former Sr. Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance · Exelixis
Lisa Sauer was Sr. Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at Exelixis from February 2018 to August 2022, based in Oakland, California. At Exelixis, Lisa Sauer was also Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance from 2016 to 2018 and Vice President Regulatory Affairs from 2014 to 2016, and has been Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at ALX Oncology since September 2023.
Mark Zappacosta
LinkedInExperience: Director, Regulatory Strategy, Oncology · Exelixis
Mark Zappacosta has been Director, Regulatory Strategy, Oncology at Exelixis since April 2026, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mark Zappacosta was Director, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Oncology and Metabolic Diseases at Corbus Pharmaceuticals from 2024 to 2025 and Associate Director, Regulatory Strategy, Rare Oncology & Metabolic Diseases at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2022 to 2024.
Nicole Twyman
LinkedInExperience: Director, Commercial Regulatory Affairs · Exelixis
Nicole Twyman has been Director, Commercial Regulatory Affairs at Exelixis since September 2025, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nicole Twyman was Director, Commercial Regulatory at Exelixis from 2022 to 2024 and Sr. Director, Commercial Regulatory Affairs at Pliant Therapeutics from 2024 to 2025, and the profile lists regulating product advertisement and promotions as a primary area of expertise.
Tammara Lewis, JD
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director Commercial Regulatory Affairs · Exelixis
Tammara Lewis has been Sr. Director Commercial Regulatory Affairs at Exelixis since December 2024, based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Tammara Lewis was Senior Director US Commercial Regulatory Affairs at Ipsen from 2019 to 2023 and Sr. Director Head of Promotional Regulatory Affairs at Endo from 2015 to 2017.
Venkat R. Pallela
LinkedInExperience: Regulatory Affairs CMC Director · Exelixis
Venkat R. Pallela has been Regulatory Affairs CMC Director at Exelixis since May 2024, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. At Pfizer, Venkat R. Pallela was Associate Director, Global Regulatory Strategy-CMC from 2021 to 2024 and held Manager, Regulatory Affairs CMC from 2016 to 2024.
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Pick the person whose title is nearest to your question, whether that is early development strategy, CMC, commercial regulatory review or regulatory operations. Weigh how recently each person held the role and how close to daily regulatory work you need them to be.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your regulatory affairs role at Exelixis?
- 02How do you keep regulatory work on track when priorities shift?
- 03What has your own work at Exelixis taught you about leading a regulatory affairs group?
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About this directory
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