Welcome, Walid, and thank you for taking the time to chat with us. It’s been four years since you joined as Head of Global R&D Oncology at Servier. How has the experience been? 

Thank you for having me. It’s been a privilege to be part of this journey. What truly gets me excited every day is seeing the collective progress our teams and the broader scientific community are making for patients. It’s inspiring to be a part of it. 

Let’s talk about that progress. ‘Precision oncology’ feels like it has moved from a promising concept to a powerful reality. Is that what you’re seeing from your perspective? 

Yes, I think that’s right. It’s been remarkable to witness the work of so many researchers and clinicians come to fruition. We now see dozens of new precision therapies approved each year, which is fundamentally changing how we approach treatment. For all of us in this field, I think our shared goal is to translate that scientific promise into tangible hope for patients, and it’s an honor to play a part in that effort. 

Your focus on this field is clear, and we understand that brain tumors are a particular area of passion for you. Could you share what drew you to that challenge? 

It really goes back to my time as a research fellow at Mass General. My work in the lab, trying to understand the complexities of Glioblastoma (GBM), opened my eyes to the immense need for new therapies in that area. It’s a challenge that has stayed with me ever since. 

To be able to continue that focus here at Servier has been a tremendous opportunity. Our teams have worked tirelessly to build our brain tumor pipeline, and a huge part of that has been learning from and collaborating with an incredible network of partners. Seeing that collective work begins to deliver real benefits to patients is the most rewarding experience you can ask for. 

Looking forward, it seems impossible to ignore the role of AI. You have a background that spans biology, medicine, and computer science. How does that help you navigate this new landscape? 

I’ve been fortunate to have a varied background, and I suppose it helps me appreciate the different languages these fields speak and how they can come together. Our teams are doing the real work of shaping our R&D vision, and my role is to support them. The recent advances in AI are truly exciting, and we’re all learning how to best integrate these tools. We’re taking a collaborative approach, partnering with AI-first companies like AITIA, OWKIN, and more recently In Silico Medicine and Iktos to learn from them and enhance our own R&D efforts. It’s a journey of transformation that we’re on together. 

Over these past four years, what have been some of your favorite accomplishments at Servier?  

Over these past four years, I am deeply proud of the milestones our team has reached at Servier Oncology. Among the most career-defining achievements are four pivotal phase 3 trials, whose positive results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and have directly shaped clinical practice, bringing transformative benefits to patients. We refined our strategy through the implementation of the One Innovation Engine model, unlocking powerful synergies between our internal research and external innovation partners. These efforts have led to meaningful clinical advances for thousands of patients with rare and underserved cancers including glioma, acute leukemia, colorectal and pancreatic cancer. We’ve also initiated partnerships focused on next-generation therapies, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive our field forward. It is with great humility and gratitude that I reflect on being part of this incredible journey alongside our dedicated oncology R&D team. 

When you look at the big picture all the data, the new technologies, and the science what gives you the most hope for the future? 

It gives me great optimism. When you see the wealth of data we now have, combined with powerful new tools like AI and innovative platforms, you realize how much our potential to help patients has grown. 
Honestly, it’s a privilege to work in this field at this moment in time. I’m constantly learning from our global, multicultural team the diversity of thought here is incredible and so important for solving these tough problems. Doing all this at Servier, a company governed by a foundation, provides a unique sense of stability and shared purpose. It allows us all to remain focused on what truly matters: the patients who are waiting. I truly feel that I have the best job in the world.