Deepa Talpade has over 20 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry working in all phases of Business Development and across therapeutic areas combining extensive BD&L experience, business insight, strategic thinking, industry partnering and leadership experience in leading large cross-functional teams. Deepa joined Bayer in 2020 as the global head of BD&L and Strategic Alliances, Oncology. In this role, she leads Business Development Strategy in coordination with the Oncology R&D and the Oncology business unit. Prior to joining Bayer, Deepa was Head, Transactions Specialty and Primary Care with Merck and has transactions across several therapeutic areas. In her early years she had roles in translational and late-stage global development for CNS programs. Deepa joined Merck through the merger with Schering-Plough and prior to that Organon. Deepa has an MBA from Rutgers and a PhD in Neuroscience from Emory University.